Getting ready to plant black bamboo (P.nigra)

[Keith of Ronin]

i am getting ready to plant black bamboo. Am buying four to five large pots of them. i have an area of 100 feet across by 50 feet in my back yard that i wanted to plant them, that is about 300 feet away from my house, i would really like them to grow into a forest of bamboo.

What can i do to maximize their growth?
Should i cut down some of the larger regular trees around (oak/pine) them so they will have more sun light or trim some of their banches off?
How often should i water them? (for now i will have to use buckets of water)

any ideas or hints would be greatly appreciated,

Thankyou,
Keith

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Keith,
In terms of height and stature, Phyllostachys nigra will grow less in height and diameter then other Phyllostachys species. It probably won't be a grove you can easily walk through, as it may only potentially grow about 15 ft height, with arching tops, but it will be strikingly beautiful with (initially) green culms turning to black by the second year.

What is the minimum winter temperature you get in EHT New Jersey?
Is your soil sandy, rocky, clay type... other?

The Pine/Oak environment should be ideal as Phyllostachys species like soil on the acidic side.

In the first year you will only need to provide a reasonable soil/loam for about 2 to 3 feet around each planting. Incorporating organic compost/humus will help rhizome development, and a mulch covering will suppress weeds and conserve moisture.
The amount of water you will need to provide will depend on the the size and vigor of the plant, and of course, the weather. It won't need any more then any other type of new planting, and the leaves on the plant will curl (like a blade of grass) to tell you when it is very thirsty.
It's better, especially with a new planting not to let it get to this point, as stress will slow down rhizome development for next years growth.
Once your bamboo becomes established, it will become more drought tolerant.
I've found that Phyllostachys species, once established grow very well in a clay/loam type soil. As the rhizomes develop each succeeding year, they work their way down to about 9 inches to 1 foot below ground, and heavier soils help to keep the culms well anchored and standing upright.

Whether you will need to remove any overhanging branches will depend on the path of the sun, ie, will the planting be in a southern exposure? Is the area getting at least half a day of sunlight?
One indication is to look at the type of vegetation that is currently growing in this area. Are they sun-loving or shade loving plants?
This may help you determine the best placement to start your plantings, and whether you may need to thin out any overhanging branches.

Once established, Phyllostachys species will co-exist quite nicely amongst other trees. Providing a portion of the grove receives adequate sunlight, other parts of the grove will be able to grow into more shaded areas.

Mark