Q. Do they drop a lot of leaves?

A. No, Gracilis Bamboo will hold their foliage very well and do not drop much leaf as long as they are being regularly watered and are mulched. If the Bamboo becomes dry for prolonged periods they will often shed their leaf as a stress response. To ensure minimal leaf drop, water regularly, fertilise with a complete all-purpose slow-release fertiliser every 3 months and mulch with an organic mulch.

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2. Are the roots invasive? No, Gracilis Bamboo are a clumping species of Bamboo which are not invasive and do not spread or run. The form of the Bamboo is very compact at ground level with all stems/culms clumping from the base where they are originally planted meaning they do not get out of hand or become a problem in the future.

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3. Can the roots do damage to walls, pipes, pools etc? Gracilis Bamboo have a shallow, fine and fibrous root system that non-invasive and non-destructive. The majority of roots are within the first 300mm of the soil profile to absorb water, nutrients and oxygen and therefore do not interfere with wall footings or pipes. The fine and fibrous nature of the roots also mean they generally do not result in any cracking or damage to structures.

4. Is a root barrier necessary? No, root barriers or rhizome barriers are generally not required for Gracilis Bamboo as it is a clumping species that does not spread, run or become invasive. In cases where neighbours are nervous that Bamboo is being planted along a boundary, a 600mm deep HPDE root barrier can be installed to give peace of mind.

5. How much water do they need? When first planted and until the Bamboo establishes some roots into the ground, they should be watered on a daily basis. This is particularly important during the summer months. Once established watering frequency can be reduced to 2 times per week. For Bamboo to look its best, we highly recommend that automatic irrigation is installed and setup on a timer which can be adjusted based on the season. This will ensure the Bamboo is always receiving sufficient water year round, even when on holidays etc.

6. How much fertiliser do they need? To ensure optimal health and fast growth, an all-purpose slow-release fertiliser such as Osmocote should be applied every 3 months. To really get the Bamboo looking lush, vibrant and green, a high nitrogen liquid fertiliser such as Power Feed can be applied on a monthly basis.

7. Can they be trimmed? Yes, the Gracilis Bamboo can be trimmed to almost any height to suit your particular situation. Trimming is a once-a-year job and once cut shorter the culm/stem will not re-grow above that cut point. It is generally not advised to trim the Bamboo below 2m in height. For more information on trimming, pruning and thinning see X page.

8. Can they be grown in full sun? Yes, a warm, full sun position will ensure the fastest rate of growth. All our stock is grown in full-sun to ensure they are hardened off and will handle any position.

9. Can they be grown in the shade? Yes, they do very well in a shaded position although they generally will not grow quite as fast when compared to a full-sun position. Whilst direct sunlight is not required a good amount of natural light is preferred.

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10. Do they attract mosquitoes? No, Gracilis Bamboo do not attract mosquitoes and this is a commonly spread myth. The only way Bamboo can attract mosquitoes is when stems/culms are  trimmed above ground level and the hollows in the stems collect water. To avoid this, always prune the stems/culms below ground level to avoid any water accumulation.

11. What is the best time of year to plant? In Sydney, Gracilis Bamboo can be planted at any time of year. Advantages of planting in the cooler months is that they require less water to establish and will also have a well developed root system to ‘take off’ once the warmer weather starts. Advantages of planting in the warmer months is that they will generally grow, establish and have roots into the ground much faster.

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12. Will they spread? No, Gracilis Bamboo are a clumping species of Bamboo which are not invasive and do not spread or run. They are a tight clumping species with all stems/culms sprouting from where the Bamboo was originally planted.

13. What is a clumping Bamboo? Clumping bamboo have shallow, non-invasive root systems which will generally form a singular root-ball from which the bamboo stems/culms will grow upwards forming a 'clump' of bamboo.

14. How far apart should they be planted to create a screen? To create a dense privacy screen, the ideal spacing is 1m. This will ensure a dense screen forms quickly with no gaps. Spacings can be reduced down to as low as 500mm apart to create a full screen quicker and as much as 1.5m if you are happy to wait longer until a full screen in formed.

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15. How long until a full screen is formed? This partially depends on the size/maturity of the Bamboo at planting however if spaced 1 metre apart and regularly water and fertilised, a full screen should be formed with 18-24 months.

16. Can they be grown in pots? Yes, the Gracilis Bamboo grow very well in pots, planters and troughs. Provided the pots are of a good size and are being regularly watered a nice screen can be created of a similar height and thickness to planting in ground. For more information on panting in pots see Page X.

17. What size pot do they need? For long term growth and ease of maintenance, the bigger the pot/planter the better. At a minimum a round pot should have a diameter of 450mm, square pots 450mm x 450mm.  Rectangular planters/troughs are a great way to create a screen, dimensions 1000mm x 500mm x 500mm will accommodate 2 Bamboo and can be placed in a row to create a similar effect to a Bamboo screen planted in the ground.

18. What potting mix should I use? When growing Bamboo in pots, it is essential that a high-quality premium potting mix is used to ensure ongoing health and vitality. Potting mixes should be free draining, have a high in peat or coir content and contain a soil wetting agent. For more information on growing Bamboo in pots, see Page X

19. Do I need to add anything to the soil when planting? While not absolutely necessary, improving the existing soil fertility by adding an organic compost at planting will ensure the Bamboo gets off to a good start and stays healthy. For more information on planting and soil conditioning see Page X.

20. What is the mature size of Gracilis Bamboo? The mature size of Gracilis Bamboo is genrally 6-8 metres in height with a width of 1-1.5 metres. This however does depend on a number of factors including the fertility of soil, amount of sunlight received and how often the Bamboo are being watered and fertilised. 

21. Do they require a lot of maintenance? No, once established Gracilis Bamboo require very little regular maintenance. Aside from water and fertilising every 3 months, there is not much else to do unless you want to trim or prune them to a certain height which is a once per year job.

22. Can other plants be planted with Gracilis Bamboo? Yes, other plants will coexist very well with Gracilis Bamboo and can be under-planted. They should be planted at a similar time before the roots of the Bamboo establish.