The plants you have received are ready for immediate planting. If they are not planted right away, please keep them in a shady area and make sure they do not dry out. Don't keep them waiting for more than a few hours after unboxing. Unwrap carefully. Avoid breaking tender, new shoots.

Bamboo Planting Instructions

Direct Soil Planting Instructions

  • Person using a shovel to dig a hole in the grass for planting in a green outdoor yard.

    Step 1: Digging the Hole

    Dig a hole as deep as the container and twice as wide.

  • Hands wearing green gloves planting or mixing dark soil in a container.

    Step 2: Mixing Soil

    Mix compost with the excavated dirt at a one to one ratio. Discard the excess dirt.

    WARNING: DO NOT USE STEER MANURE OR FRESH MANURE IN THE PLANTING HOLE!

  • Close-up of plant stems growing in black pots filled with soil and mulch.

    Step 3: Carefully Remove

    Carefully remove the bamboo plant from the container. Be careful with new emerging bamboo shoots, these are very tender.

  • Person planting a small green plant in the soil with a garden trowel, wearing gray gardening gloves.

    Step 4: Place in Hole

    Place the plant in the hole so that the soil levels match at the top. Back fill the hole and tamp the dirt/compost mix tightly between the root ball and the sides of the hole.

  • Green bamboo plant growing in soil with black background

    Step 5: Watering

    Build a 'donut' shaped depression around the plant and water until deeply soaked.

  • A tall, dense bamboo plant growing next to a white wall and sidewalk.

    Step 6: Maintenance

    It is important to make sure the bamboo does not dry out during the first summer after planting. The signs of drying out are apparent when the bamboo leaves roll up like cigarette papers and become very narrow looking. A 3-4" mulch of wood chips, bark, or hay is desirable.

Container Planting Instructions

  • Indoor scene with a large potted green plant in a ceramic pot, a small portable black speaker on the floor, and a wooden counter with jars, a small framed picture, and containers. There is a doorway with a wooden door and a panda face decoration hanging on the wall in the background.

    Container Size

    Use container large enough to have a space at least two inches between the edge of the root ball and the side of the container. Squatty tub like containers are better than tall deep ones.

  • A hand holding dark soil with some roots, over a container of soil.

    Fertilizer

    Fertilizing the bamboo is simple. Mix a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote 28-14-14 into the soil. If this is not available a soluble fertilizer such as Miracle Grow will do quite nicely. Another method is to use lawn fertilizer. Of course bamboo just loves a top dressing of manure, just don't over doo it! The rule of thumb is to use high nitrogen fertilizers for Spring and Summer and then go to a high phosphorus and potassium and lower the nitrogen for the Fall.

  • Three gardening tools hanging on a brick wall, including pruning shears, a trowel, and a hand rake, with a plant in front.

    Pruning & Grooming

    The key to keeping the bamboo beautiful is in how one prunes and grooms. Remember that the bamboo culms (canes) are one of its attributes. Other than the dwarf species, the culms should be exposed for admiration. The older culms need to be thinned out each year and the spaces between them kept even and open.

  • A newly installed green and gray plastic garden bed in the ground with soil inside, surrounded by green plants and dirt.

    Root Barrier

    The running bamboos are spreaders.
    These species need room to grow. Don't plant them in tiny spaces unless a root barrier is installed. A 25' X 25' space is necessary to allow for free growth. Our root barrier is installed by trenching a perimeter 30" deep around the planting area and then placing on vertical edge our 40 mil. plastic barrier. Try to only have one seam. The seam is pop riveted, taped, or bolted shut. If the trenching seems excessive it is recommended to rent a Ditch Witch type trencher to do the job.

  • Close-up of a dark-colored cup filled with water, showing ripples and a small splash at the center.

    Watering Tips

    If the climate is dry in the Summer, an effective barrier can be accomplished through drip irrigation and watering only the center of the plant.

  • Row of potted green bamboo plants indoors.

    Spacing Plants

    Space dwarf bamboos 3' apart, shrub size 6', tall shrub sizes 10' and timber sizes 15' to 25' apart. Good luck and ichi-ban bamboo growing!

How to Tame Running Bamboo

  • A bamboo shoot emerging from the ground in a bamboo forest.

    Step 1: Understand the Rhizome Growth

    Running bamboo spreads by underground rhizomes that grow just beneath the surface.

    New shoots emerge from these rhizomes in the spring or summer, depending on the species.

    Expect rhizome growth once per year, usually in late summer or fall.

  • Person using a power tool to dig a trench alongside a wooden fence and bamboo plants.

    Step 2: Plan for Containment

    Choose a location where you can either install a barrier or easily prune rhizomes. Avoid planting close to property lines or invasive-sensitive areas without control measures in place.

  • Underground drainage pipe installation with black pipe in a trench, surrounded by dirt and construction materials.

    Step 3: Install a Rhizome Barrier (Optional but Recommended)

    Use a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) barrier, at least 24–30 inches deep.

    Angle the barrier outward slightly at the top to redirect rhizomes upward, making them easier to spot.

    Leave 2 inches of the barrier above ground to prevent rhizomes from growing over it.

    Check edges regularly.

  • Close-up of soil with a small plant and roots, a hand saw cutting through the stem of the plant.

    Step 4: Practice Rhizome Pruning (Annual Maintenance)

    If you're not using a barrier, or even if you are, pruning is key:

    1. Wait until late fall (after rhizome growth slows).

    2. Use a sharp spade or rhizome cutter to slice around the perimeter of your bamboo grove.

    3. Dig down about 12 inches deep in a circle or trench surrounding the plant.

    4. Sever any spreading rhizomes — you’ll feel them with your spade or see their root-like structure.

    5. Remove and discard severed rhizomes to prevent re-rooting.

  • Close-up of a green bamboo shoot with running rhizome surrounded by dry leaves and debris.

    Step 5: Monitor and Repeat Annually

    Recheck each year, ideally in late summer or early fall.

    Watch for any rogue shoots emerging outside the desired area and remove them immediately.

  • Stone Buddha head sculpture surrounded by lush green plants, with a small water feature filled with lily pads nearby in a garden setting.

    Bonus Tip: Use Physical Edges Wisely

    Mowable edges, patios, or sidewalks can help limit rhizome spread naturally.

    Bamboo tends to avoid extremely dry, compacted, or heavily trafficked areas.

Keep Exploring

Dense bamboo forest with tall green bamboo stalks and lush leaves.

The World of Bamboo

Bamboo Resources

Looking to dive deeper into the world of bamboo? Visit our Bamboo Resources page for expert articles, regional growing guides, and species highlights—including writings by longtime bamboo specialist Gib Cooper. Whether you're exploring bamboo for the Pacific Northwest, researching forage uses, or curious about the genus Chusquea, our resource library offers valuable insight to help you grow with confidence.