Transplanting bamboo rhizomes.?

I would like to fill holes in my bamboo fence with rhizome transplants and want to know the best way to have successful growth. I am taking the transplants from my own grove.



1. Should I cut my transplants into long runners (10+ rhizomes) or short cuts (2 rhizomes per peice X 5 peices).



2. Lasty, is there a better time to cut runners and transplant new rhizomes?



Many, many thanks!!

Transplanting bamboo rhizomes.?
I depends a little bit on what kind of bamboo you have. I deal almost exclusivly with clumping bamboo and the procedure is to dig a trench 6 to 12 inches away from the culms. For the large bamboo that I deal with I use a sawsall to cut and seperate each culm with as much of its rhizome as possible from the others in a clump. When it is out of the ground, saw off the top of the culm making sure there is at least one node with branches comming out. Have the new hole already prepared because you want the roots exposed to the air for as little as possible. Pack the new soil tightly around the rhizome careful not to leave any air spaces, and water very well and keep moist (not soggy, bamboo like to be well drained) for at least a month after.



If your bamboo is smallish the rhizomes may be small enough to just dig and cut with a sharp shovel. If thats the case several culms and rhizomes may be transplanet at the same time. As long as a culm has some rhizome attached, it has a chance to grow, so it doesnt really matter how many culm/rhizome combinations you get out of the ground.



You dont say where you live, but a good to do zhizome divisions is in the spring when your other plants start to grow.

In the summer you get heat stress, the fall is not too bad, and winter time is possible (if you are in the south) but you get more that will not make it.



If you have a big species, try some cuttings sometime!
Reply:i personally haven't had much luck with short lengths but i am no expert by any means.