Springtime shiny new growth and what it means.
This entry is primarily for those folks who have groves less than three years old, but it may benefit others who are investigating the use of bamboo primarily for screening.
It may seem strange, but the biggest confusion we see is in people who are anticipating unreasonably rapid growth from their new plantings of bamboo. While it is true that bamboo can form a screen much faster than trees, an understanding of how that happens is important. In other words, we need to define what fast growing really means.
A well established (many years old) grove will have shoots which break through the surface and get to full height in a matter of a few weeks. That’s even if it’s 35 feet tall! And anyone who has a 7 year old grove knows that. But the people who are thinking about forming a screen can be mislead by ill informed TikTokkers or ill motivated websites into thinking they can plant a dozen plants and have a screen in a year or two. This calls for a reset in expectations.
You can see a slide show of progress in growth over 4 years at abcbamboo.com at the bottom of the Before and After: Image Gallery | Almaville Bamboo Co.
portion of our website. This planting was started with full size plants (#10 pots) every 3 feet. Basically there was nothing to see for the best part of 3 years. Then there was a burst of shiny new growth and an 8’ tall screen was formed. That is normal. No one should think that THEIR efforts will surpass this because they have the best soil, sun, fertilizer or other conditions. All of us are mostly limited by the amount of food previously stored by the plant each year. There is very little difference in speed between species, although screening plants seem to proliferate a bit quicker than timber plants.
If you started your planting with spacing between the plants to let them grow together, we recommend leaving all of the growth untrimmed for a few years, including the ugly parts. The more material you have photosynthesizing to store food, the faster you will have a screen. If you have an awkward, bent or broken piece, you can use a zip tie or string to “splint” it to a healthier piece. It can be cut out in a few years.
What about floppy new plants? As mentioned, you can try to tie them up, but if they are broken, particularly if they are so young that they have not completely lost their culm sheaths, they may abort to below the surface. A small amount of that is to be expected.
Going forward, you may want to stiffen up the new plants. Grass clippings used as mulch can improve the toughness of the skin, which helps support your young plants. And as always, if your grove is at least a few months old, you can pour on the coals so to speak with fertilizer now. Hot chicken manure, cow manure, slow release 13-13-13, even straight ammonium nitrate is tolerated at this point. While you are trying to expand your grove (it’s not needed later) you can view this as a hungry feeder.
You have undoubtedly heard it said that praying for patience can get you opportunities to practice it…Well unless you are among those who have a budget which allows you to plant a complete screen at the get-go, this is such an opportunity.
We are happy to answer your questions when you call 615-907-2571 or email us at: [email protected]
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