Seasons for Planting Bamboo in Zone 4

Spring

• Gardeners usually plant seeds and vegetables, flowers, trees and ground covers in early spring once the last frost date has passed. Because even hardy bamboos are better accustomed to warm climates, bamboo plants should not be planted until the ground is thoroughly warm. Prepare the growing bed in early spring and plan to inter your bamboo in late spring or in the summer months.

Summer

• Purchased bamboo from nurseries and garden centers where it is sold in containers or balled and burlaped. The plant does not grow well from seed. When transplanting your bamboo into your summer garden, site it near the south side of your home so that it stays warm throughout the winter. Avoid planting it in areas situated near the corner of a building, as wind damages the plant. Because many hardy bamboos are running bamboos, they are invasive. This means that they reproduce vegetatively through their root system and spread to areas of your garden where bamboo is not desired. Plant your running bamboo within barriers. Successful barriers are ordinary planting containers with the bottoms cut out. These containers act as underground barriers that prevent excessive growth of the running root system.

Fall

• Plant bamboo in autumn when the ground is warm if they have developed root systems and the plants have several mature leaves. Young plants do not have the endurance to survive a stressful winter. Mulch your bamboo plants to prepare and protect them for winter. Winter hardy bamboos that are suited for zone 4 include golden grove bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata) and a species native to North America called canebrake (Arundinaria gigantea).

Winter

• The worst season for bamboo planting is winter. The ground is frozen and impenetrable and the bamboo itself will freeze to death in the climate. However, remember when you plant your bamboo in late spring and summer. Bamboo needs protection from winter frost, so protect your bamboo with mulch when you plant it. Mulch your plants well in the spring and continue applying mulch as needed. This insulating layer keeps your bamboo's root systems healthy through the winter. Bend supple branches and tie them down to the base shortly before temperatures dip. This helps the young branches survive cold climates.