If you can manage a lawn you can grow bamboo. Both are grasses and both will thrive in our climate with minimal care. Fertilize bamboo once or twice a year with lawn fertilizer and irrigate twice a week during the dry summer period, just like your lawn. Ignore your bamboo and it will wait, dormant, for better conditions. In very dry locations without any summer irrigation it may die. The simplest maintenance method is to apply a slow release, high nitrogen lawn fertilizer once (in May) or twice a year (in late April and late June). Throw a handful of granular fertilizer over each square meter of surface area and water in thoroughly. Or you can do this organically by applying about 3 inches of well-rotted manure or rich compost each year, in late fall or early spring.

Most bamboos aren’t picky about soil types, but improvements with organic matter such as mulch or aged manure are very beneficial. (See Planting Bamboo) Local soil tends to be slightly acidic, which is fine for bamboos. Like most plants, newly planted bamboo needs some care and attention for the first year or two until established. See Less...

Will bamboo spread uncontrollably?

Bamboo Barriers?

What’s the best planting method?

What’s the best spacing for bamboo screens or hedges?

Selecting the right bamboo variety for your landscape:

What is the growth pattern for bamboo?

How do you kill bamboo (intentionally or accidentally)?

How do you grow bamboo in containers and pots?

Recommended bamboos for specific situations: