Bamboo is an eco-friendly material, you can use it to make a variety of home and garden DIY bamboo projects.
What are the things you can make out of bamboo?
In this article, we take a look at 5 things you can make from bamboo sticks by using simple hand tools. Use the pictures and video for clarity.
Bamboo sticks for plants
Bamboo sticks in use in pots and patio
Many gardeners and homeowners are using bamboo sticks as stakes because they are tall, strong and blend incredibly well with other plants in the garden.
There are many fantastic uses of the sticks. One that stands out is staking indoor and outdoor plants.
The bamboo sticks provide a strong support system for small shrubs, tomatoes, beans, soft fruit and vines.
You can cut the sticks to length and tie plants along them to provide the support they need to grow.
Build a nice square bamboo and wood trellis for your garden plants. First, build a square or rectangular frame. Then, use the bamboo sticks as support for the plants to crawl up them.
This can be an easy and rewarding garden project. Your creepy crawly plants will love it.
A square trellis provides good support for creeper plants.
Square wood and bamboo trellis for plants
The square trellis is not only a multi-purpose trellis but makes a nice centrepiece for the garden.
You can grow flowers, soft fruit, vines and vegetables such as cucumbers to grapes and passion fruit.
To build a 4m x 4m square trellis with two opened ends and three closed ends, you’ll need 35 small bamboo sticks and 4 treated posts.
You'll also need hand tools. Here is the material breakdown:
4 treated posts 4m in length,
8 sticks on each side (x2 panels),
8 for the top panel,
10 sticks for strengthening the sides and top panels, and
1 extra.
And, here are the quick steps to guide you when building the trellis.
Firstly, use the first lot of 8 sticks to build the first panel.
Secondly, repeat the 3 steps to build the other - you should have three 4m x 4m trellis panels.
Thirdly, dig the soil and lay the 4 treated posts at each corner.
Next, tie the three panels to the posts.
Then, strengthen the trellis by tying bamboo sticks across the frame (or diagonally along it)
Finally, your square trellis is ready.
The square trellis is a stunner – a great garden centrepiece.
The treated posts give this trellis longevity. It can last for up to 10 years or more.
After that, you can replace the bamboo trellis panels and give them a new look. Your plants are going to love it.
Garden trellis ideas with pictures
Take a look at these garden trellis with pictures and bamboo tomato trellis to get inspiration for your next project.
Building an A-Framed Garden Trellis for Runner Beans is the best thing you can do.
There are many sticks to use for this project, yet the bamboo sticks are ideal as they are slim, tough and durable.
You can use the bamboo A-frame trellis without having to dismantle it.
(L) Making A-frame trellis for runner beans, (R) new runner beans climbing up (Garden Pictures)
A-framed trellis panels
The A-Framed Garden Trellis is best for runner beans and other creeper plants that needed support.
You have the option to build two trellis panels assemble them or build the A-framed structure in the garden.
For a 4m x 4m A-framed trellis, you’ll need 21 bamboo sticks.
To build it, follow these steps:
Firstly, stake 6 sticks on each side to form an A-shape. (The best way to start is to make the front, middle and back As – we call them the 3As)
Secondly, tie long bamboo across the top of the 3As. (This is the length of the A-framed trellis panel).
Thirdly, put the other bamboo stick in between the spaces and tie them together. You will have to space them apart according to the number of plants you want to grow.
Then, tie 3 or 4 bamboo across (or diagonally) to strengthen the trellis panel.
Finally, your A-framed bamboo trellis is ready.
Your runner beans are going to adore the A-framed trellis.
Note that if you are going to build a trellis for planting the runner beans, you may have to stake them 20cm to 30cm apart. That means that you will need additional sticks, where necessary.
Garden trellis ideas with pictures
Take a look at these garden trellis with pictures and bamboo tomato trellis to get inspiration for your next project.
Sweet peas are adorable plants with stunning (sweet-scented) flowers. They will definitely love the support to grow well.
