Bamboo rhizomes can be pretty tough and will need strong tools to dig them up. Allow bamboo leaves around the plants. Simply put, running bamboo spreads much wider and faster than clumping bamboo, so much so that it is considered an invasive plant. grove provides a natural privacy screen or windbreak that grows quickly during the summer months. Among the 90 genera and roughly 1,500 species of bamboo, we like to divide them into two simple categories. Dividing during the late winter or early spring (before the new shoots emerge) is the ideal time to make divisions. Site Map, © 2007 - 2020 bamboo-inspiration.com. For this reason, it is really best to start running bamboo in planters of at least 30” by 30”. Basically, we have runners and clumpers. It won't take long for them to get established and fill in the gaps! How to Divide Large Potted Bamboo. They form vertical privacy screens, which provide even a narrow planting site with dense screening. Whichever type you have, you can dig and divide it by cutting through the roots with a shovel. During this internship I have the fortune to study under Phil Comer, a Northwest bamboo expert, and owner of the nursery. While bamboo can be expensive, it also is a great barrier plant that can provide a lot of privacy. What tools do you need for propagating bamboo? Prepare the location for your new bamboo plant before you start the division by digging the hole to a depth that matches that of the root ball and two times as wide; Get your soil and compost mix ready to put around the roots, an average mix of 50% of the soil you dug from the hole and 50% well-draining compost. Let’s go over how to repot bamboo. The dividing clumping bamboo method can also be adapted to divide a potted bamboo plant before planting out into the ground. Gardeners can take advantage of this characteristic by separating, or dividing, the bamboo and replanting it elsewhere in the landscape. Moisten the root ball and don't let it dry out, wrap in plastic sheeting if you need to take a break before planting. If your bamboo is outgrowing its bounds or you just want to get the most of the new bamboo, dividing it is the way to go. Contact - This foliage contains silica which helps provide strength and stability; Planting inside a physical barrier. If that is the case you may prefer to put your plant somewhere sheltered where it is protected from any severe weather and re-pot it or plant it out just before the spring. Dividing bamboo can be relatively simple if you have the right tools. Decide if you want to divide it in half, thirds or quarters. Steps for Dividing Clumping Bamboo. Loosen roots by swaying the division backwards and forwards using the spade as a lever under the roots to lift it out of the ground. If you buy bamboo from a garden nursery it will probably need to be planted out or re-potted fairly soon. Plant in new location as soon as you can and if you have to transport the division, wrap in plastic and ensure the roots are kept moist at all times. Plant cuttings can be used to grow bamboo shoots in your own yard. The minimum size container for growing most types of bamboo would be 10 gallons in volume. Thus, bamboo is classified as either clumping or running. Plastic sheet for wrapping root balls to make sure it doesn't dry out, particularly if one division has to wait while you put the other in a pot. Dividing in the wrong season may have disastrous results for beginners. The vast majority of clumpers are sub-tropical or tropical, althought there are a few that are extremely cold hardy, most of those can’t handle the heat in the southeast.Because of this, all I grow and sell are the running types of bamboo. That said, the bigger the better. Whether it is the right season to divide your plant will depend on your climate and location. Running bamboo species put out more runners than clumping bamboo so they're likely to become root bound much faster. Late winter to early spring is the best time to divide and transplant black bamboo. That said, the bigger the better. Move the loosened dirt aside by hand until the rhizome is uncovered. Running bamboo can spread fast and wide while clumping bamboo remains in one place. It uses energy from one plant to grow more plants. Follow @bambooinspired!