Always call (811) before any project that involves digging more than 6" below the ground. Bamboo typically prefers partial to full sun. Bamboo needs a similar amount of water as your average lawn grass. It needs a well drained soil. Avoid swampy places.

Running bamboo grows quicker and easier, but is likely to spread to undesired areas. Due to this, running bamboo should be potted or surrounded by well built, underground barriers. Clumping bamboo grows slower but is much easier to control, and therefore the advised choice.

Maximum height is only reached in ideal conditions and after many years. Typically, your bamboo will not reach maximum height, only ~70% of maximum height.

In some species of bamboo, leaves turn color in autumn and fall off. Others maintain their leaf color year round. Different shapes are found in different species. The largest factor in determining the shape is whether it is a clumping or running bamboo, though among each type variation does exist.

It is a shade loving species It is hardy in USDA zones 4-9. Detroit is in zone 6b. It is a clumping variety, so there is much less worry of spread to neighbors’ yards. It has a maximum height of 15 ft, which means an expected max in Detroit of 6-9 ft The foliage stays green year round It is common, and therefore cheap ($20 for 1-3 ft tall plant)

Recently planted bamboo will fall victim to the summer afternoon sun and bamboo needs time to establish itself before enduring the winter. In warmer climates, bamboo may be planted in the fall.

Try to keep the bamboo 1. 5 ft away from any permanent underground structure. Bamboo roots are very strong and can go through most things.

Unlike trees, you may put the mulch up to the stem of the bamboo plant. Bamboo is a forest plant, it likes to have it’s roots covered by more than soil.

For each shoot that now exists, expect a new one to sprout next year. If your bamboo plant has 5 shoots, expect to have 10 next year.

Provide similar volume of water to lawn grass. Make sure soil is well drained. Mulch - like leaves, grass trimmings, or wood chips - help retain moisture and reduce need for watering.

Check running bamboo roots 2x per year; trim if necessary. Check clumping bamboo every other year; trim if necessary.

Make sure roots are covered with a thick layer of mulch (~3")

Trim in late summer or fall. Cut above nodes.