How to Grow Bamboo to Cover a Wall

Cover the soil to 6 feet out from the front of the wall with a 6-inch layer of compost. Work the compost into the top 12 inches of soil with a mechanical tiller or by turning it in with a shovel.

Dig a planting hole for each bamboo plant. Make the hole the same depth and slightly larger in diameter than the nursery pot. Follow the spacing recommendations for the particular bamboo variety, as this can vary between 5 and 10 feet or more depending on the bamboo type.

Lift the bamboo plant from the pot. Set it in the hole so it is at the same depth as it was in the container.

Fill the hole in with soil. Water the planting immediately to settle the soil around the bamboo rhizomes.

Spread a 3-inch layer of leaf mulch, pine straw or wood nuggets over the top of the soil. The mulch material conserves soil moisture and prevents weed invasion.

Water the bamboo plants once or twice weekly the first summer after planting, providing about 1 inch of moisture. Irrigate every 10 days after the first three to six months.

Fertilize the bamboo screen annually, beginning in the second spring after planting. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer following package-listed application rates.

Cut out dead canes annually, and remove any canes that are more than 7 years old, using pruners or a handsaw. Cut back canes to a node each spring to maintain their height so they don't grow taller than the wall, if desired.