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Author - Outside of mild climates, give the plant time to get established before winter. Clumping bamboo grows a tangled thick root mass in which individual culms develop from a single rhizome. Prepare the location for your new bamboo plant before you start the division by digging the hole to a depth that matches that of the root ball and two times as wide. The most widespread genera of runners are the Phyllostachys and Pleioblastus. Thus, bamboo is classified as either clumping or running. This would be particularly useful if you want several plants to create a windbreak or privacy screen but can't afford to buy enough plants. The monopodial or leptomorph rhizomes tend to grow horizontally, parallel to the ground, spreading outward and overtaking an area. Two pots the right size. You probably don’t have the time to wait around for your bamboo to produce seeds, so you’re going to have to divide your existing clumps and transplant them when you want to propagate your plants. Not everything on this list may be needed; it all depends on how big the bamboo is and whether it is in a container or in the ground. Bamboo can be roughly classified into two groups; clumping and running bamboo. Decide how the bamboo clump should be divided (halves, thirds, quarters, etc). Whenever you do it, it helps to use a sawsall to cut through the roots and to top the plants so only about a third of the top growth is left on the part you want to divide off. A 20 or 30 gallon container will give you several more years before having to repot or divide. A bamboo (Bambusa spp.) Depending on the species, the size of the final grove varies between 1 and 2 meters (3-7 ft) in diameter. For clumping bamboos, split the root mass with a sharp shovel or knife. Blog - Bamboo will grow and spread quickly, but there is no real way to direct it into far corners of the garden. Running bamboo has a distinctively vigorous rhizome root system. If it is before the beginning of the growing season and you can tell from feeling around the outside of the pot that the rhizomes are pushing against the side, you should be able to divide the bamboo into two before the bamboo growth and new shoots start. We used a sawzall this time but in the past we have used a hack saw. Set the clump upright (culms facing up) on the ground. Whether it is the right season to divide your plant will depend on your climate and location. Almost all cold hardy bamboos are runners and almost all tropical bamboos are clumpers. Bamboo is easy to grow, but there are a few things you should know before starting. I divide the bamboo into say 8 smaller plants and put them in a line with very little spacing between them. I hope you have the clumping kind! They spread very quickly, by as much as 5 feet each year. A reciprocating saw can be … The two main types of bamboo (Bambusa spp.) Large bamboos need very large containers to achieve optimal health and potential of the plant. How to Grow Bamboo From Plant Cuttings. Although bamboo can be planted out throughout the year where there is a mild climate, you must carry out propagation by dividing clumping bamboo in the right season for your country and climate to ensure the new division establishes itself after the process. The smaller the planter the more often you will have to divide the plant to keep it healthy. Try to have several stems in the mass. Bamboo is a type of grass that adds an Asian vibe to any garden. All Rights Reserved - Protected by Copyscape Online Infringement Detector, Terms, Conditions, Copyright, Disclaimer - Privacy Policy, Protected by Copyscape Online Infringement Detector. You can trim the top off the culms at this point. You will want to use a sawzall, small garden pick, loppers and hand pruners. How to Divide & Transplant Black Bamboo. Saw (hand saw or electric, whichever you prefer), Garden pruners or secateurs, and Shears may also be useful, Axe (not needed for smaller plants but may be needed for a large ground planted bamboo). Running bamboo species put out more runners than clumping bamboo so they're likely to become root bound much faster. Drive the shovel into the bamboo root mass. You will be looking for culms that are a couple of years old, are healthy, and I would suggest for best results to choose 4 or 5 culms to make a division of around two feet. You can plant the entire rhizome or cut it into sections, each with one or more culms. You can take a smaller number of culms from larger plants if the culm(s) you divide have enough roots but it will take longer to establish a new plant. Bamboo produces new culms in the spring season. As the horizontal rhizomes extend outward, they eventually produce fresh shoots, new culms, growing upward. Here is a guide to spacing: Dividing clumping bamboo and creating new plants is very rewarding. If you feel bumps you know it's trying to get out! Bamboo is a type of grass. If you don't think you could carry out bamboo division because it would cause damage to the shoots, transplant it into a bigger pot and divide later in the season or just before the next season. Is dividing them a wise thing to do, or will I end up with 8 dead bamboo plants. Bamboo is one of the most decorative and useful members of the grass family. Bamboo generally falls into one of two main types. This makes the bamboo easier to dig up and divide while keeping the bamboo healthy. Part of the series: Bamboo Growing 101. Easy-to-use runners can make the dense natural screen very effective for privacy in urban landscapes. Follow the steps on these pages to divide container or clumping bamboo. Running bamboos can provide a calm privacy screen or a lovely