I think if you just stick it in the ground it will grow. The stuff is majorly invasive. Our first house had a bamboo fence between us and the neighbors and it came up everywhere in the yard. We had to hack it down with a machete. It would even grow up in the barn and right next to the house. Of course, that's just been our experience with it. But it was a major pain in the rear to deal with.

Hi -- Just visiting from the LA/MS forum . . .

gilisi -- It depends on what type of bamboo it is. Most of the bamboos fall into two type, called 'running' and 'clumping.' Runners make the typical open, airy bamboo grove. (If you have experience with elephant ears, some run all over and some make nice neat clumps . . . same with bamboo.) Clumping bamboo can be propagated somewhat successfully by cutting pieces of cane that have at least two nodes (the ridged section on the cane), then burying the bottom node and filling the hollow cane with water. Eventually, if things are going right, the cane will develop root and rhizome structure underground. Running varieties cannot be propagated this way. If you do have a clump, it can be REALLY tough do dig up a division.

A runner is relatively easy though. Dig a root ball around a cane and you'll feel rhizomes as you work your way around the circle. The rhizomes stay relatively shallow, usually less than a foot or so. Lift the root ball out of the ground and replant in the same size hole.

JuliannaMKH -- Just like any other plant, you have to be responsible with bamboo's 'use.' Before getting any plant you should know the 'dos' and 'don'ts' of caring for it. Do you have mimosa trees or keep water hyacinth; those are majorly invasive, too! And they are VERY VERY hard to control since they spread by seed or water movement (like a flood). Or how about "Pennywort," a plant with a neat looking round leaf . . . that is known to me as dollar weed! With bamboo, though, since it only spreads by underground rhizomes, it is relatively easy to control, AS LONG AS YOU'VE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK (caps added for emphasis, not shouting). No personal offense intended, but your viewpoint is one of ignorance; if you looked at all the beautiful types of bamboo and took time to learn about it, you might feel differently.

For more info about bamboo, good starting points are the bamboo forum &/or the American Bamboo Society website.

Respect,
Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: ABS website

I actually used to long for a Mimosa until I found out how quickly they spread. The bamboo was already there when we bought the place and at the time gardening wasn't my thing. I maintain, respectfully, that the particular patch of bamboo we dealt with was a pain in the rear.

However...

I've heard that there are some varities out there that are non-invasive. I'm going to check out the web site you've linked to. I had no idea that bamboo even had enthusiasts! I've learned something new today.

thanks for the info dave! I'm not sure what i have. It runs along a fence line here at my house. I want to move some of it to another fence line on the other side of my property because my old neighbor gave his land to his kids and two of them are planning to move mobile homes out there.:( The bamboo I have growing at present has root systems a few inches under the ground that looks like rope weaving up and down everywhere. what type do you think this is? I keep it inbounds by mowing. it doesn't come up anywhere that is mowed regularly. there are horses on the other side of the fence that keep it from growing over there.
I've tried to dig it up but the roots(ropes)seem immovable and there is no end to them. NASA should study bamboo roots.

Information about eradicating bamboo from the American Bamboo Society

Juliana - I'm glad I've potentially made a convert! :D

gilisi - The "roots" that you see winding up and down are the rhizomes. From your description it sounds like you have a "runner." If you want to find out more about the exact species you have, describe it on the Bamboo Forum (height, culm diameter, color, number of branches at each node -- this will give people a start at identifying). You're right about mowing and horses controlling the spread. If a rhizome doesn't have shoots to provide it energy the rhizome dies off. If you dig rootballs like I described above, they are manageable - maybe not easy, but manageable.

For information about controlling runners, look for info on the web about "Rhizome Barriers" and "Root Pruning."

If anyone really wants/needs to get rid of bamboo, post a message on the bamboo board offering "Free Bamboo - U dig, U haul" and your sure to have at least a few takers.

An interesting tidbit about bamboo -- A mature bamboo culm reaches it's full height in 60 - 90 days. The largest culm documented was 14" in diameter and about 140' tall -- that's growing at about 2 feet/day!!! (That's even faster than kudzu spreads!!! LOL)

i would love to find some big bamboo like i've seen at six flags but when i ask about it at nurseries or garden centers they act like i just asked them to give me rabies or something. thanks for all the tips. i'm going to pick the brains of everyone in the bamboo forum(i didn't know there was one, thanks)

If bamboo rhizomes are anything like johnson grass rihizomes you don't need to dig up a whole root ball, just a strip of the root. Each joint of the rhizome will sprout a new plant.

TedP -- it is possible but unlikely that will work. However, bamboo growth requires a LOT more energy to produce culms than johnson grass does. That energy is produced by the culms. Without culms to support the rhizome you'll probably not get any growth. If it does work, it'll take a LONG time before you get the type of growth that bamboo is known for.

Dave