How to Dig Up & Split Bamboo

Water the roots of the bamboo clump thoroughly the day before you intend to dig. Soft ground is easier to dig and the plant roots will pull away from the ground more easily than if the soil is dry and hard.

Mark a circle around the bamboo clump with lawn paint, sand or lime 6 to 8 inches away from the outside perimeter of the clump.

Dig a trench outside of the marked circle, as deep and wide as the spade or shovel, all the way around the bamboo. If you're only digging up a section of a large clump, dig the trench on the exposed side, then cut straight down with the shovel around the rest of the root ball. If necessary, cut large roots with pruners or loppers. The trench will give you room to cut underneath the roots and provide some space for leveraging the root ball out of the ground.

Slide the shovel or spade underneath the root ball to finish loosening it from the ground.

Lift the clump of bamboo out of the ground, using the shovel as a lever against the side of the trench. Lay the clump of bamboo on its side. Remove as much dirt from the roots as you can with your hands, then wash away the remaining soil with a strong stream of water.

Divide the clump with the shovel or spade, slicing cleanly through the roots. You can also use pruners, loppers or a pruning saw to slice through the root ball. Divide the roots into sections at least 6 inches in diameter for small-growing bamboos and 12 inches for larger ones.

Replant each division as soon as possible, either in the garden or in containers. Plant the divisions so they're at the same soil level as they were growing before. Keep the roots of these new divisions moist during their first season to encourage rapid root growth, but make sure the soil is well-drained.