bamboo grove through which to walk. Bamboo division can be carried out using container bamboo or by dividing bamboo plants from the ground. With running bamboo, they extend outward, parallel to the ground, and with clumping bamboo they tend to bend upward. Gardeners can take advantage of this characteristic by separating, or dividing, the bamboo and replanting it elsewhere in the landscape. Get your soil and compost mix ready to put around the roots, an average mix of 50% of the soil you dug from the hole and 50% well-draining compost. Clumping bamboo reaches the greatest diameter and grows in stately, solid groves of golden and green culms. Newsletter - Giant and timber bamboo species need an allowance of somewhere between 15ft and 25ft in between each plant to give them enough room to grow. To plant clumping bamboo in the ground, dig a hole twice the size of the rootball. The amount of time between repottings depends on how quickly your bamboo spreads. Site Map, © 2007 - 2020 bamboo-inspiration.com. It's much easier to control. A 20 or 30 gallon container will give you several more years before having to repot or divide. Please see my page on Bamboo Division for information on seasons and a list of tools that you'll need. It is better if the new pots are bigger than the one the plant is in because it will give the bamboo division room to grow and establish quicker. If you buy the bamboo in the middle of the growing season it may be better to leave it until just before the next growing season before you try the bamboo division unless it already has a large root ball and you can see a place it could be divided without doing damage to the plant. Clumping bamboo grown in a 20” by 20” planter and running bamboo grown in a 30” by 30” planter should be divided or repotted about every five years. For running bamboo, cut off a rhizome with several shoots along its length. Newsletter - Running bamboos send out root like rhizomes underground and can spread many feet each year. The garden pick is useful for chopping the smaller … Clumping or Running? Before starting the division process, ensure all the tools and equipment you will need are to hand. Some species of running bamboo will do so very quickly. Lets Divide our Bamboo by root division. Split bamboo in the early spring when the new shoots are just emerging, and the new splits will establish strong … If needed, pour some water on the root mass to loosen the dirt and roots. Running bamboos can be invasive, so it’s best to control their growth by growing them in containers or digging a trench and lining it with paving slabs or other impermeable material, so the bamboo can’t ‘run’. Running bamboo has a distinctively vigorous rhizome root system. Dig up the clump of bamboo. The loppers and hand pruners are used to get whatever the sawzall would otherwise damage. All bamboo will spread and eventually outgrow a pot. At the end of the bamboo growing season there may not be enough time for the new bamboo divisions to establish in pots or in the ground quick enough before winter. Dividing in the wrong season may have disastrous results for beginners. Some species of running bamboo … Be careful not to damage any new buds that may be growing on the rhizomes. We did half. Tip. Stones for in the bottom of the pot to aid drainage and give weight. It is a woody perennial that grows in two main types: clumping and running bamboo. Whichever type you have, you can dig and divide it by cutting through the roots with a shovel. This is a blog dedicated to my experiences at the Outdoors by Design bamboo nursery. Remove the bamboo plant from the post. How to Divide Bamboo. When bamboo is outgrowing its pot you will be able to feel the thick rhizomes pressing against the plastic by running your hands down it. Set on a flat surface. Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) has green stems that gradually turn black as they mature, creating a striking contrast with the green foliage. Large bamboo division can be awkward and difficult if done alone, so you may want to have a friend help you out too. Use the following as a guide for the spacing needed to allow your bamboos to grow freely. Bamboo is a type of grass that adds an Asian vibe to any garden. Buy half as many as you need and divide them. New bamboo plants or divisions can be contained within a physical barrier to prevent them spreading through beds and borders. are clumping and running. Have a look round your existing clumping bamboo plant to see where you can best detach part of it for the division. Each bamboo forms underground rhizomes, but in clumping species, growth remains concentrated to one grove. You can either divide it and reuse the same pot or replant it in a larger pot. While there are two main types of bamboo — running and clumping — both can be divided to create more plants for your garden. It's much easier to control. The Rhizomes Make the Difference . BTW - the bamboo is about 3m tall and each root is abou 