Bamboo

Adapts well to Georgia soil and conditions…

Bamboo is a versatile hedge or screen and is also useful for fishing and scout projects.

Bamboo is native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. It grows extremely well in most of the soils in Georgia. Depending on the variety, bamboo grows from two to thirty feet tall. Because it grows so rapidly, it can easily become a landscape pest.

Develops well into hedges.

Most garden centers sell "hedge" bamboo. This variety grows to a height of 10 to 12 feet and can be confined to its intended area fairly easily. Other varieties are grown with underground barriers to control their growth.

Sun or shade…

Bamboo can be grown in either sun or shade. It does not produce any showy flowers, berries or fruit. It's used mostly because it has so many stems and slender leaves and provides a dense barrier.

For more vigorous growth, fertilize bamboo with a complete fertilizer such as 8-8-8 during the spring.

You can plant bamboo to form a screen or a hedge. When you're establishing a hedge, plant the clumps four to six feet apart. Bamboo makes an excellent container plant for use on a patio or a deck. It also makes an excellent cane fishing pole.

For more information on bamboo, contact your local County Extension Office.