How to Grow Bamboo in Zone 6

Bamboo is a versatile and adaptable plant, and its many varieties can be grown in almost any climate. For Zone 6 gardeners, where winter temperatures can reach as low as -10 F to 0 F, the trick is to pick out a suitable variety of bamboo. Upward of 150 varieties can be grown in Zone 6, so you won't suffer from lack of options. Ask your nursery or bamboo grower for suitable cold-hardy varieties.

Shovel
Compost (1 cubic foot per 5 gallon bamboo plant)
Balanced N-P-K fertilizer
Mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Select a site to grow your bamboo. Your plant needs several hours of sunlight per day, and keep in mind that it will spread. Dig a hole an inch or two deeper than the bamboo root ball and twice the size around. Sprinkle an inch or two of compost in the bottom of the hole, and place the bamboo on the compost.
- 2
  Mix compost into the remaining soil at a rate of one-third to one-half compost. Fill the hole with this mix, compacting soil around the roots as you go to prevent air pockets. The top of the root ball should sit level with the surrounding ground once it is planted.
- 3
  Water your bamboo just until a puddle forms on the surface. Regular water is essential until the plant becomes established, so water well twice a week, increasing the rate during hot or dry periods. After a year, rainfall may be sufficient except during dry spells.
- 4
  Avoid fertilizing during the first year, until the plant is established, as fertilizer may burn the roots. After a year, apply a balanced fertilizer at the recommended rate, twice a year -- once in early March and again in early June. Apply manure freely throughout the growing season. Apply a heavy load of mulch (4 to 5 inches) across the base of the bamboo for winter protection.

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