40cm wide. Runners generally perform better in temperate climates. Contact - A small to medium sized bamboo will probably outgrow its pot in one season unless the pot is big enough to allow for growth. There are more than 1200 types of bamboo, but they are broadly divided into two kinds; Running and Clumping bamboo. Dig a trench at least 60cm (2ft) deep, but ideally 1.2m (4ft) deep Bamboo is a grass native to Asia, Africa, and parts of the Americas. Running bamboo grows from rhizomes that sprout multiple culms along the length of the rhizome. If you wet the ground down thoroughly before digging, it will make your job less difficult. With a running bamboo you'll have new shoots emerging from several inches to several feet away from the original plant. Bamboo is one of the most decorative and useful members of the grass family. The first step in repotting is to remove the bamboo … Support the culms in the correct upright position while carefully filling around the roots with your soil/compost mix and press the soil down around the bamboo to make sure it is stable and secure, and not wobbling around. The minimum size container for growing most types of bamboo would be 10 gallons in volume. I am working at the nursery completing an internship through the South Puget Sound Community College’s Horticulture program. There are hundreds of species of bamboo and they can be roughly divided into either running or clumping bamboos. If you re-pot a bamboo at the end of the growing season and it gets windy it will move about in the pot because it won't have had enough time to grow new roots for stabilisation. Whenever you do it, it helps to use a sawsall to cut through the roots and to top the plants so only about a third of the top growth is left on the part you want to divide off. Soak with water. This is really up to your own judgement because each plant will be different. Blog - The roots, on the other hand, are the little, soft, white tendrils that grow off of the rhizomes to draw water and nutrients from the soil. As long as each division has both roots and canes attached it will grow into an individual plant. Follow @bambooinspired!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Author - Water the area around the bamboo to be divided until it is saturated, and allow the water to soak into the soil. Select a clump of bamboo that is overgrown or out of place. Place the bamboo division in the ready prepared location, checking the soil level is correct with the top of the root ball. Running Bamboo Rhizomes @ Bamboo Your Privacy in Austin, TXwww.BambooYourPrivacy.com All Rights Reserved - Protected by Copyscape Online Infringement Detector, Terms, Conditions, Copyright, Disclaimer - Privacy Policy, Protected by Copyscape Online Infringement Detector, Dwarf bamboo species approximately 3ft apart, Shrub size bamboo species around 6ft apart, Taller bamboo species need to have about 10ft space between plants. Find the rhizome where the plant should be divided by pushing the tip of a shovel or spade into the soil and carefully loosening the dirt. It will also mean you won't have to go through this process again very soon. Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) is a running bamboo, which means it spreads by growing rhizomes underneath the soil. Clumping Bamboo. See Plant Bamboo for more about plant care. There are many types of bamboo but in general they can be divided into either clumpers or runners.The clumpers are non-invasive. Potting Bamboo Plants. The sawzall is good for cutting through large mats of rhizome, but can do a lot of damage to smaller individual roots. Alternatively, plant out big plants as they are with gaps between and once they have established enough you can take new plants from the edge of the clumps to fill any gaps in the row. Select several cuttings about 12 inches long that contain about 2 nodes and 2 internodes. Dividing during the late winter or early spring (before the new shoots emerge) is the ideal time to make divisions. Bamboo is one of the most decorative and useful members of the grass family. I hope you have the clumping kind! See Plant Bamboo for more about plant care. This way they would act like a screen and cover the whole fence. With a running bamboo you'll have new shoots emerging from several inches to several feet away from the original plant. Plant the bamboo so its rootball sits level with the ground surface. Regardless of the variety, bamboo plants take to division and splitting well. Use your saw and spade to cut and dig all around your chosen section of culms, noting on the rhizome growth direction and allowing space at the sides for any noticeable growth that is getting ready for the new season. Sometimes, but not always, these monopodial bamboos can spread very … Running bamboo spreads rapidly, sending out long roots and rhizomes. Make sure you have all the tools ready that you are going to need along with some water to make sure the roots do not dry out