Sending Plants by Mail Order

We often get asked the question "How can you send large plants by post?".

Sending plants by mail order requires a lot of care and attention to ensure the plants arrive at their destination in pristine condition. Having 'road tested' a number of orders from various suppliers we are aware that problems exist in the mail order plant world, ie plants rattling about in ill fitting boxes, wet plant pots dampening the bottom of the cardboard & loose compost coming free from the plants.

Packaging is becoming a speciality here at Scottish Bamboo. A plentiful supply of recycled cardboard ensures that we are able to make bespoke packages to tightly fit even the most awkward shaped package whether it be 1 or 3 plants per box. A good, tight fit ensures that the plants don't rattle about inside the package. We don't scrimp on the watering either (to keep the weight down) prior to dispatch as we feel this is unethical & are always scared that this will compromise the health of the plant when it arrives at its destination. Plastic is wrapped around the plant pots to prevent moisture leaving the roots and dampening the cardboard. All this results in many satisfied customers receiving 1 litre to 12 litre plants via courier ranging from 0.3m to 2.4m in height.

All of our packages are sent on a next day delivery service and the locations of the parcels are traceable throughout the duration of their trip. Any special requests - like leaving it with a neighbour or in the garage - are passed on to the Courier. When your package is dispatched you will receive an email from the Courier advising you that it has been collected from us & you will be advised when you should receive it. In the unlikely event that a problem arises we have a really good relationship with the local Courier office and can normally find an acceptable solution.

Don't be put off with any concerns that you might have about making a large plant purchase online. Put your trust in Scottish Bamboo because we don't mind blowing our own trumpet by saying 'we've got it all wrapped up'.

Overwintering Bamboo In Pots

Although the majority of bamboo plants are hardy throughout the UK, as with any other plant type their hardiness is reduced slightly when kept in pots as their roots are more exposed to the cold winter temperatures. However, fear not, here are some simple tips to keep your bamboo plants healthy throughout winter until long awaited spring arrives again.

• Start reducing watering and stop feeding your bamboo plants (but don't let any containerised bamboo dry out!)
• Ideally place your bamboo plants undercover, i.e. in an unheated tunnel, greenhouse or car port (anywhere with some shelter). If you don't have spaces like these you could move them to a sheltered spot in the garden i.e. against a wall or fence.
• Consider burying the pots in the ground (this will mimick the plant being in the ground and offer more natural protection).
• Another tip would be to wrap your bamboo plants in pots with an insulating layer such as horticultural fleece, sheep fleece, blankets, straw or leaves. This just helps to stop the frosts getting to the roots.
• Safety in numbers - why not bunch up all your garden pots together like penguins!

For more information and tips on looking after your bamboo plants click here.

First Frosts at Scottish Bamboo

Sunday night (4th October) saw the first frost of the season here at Scottish Bamboo. We recorded -1.3 degrees C.

Tips for keeping your bamboo plants looking good over the winter:

1) If your bamboo plants are in containers try to keep under cover during frosty nights as the pots will freeze quicker than plants in the ground.

2) Don't let containerised bamboo dry out in the winter months, make sure the soil is moist at all times (remember the winds can be very drying).

3) Give your bamboo plants in the ground a good mulch to keep moist and protect the roots (organic matter - bark, compost or leaf mulch)

Planting a Bamboo Landscape

If your looking to plant a Bamboo Landscape a great tip to achieve the ultimate Bamboo Grove is to plant your area in groups of three plants. Plant each bamboo approx 1 - 2m apart & you'll be sure to achieve a sizeable clump in approx 2 years.

Our favourite plants to use for forming a grove are Chimonobambusa Tumidissinoda, Phyllostachys Glauca, Phyllostachys Vivax, Phyllostachys Vivax Aureocaulis, Phyllostachys Vivax Huagwenzhu & Phyllostachys Nigra Punctata.

The same can be achieved with many other bamboo plants such as any of the Fargesia varieties for dense clumps or any of the Sasa varieties for ground cover.

Why not check out our Planting Guide for a reminder on the best way to establish new bamboo plants.

Bamboo Hedging

Bamboo is a great option for creating a privacy screen or hedge in your garden. In fact, most bamboo will work well as a hedge or screen, and your choice of which variety to use really depends on your personal requirements such as desired height, density, garden / location and conditions of the site (i.e. coastal, windy, sunny, shaded).

Here at Scottish Bamboo our most popular hedging choices are:

1) Phyllostachys Bisettii - creates a very hardy dense dark green hedge, quick to mature, vigorous growth.
2) Phyllostachys Aurea - a lovely bright and ornamental screen with golden green culms.
3) Fargesia Robusta - a stately bamboo with colourful qualities, quick growing, well behaved and robust as the name suggests.
4) Pseudosasa Japonica - a broad-leaved bamboo creating a tropical feeling screen. Plentiful foliage making a dense and tough bamboo screen.
5) Fargesia Dracocephala - a nice short-medium height bamboo for screening commonly known as the hardy dragon bamboo.

Visit Scottish Bamboo today for lots more bamboo hedging ideas.

Bamboo Shooting

Every year brings the anticipation of which bamboo is going to shoot first.

This year the winner is Fargesia Rufa. Last year it was Fargesia Murielae. What makes bamboo plants shoot in a different sequence each year & why do they shoot at different times depending on your geography in the UK?

Caring for your Bamboo Plants

Growing Bamboo: Some Key Points
· Most bamboos prefer full sun and a soil pH of around 6.0 - 6.2.
· Newly planted bamboo requires liberal watering.
· Lack of water is the biggest problem with growing bamboo.
· Bamboos require water to send out new culms.
· Standing water inhibits the growth of bamboo.
· Bamboo doesn't like competition from weeds.
· Taller bamboo should be staked, to prevent uprooting.
· Bamboos are evergreen and will lose and replace leaves as they grow.
· Since bamboos are grasses and are grown for their foliage. Feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer. Mulching will help control moisture and will protect cold hardy varieties in winter.