Is Clumping Bamboo Too Hard to Maintain When Planted Close to a Fence?

Planting Site and Season

• Clumping bamboo thrives and grows quickly with the right planting. Start bamboo rhizomes in the spring in sites with quick drainage and bright sunshine. Bamboo won't grow in standing water or deep shade. Plant the bamboo 4 to 5 feet from your fence to minimize interference during growth.

Soil

• Bamboo rhizomes, or culms, need rich, loose soil for growth and rooting. The University of Georgia recommends turning 3 to 6 inches of soil amendment into the top 12 inches of natural soil to ensure soil quality. Use organic amendments such as compost, peat moss or wood bark to give bamboo nutrition and moisture. Turn balanced 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 granular fertilizer into the soil for more nutrition.

Planting

• Plant bamboo rhizomes or seedlings at 10 to 15 feet along the fence. These plants self-propagate and spread, and quickly fill in the empty space. If you plant seedlings, leave the tops of their root balls just above the soil surface. If you plant rhizomes, plant them just under the surface. Bamboo does best with relatively shallow plantings and good air circulation.

Maintenance

• Auburn University recommends watering bamboo every seven to 10 days to maintain soil moisture. Give each plant 2 to 3 inches of water every watering. Feed clumping bamboo with 10-5-5 fertilizer in the spring to encourage new summertime growth. Divide bamboo clumps at the root in the spring, before new growth starts, to keep the plants from getting too big.