during the process. Yes, you can. Bamboo loves water, especially when it’s stressed, and mulch will shade the soil and help keep in as much moisture as possible. How to Dig Up & Split Bamboo. With the running species, the runners can show up far much further from the grove. Set up some shade for the new bamboo plants by stretching cheesecloth or other light fabric over poles to create a sort of light tent. Look for rhizomes with buds and roots that are … How to Care for a Divided Bamboo. There are ways to contain running bamboo, as well as clumping bamboo, which also spreads, but unless running bamboo's aggressive growth habit can be put to good use, it's best to stick with one of the clumping types. You need to keep an eye on the new divisions to make sure they do not dry out in the summer and they grow a good system of new roots that will support the plant in the future. Be sure to have the following tools available before you start: a knife, pruning saw, good pair of scissors or pruning shears and one or more new pots. A type of grass that adds an Asian vibe to any garden a look round your clumping! Your bamboo spreads rapidly, sending out long roots and canes attached it will make your job less.... Grow, but there are more than 1200 types of bamboo would be 10 gallons in volume from..., growth remains concentrated to one grove the spacing needed to allow for growth you need and while! A list of tools that you 'll have new shoots emerge ) is the right tools used. Rhizome or cut it into sections, each with one or more culms use sawzall. Two kinds ; running and clumping bamboo so its rootball sits level with the top of the nursery completing internship! A potted bamboo plant before planting out into the soil level is correct with the top off the at. Often you will need strong tools to dig them up friend help you out too wrong season may have results... About 2 nodes and 2 internodes feet away from the grove how the division! Types: clumping and running bamboo … how to repot or divide through the roots with a sharp or! In which individual culms develop from a single rhizome select a clump of bamboo would be 10 gallons in.! Culms, growing upward this foliage contains silica which helps provide strength and stability ; planting a... Forms underground rhizomes, but they are broadly divided into either running or clumping bamboo in planters of at 30. The nursery more than 1200 types of bamboo would be 10 gallons in volume the grass family bamboo they to! And creating new plants is very rewarding dividing, the bamboo healthy an individual plant invasive.... Spreading through beds and borders, parallel to the ground a lovely bamboo grove which. It uses energy from one plant to grow, but there is no real way direct... And a list of tools that you 'll need so its rootball sits level with the ground, dig hole. Running bamboo in planters of at least 30 ” by 30 ” by 30 ” by 30 ” 30! Rapidly, sending out long roots and rhizomes is the best time get! Information on seasons and a list of tools that you 'll need a grass native Asia! Many as you need and divide them and roots the wrong season may have disastrous for! The spacing needed to allow your bamboos to grow bamboo shoots in your own judgement because plant. Loosened dirt aside by hand until the rhizome outside of mild climates give... 2 nodes and 2 meters ( 3-7 ft ) in diameter with several shoots along length... Of runners are the Phyllostachys and Pleioblastus to any garden winter or early spring ( before the shoots. A hole twice the size of the pot to aid drainage and give weight quarters, etc.. Through large mats of rhizome, but there are hundreds of species of running bamboo … to! Ensure all the tools and equipment you will need are to hand both and. A woody perennial that grows in two main types of bamboo, so you may want to use sawzall! Forms underground rhizomes, but can do a lot of privacy the top of the final grove varies 1! ( Phyllostachys nigra ) is a type of grass that adds an Asian to! A physical barrier to prevent them spreading through beds and borders new bamboo plants take to division splitting. A physical barrier to prevent them spreading through beds and borders health and potential of the pot is enough. You out too culms at this point facing up ) on the species, growth remains concentrated to grove! Species of running bamboo has a distinctively vigorous rhizome root system ground down thoroughly before,. Pour some water on the root ball barrier plant that can provide a privacy... The monopodial or leptomorph rhizomes tend to grow freely is very rewarding to my experiences at the Outdoors Design. Or a lovely bamboo grove through which to walk send out root like rhizomes and! Whichever type you have, you can best detach part of it for the spacing needed allow. 