Well folks, my rufa did well this year for the most part. I am really happy with the new shoots that most of the plants have put up. This being said, I would like to expand my bamboo garden to include another clumper (I have designated a smallish garden just for my bamboo!). I am checking out most varieties and I would like some suggestions. Something a bit more colorful perhaps, but I am not picky. Just want to add some variety. Come next spring a intend to split my rufa but I still have plenty of room in the garden for a second (maybe third) clumper. Bring on the suggestions!

P.S. I am assuming that bamboo can be transplanted in fall, just like most other plants, correct?

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Regards,

steve-in-kville

Fall is a great time to move or transplant bamboo.

The best time to transplant is early fall or middle of the spring (just before shooting time) in colder areas.

The problem with fall planting is that the ground is way too wet, at least in my surrounding area it is.

Just as last year, there is more rain this time around, and there isn't enough sunlight to dry it out quickly. This makes the ground soggy and newly planted bamboos will not like it.

If your area is well drained, then yes I think fall planting is good as long as the root system has enough time to stabilize before winter hits. And you get to see new shoots in the Spring, provided that your bamboo already has rhizomes during planting.

However, I think the best time to plant a bamboo is in the Spring, because it gives the bamboo the longest time to get established and prepare for Winter. The downside is that you may not see new shoots until the following year.

Thanks for the replies. I ordered two Nitida plants from the same outfit I bought my Rufa from back in the spring. I also just bought the book "Bamboo for Gardens" and I am sure transplant info is in there as well.

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Regards,

steve-in-kville

I find that fall planted boos do better here in the PNW. I rarely plant boos in the spring, as they have to be watered in summer as if they were still in a pot (summers are usually dry here, the rest of the year is usually wet, wet and more wet). Boos are tempramental if you plant them when they are shooting, so I avoid that. Plant them now, during rhizome season and they will grow roots and rhizomes in the fall and early winter and by spring they will be well established. Last fall I planted three aureas, a Bory and a Nuda, and they all put up a lot of shoots this year. I just planted a nigra Megeruchiku, another aurea, and a Spectabilis. I split and propogate boos in the spring though, before shooting.

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Happy trails...

The cool season is a good time to plant bamboo.

When temperatures get too high an unestablished transplant may be unable to take up enough water and survive. A spring transplant may not have enough time to become established enough to endure summer heat, so autumn may be a good time.

I've seen good success transplanting in January of an unusually mild winter, breaking through a thin layer of frozen soil to do so.
Unlike the spring transplants, all such plants survived the drought the following summer.

However where winters tend to see sustained freezing temperatures with winds, an early spring transplant may be the best available option as the icy winds of winter would otherwise cause more damage to the bamboo than the summer heat.

At times the soil may be undesirably soggy, but you can plan ahead and create a raised mound to help drain excess soil moisture before planting your bamboo.