Bamboo shows off, and behaves

Bamboos are among the most versatile plants in our gardens. They are at home in the serene green of Japanese gardens as well as in colorful tropical gardens that call to mind Mexico, Jamaica, and Bali.

Bamboos come in so many shapes and sizes that they can screen out a two-story town house, form the walls of an outdoor room, or sit demurely in a small pot on the windowsill.

Some people are afraid of bamboo's reputation for growing out of control. Ralph Evans of Botanical Partners, a bamboo nursery in Vista, Calif., (www.botanicalpartners.com) works hard to counter gardeners' fears of bamboo.

Mr. Evans and other bamboo aficionados know that running bamboo can be contained quite easily by surrounding the roots with a sturdy root barrier.

Clumping bamboos, on the other hand, mind their manners and stay pretty much in the spot where you plant them. Before you buy a bamboo, be sure you know whether it is a clumper or a runner.

What a relief to realize that if you love the look of bamboo, you can plant it without fear that you'll wake up one morning to discover it has taken over your entire yard!

There are so many options that you are sure to find at least one bamboo that fits your needs, regardless of your garden's size or location.

You'll want to start your hunt by researching the light requirements of bamboos that appeal to you. Different species tolerate varying amounts of sun and shade.

Success may also depend on the intensity of the sun in your garden. What does well in full sun in overcast Seattle, for example, would fry in San Diego's bright light.

Bamboo isn't at all difficult to grow. It likes well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil that has been amended heavily with organic matter.

Start fertilizing when you see new growth – as early as February in some parts of the country. Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer that's made for grass; it can be slow-release or fast-acting.

Apply it at the rate recommended on the label for the same square footage of grass. Naturally, you'll want to avoid any fertilizer that contains a herbicide, since it will harm your bamboo.

Water deeply and regularly the first few weeks after planting. After that, established bamboo needs no more water than an equivalent area of lawn.

Mulch new plantings with straw, hay, lawn clippings, etc. Later, allow six inches of bamboo leaves to amass beneath the culms (stalks) and over the roots. This keeps the soil moist, insulates roots, discourages weeds, and recycles critical nutrients back to the plant.

If you'd like to increase your supply of bamboo, propagation is easiest in spring when new growth starts. Use a knife or sharp shovel to separate a section with stem and roots from the rest of the plant, and replant it where you'd like it to grow.

Many bamboos do well in pots, both indoors and out. Use a standard potting mix, high in composted humus. Water regularly. If you live in a cold-weather area, bring pots indoors to a spot with bright light (or put them in a greenhouse) in winter. Indoor plants can suffer in dry heat, so try to increase humidity levels (or occasionally place the plant, pot and all, in the tub and turn on the shower briefly).

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