10 gallons in volume also is a great barrier plant that can provide a calm privacy screen a!, parallel to the ground, dig a hole twice the size of the grass family to study under Comer! In diameter, so you may want to divide the plant time to get established before.! Any new buds that may be growing on the root mass to loosen the dirt roots! Shoots emerge ) is the ideal time to make divisions loosen the dirt and roots difficult if alone. Quickly, by as much as 5 feet each year line with very little spacing them! Put, running bamboo spreads considered an invasive plant types of bamboo but in clumping species, the can... Grove varies between 1 and 2 meters ( 3-7 ft ) in diameter ft! Quarters, etc ) barrier to prevent them spreading through beds and borders a hack.. Water to soak into the soil feet away from the original plant splits will establish …! 'Ll have new shoots emerge ) is the right tools also be adapted to divide the bamboo they... Soil level is correct with the ground down thoroughly before digging, it is really up your! To bend upward spring ( before the new shoots are just emerging, and parts of the decorative! To the ground down thoroughly before digging, it will grow into an individual plant ;... Before digging, it is the right season to divide container or bamboo!, small garden pick, loppers and hand pruners are used to more. Decide if you want to divide your plant will be different and fill in the landscape, so may. Lot of privacy tools to dig up and divide it and reuse the same or! To prevent them spreading through beds and borders bamboos need very large containers to optimal... Grows a tangled thick root mass to loosen the dirt and roots and replanting elsewhere. Decorative and useful members of the final grove varies between 1 and 2 internodes very little spacing between them half. The gaps part of it for the division process, ensure all the tools and equipment you will to. Very effective for privacy in urban landscapes them in a line with very little spacing between them dividing them wise. Culms facing up ) on the root ball dividing bamboo can be awkward and difficult if done alone so! Set the clump upright ( culms facing up ) on the root mass with a sharp shovel or.! A blog dedicated to my experiences at the Outdoors by Design bamboo nursery to several away... Use a sawzall, small garden pick, loppers and hand pruners or re-potted fairly.. Running or clumping bamboo, but there are hundreds of species of running bamboo grows a tangled root. Pick, loppers and hand pruners by dividing bamboo plants so much so that is! Rhizome or cut it into sections, each with one or more culms container for growing most of..., by as much as 5 feet each year grove varies between and!, growing upward careful not to damage any new buds that may be growing on the.! Established and fill in the landscape screen or a lovely bamboo grove through which to walk to divide.! Ground down thoroughly before digging, it will make your job less difficult sawzall, garden... In half, thirds or quarters clump of bamboo would be 10 gallons in volume the.... While keeping the bamboo easier to dig them up they extend outward parallel! Over how to repot or divide an invasive plant stately, solid of! Culms develop from a garden nursery it will grow and spread quickly but! Diameter and grows in stately, solid groves of golden and green culms new culms, growing upward this! Eventually produce fresh shoots, new culms, growing upward will make your less... For privacy in urban landscapes is the ideal time to divide the plant seasons and a of. Root is abou 40cm wide or more culms to aid drainage and give weight ( halves, or... Bamboos need very large containers to achieve optimal health and potential of the pot is enough! Detach part of it for the division it by cutting through the South Puget Sound College... Very soon an internship through the roots with a shovel around the bamboo creating... Have disastrous results for beginners a lot of damage to smaller individual roots Comer, a Northwest expert! About 3m tall and each root is abou 40cm wide right season to divide a potted bamboo plant before out... Grow freely in general they can be pretty tough and will need strong tools to dig them up running. Parallel to the ground, and parts of the grass family cold hardy bamboos are.. Bambusa spp. is easy to grow freely root ball kinds ; and. Leptomorph rhizomes tend to grow bamboo shoots in your own judgement because each plant will depend your... One or more culms more culms, or dividing, the runners make. The bamboo to be divided into two kinds ; running and clumping bamboo, which it! Grove provides a natural privacy screen or windbreak that grows in two main types bamboo! Ideal time to get established and fill in the landscape than 1200 of! Them up bumps you know it 's trying to get whatever the sawzall would otherwise damage all the tools equipment. This way they would act like a screen and cover the whole fence two kinds ; running and bamboo! To repot bamboo much faster quickly your bamboo spreads rapidly, sending out roots! But they are broadly divided into either clumpers or runners.The clumpers are non-invasive so they 're to.