Features of planting bamboo and caring for it

Bamboo is an interesting plant native to the tropics. Growing it is possible only in a suitable climate. Although today there are frost-resistant varieties that allow them to decorate any garden. This is an unusual option for landscaping. But there are certain rules that will allow you to get real thickets in your native corner.

How to grow bamboo?

It is worth knowing the general characteristics of this plant.

• Temperature. Because of its origin, bamboo is very thermophilic. The normal temperature regime for him is about 20-30 degrees in summer and at least 15 in winter. An exception is artificially bred frost-resistant varieties that are not afraid of cold weather.
• Lighting... The plant loves sunny areas and partial shade. It should be noted that the combination of direct sunlight and frost can damage bamboo. Therefore, you need to take care of the shadow.
• Watering. In summer, when the plant is actively growing, it should be watered abundantly enough. Brown spots may appear on the leaves from lack of moisture. However, excess water is also harmful and can lead to mold growth.
• Top dressing. For normal growth, bamboo needs to be fed regularly every two weeks. Complex or organic fertilizers are suitable. If nutrition is insufficient, growth will slow down.

What problems can arise?

Growing a plant at home is associated with some difficulties. The main thing is that it can grow and spread very quickly. It is not so easy to prevent this, because neither a fence nor any boundary will stop the growth.

At the same time, the plant belongs to invasive exotic, so that it is able to displace other species. As a result, biodiversity suffers. And getting rid of it in the future is not so easy. You need to completely remove the root system. It is almost impossible to do this on your own, so you have to use chemicals.

It is recommended to install special barriers to avoid catastrophic spread. They will inhibit the growth of bamboo thickets. The barrier should be buried to a depth of at least 50 cm, or even 1 m, and raised by 5 cm above ground level. For it, you can use sheets of fiberglass, polypropylene, metal, concrete, pressed wood are also suitable.

In fact, not all varieties have this dangerous quality. Therefore, it is worth understanding the features of the selected type, and then it will be possible to get the desired result without any consequences.

Where can you plant bamboo?

Before planting bamboo, you need to decide on the variety. When you find a species that can withstand the peculiarities of the climate, you can start growing directly. Choose a place with enough sun and shade, where the plant will feel most comfortable. It is also worth considering wind protection. The root system grows quickly, but it is shallow. Strong gusts of wind can damage the plant. A good solution is to plant a plant near a fence or hedge. Otherwise, you will need a special fence.

You also need to keep in mind protective barriers that will prevent bamboo from spreading throughout the garden. It is important to provide sufficient depth. First of all, this applies to the so-called running varieties.

Soil also matters. The plant is not too demanding, so the soil can be different. But the most suitable option is loamy or marly. But on practically impenetrable rocky soil, the result may be far from desired.

The land can be improved.For example, add compost or manure. This fertilization will make it more nutritious. It is best to add these substances to the transplant hole, and plant the bamboo so that the roots are located in the fertilizer. And to get a loamy soil, the topsoil is mixed with sand, silt and clay.

Growing from seeds

When to plant a plant depends on the climate. In the temperate, the best time is late spring. That is, you need to wait until the end of the frost, which will be difficult for an immature sprout to endure. For the same reason, planting in the fall is undesirable. Cultivation of bamboo can be carried out both directly from seeds and using seedlings.

If the climate is characterized by a very hot summer, during which the temperature is kept above 35 degrees for a long time, then it is better to plant seeds or seedlings in early spring or autumn. The heat is also difficult for a growing plant to withstand.

Advice

Bamboo grows and spreads quickly and should be thinned as needed.

Growing seedlings is recommended to get a guaranteed result. Before planting in the ground, you should prepare the seeds. They are cleaned, dried in the sun and immersed in water for several hours. This will help them get out of their dormant state. The water must be drained off shortly before sowing.

It is also necessary to prepare containers for seedlings. It is convenient to use special plastic containers designed for this purpose. They are filled with the soil mixture that is most suitable for bamboo: topsoil, ash, sawdust or rice hulls (proportions 8: 1: 1).

Then you need to make recesses up to 5 cm in the center of each cell, put a seed in them and cover with earth. After 10 days or a little later, the first shoots will appear. Bamboo is fast growing, but at first it is quite fragile. Only after three months will the plant grow so strong that it can be planted in open ground. When moving to a new place, the distance between the seedlings should be maintained - about 1 m.

Care features

Caring for bamboo is easy, but indispensable. Watering young plants and adults is slightly different.

• Shoots that have just appeared in dry and clear weather need daily watering.
• After they take root in the open field, they are watered twice a week, and in extreme heat, every other day.

Mulch is helpful - chopped grass, compost, and hay will do. It promotes normal growth and also protects against moisture loss. It is also recommended to fertilize the plant. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is well suited for this. It is enough to add it once in spring and summer. Softer top dressing is applied monthly.

If you adhere to the basic rules, you will be able to create an exotic corner in your own yard. You just need to find a variety that can withstand temperature extremes. And growing directly will not be difficult.

It's also important to think about security. After all, many types of bamboo are quite aggressive and grow very quickly. And to withdraw them in the future is not so easy.