I've never moved or divided bamboo and haven't moved any trees or shrubs in several decades.
I need to create a 16 foot privacy fence ASAP, and I plan to split my 5-year-old patch of [i]Fargesia rufa[/u]. It is a clumper, and it droops like a mushroom or umbrella. The culms are only 4-5 mm thick (less than 1/4"). I think the culms are around 10-12 feet tall, but they bend down almost to the ground.
I'm wondering how small I can subdivide the rootball and still give her something that will establish safely and grow quickly.
Can I go smaller than 12" diameter clumps? 8"?
I would like to get enough clumps to "fill out" a 16 foot row ASAP.
If I can only get four, 12" clumps, they will be spaced every 4 feet and won't "fill in" for a few years, I guess.
If I could get eight, 8" clumps, I could plant them every 2 feet ... if they don't all die.
I hope they don't tip over! (I will cut the culms down to 4-5' so I can fit them in a van... ) Do you think they will need bracing or stakes of some kind?
It's currently in a shallow raised bed, around 6" of somewhat amended soil over clay. NOT very organic soil, and I realized recently that the culms are not emerging very near the raised bed walls (concrete paving stones stood on end). I think the edges dry out too fast for the roots/rhizomes to be happy. I had planned to divide it some year soon and improve the bed it is currently in.
I plan to dig it out Saturday, then drive it to the other location Saturday night or Sunday morning, then plant it in partial shade in a forest-like setting. I know to water them until established, though coastal PNW fall and winter will water them for me!
