Transplanting Bamboo
A Guide for Transplanting Bamboo
Bamboo can be a very uplifting and aesthetically pleasing plant to have around, but at some point it may grow so large that you begin toying with the idea of transplanting bamboo to other parts of the yard to help create a balance. This is a perfectly normal scenario and is not altogether difficult to accomplish. This article is going to provide you with each step necessarily to successfully transplant your bamboo from one place to another.
First of all, you should never try to transplant your bamboo when it is shooting. The best times to transplant are in the early spring or late autumn, either before or after the bamboo shoots. The first thing you will need to do is prepare the soil of the area that you are transplanting bamboo to. This is the toughest part because it involves digging a hole one foot deep and one foot wide for small bamboo. The hole for a medium-sized bamboo plant should be two feet by two feet, and for large it should be at least three feet by three feet. You may want to recruit some help for this if you aren’t up for the vigorous work! If you want to plant more than one small bamboo plant, be sure to space out each hole at least three feet from each other. For larger plants, you may have to spread them apart by six or ten feet. Now you need to create a mixture that is fifty percent compost and fifty percent soil. Throw a bit of the mixture into the bottom of the hole, making sure to keep the soil nice and loose. Save the majority of the mixture to fill in the rest of the hole once the bamboo has been transplanted.
Next, you need to remove the bamboo plant from the ground. This is most easily done by using a chainsaw, so again you may want to recruit someone to help you get this bit done. Observe the plant and try to determine which way the branches are growing around the bottom. This will give you a good idea as to the direction that the roots are growing in. Use the chainsaw to cut into the ground about a foot away from the plant. Use a shovel to further loosen the soil around the plant and roots. Be gentle! You may need to rock the bamboo from side to side to help draw the roots up from the soil. If the bamboo is particularly tall or if the roots are quite heavy (and they can be!), try getting some friends to hold onto the bamboo while a shovel is placed under the roots to help lift them from the ground.
Now you have to act quickly, as bamboo roots should never be allowed to dry. If you are transporting the plants from quite a distance (by truck, for instance) you should take the time to water the leaves and roots well, then wrap them in plastic to keep them moist. When you have them at the planting site, gently lower the roots into the hole you prepared. Cover the roots with the remaining compost and soil mixture. Pack it fairly well to ensure there are no major air pockets while still leaving the soil loose enough for the roots to spread. If you like, you can add some mulch over the top of the area. You also need to be sure to give the entire area a good watering.
It is no lie that transplanting bamboo can be a bit of a pain, but once the job is done you can stand back and marvel and the beautiful landscape you’ve helped to create! If you have the means and the time, it can definitely make a difference in the whole appearance and “feel” of your garden. Good luck!