Build frames of bamboo poles and trellis for them.
Bamboo pot trellis: (L) Sweet pea in full summer bloom and (R) the sweet pea and trellis support in winter.
Sweet pea garden trellis
Sweet peas love the pyramid-like trellis with three sides.
If you are growing them in a large pot or in the garden, you should build this trellis.
It looks more or less like a wigwam, but the better because the bamboo sticks will cross-cross close together to form an adorable pattern.
The sweet pea garden trellis will have 3 side panels, when combined they'll form a pyramidal structure.
That means that you will have to make three separate trellis panels and put them together.
As a side note, you can build more than three panels (in this case they'll be squares) and put them together, side-by-side.
You will need bamboo sticks, garden ropes, cable ties, a handsaw and a pair of secateurs.
Here is how to build a sweet pea trellis frame
Firstly, cut 6 lots of bamboos in equal lengths of 4m. (These bamboos will form the sides of the trellis panels).
Secondly, you’ll make three trellis bamboo panels, use 2 bamboos you cut earlier and tie some small bamboo sticks in a triangular shape.
Thirdly, repeat the same step until you’ve made 3 triangular trellis panels.
Then, use cable ties or garden ropes to tie the 3 trellis panels together to form a pyramid structure.
Finally, cut out the uneven edges and tidy them up.
That’s it, your Sweet Pea Garden Trellis is ready to use. Grow the sweet pea seeds or of the new plant underneath and around the trellis. They will look lovely!
Garden trellis ideas with pictures
Take a look at these garden trellis with pictures (including the bamboo tomato trellis and sweet pea bamboo cane frame) to get inspiration for your next project.
One of the best things about growing bamboo is that you can use bamboo canes for staking plants, garden frames and trellis to support creeping plants like the runner beans.
We covered the home and garden uses of bamboo canes extensively in this article – take a look: Bamboo plants for sticks.
7. Use bamboo sheaths, branches and sticks for arts and crafts
Bamboo sheaths, branches and sticks are great for DIY arts and crafts because they are thin, tough and bendable. You can create any shape with them.
The uses are limitless, it depends on your creativity.
For example, the bamboo sheaths can be cut to make windmills and the sticks used for making mini rafts (Below is a video of mini rafts we built out of bamboo canes and had lots of fun with).
Adult supervision will be required when cutting the bamboo sheaths and sticks.
Apart from the 10 uses of bamboo, they have been used extensively to make tea, wine, beers, vinegar and many natural home remedies.
However, there are special bamboos that are fit for these purposes, and not all bamboo plants are useful.
Some bamboos have little hairy spikes on the sheaths that can make skin itch.
Many have tough culms that are razor sharp. Others are invasive.
And not all bamboos are edible.
Therefore, though there are many benefits of bamboo plants, you have to know what kind of bamboo you should grow.
Selecting the right bamboo plant to grow is the first thing to think about.
Common Phyllostachys and Fargesia bamboos
Here at GardenBambooPlants.com, we featured over 70 bamboo plants that thrive in the UK weather. The suggestions above will help you to find the right plant.
At gardenbambooplants.com, we feature these bamboos because they can grow in the warmer parts of the UK.
We also know that bamboo seeds and cuttings are often hard to get.
One suggestion is to contact the plant's nurseries, garden centres or online retailers and ask for the particular plants that you are looking for.
You can also leave a message below to let us know about your requirements and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
The running bamboos have rhizomes that grow away from the parent plants. That is why they are often referred to as invasive bamboos.
The clump-forming bamboo plants are non-invasive. As the name implies, the rhizomes are compact at the base, forming clumps.
You can grow both varieties and enjoy them.
There is no need to worry if you grow them right.
Find out how to grow running bamboos without worrying about their invasiveness.
How to grow running bamboos in the garden
You can grow running (invasive) bamboo plants in the garden, such as hedges, privacy screens, pot and container bamboos, bamboo for sticks and balcony screens.
There are hundreds of bamboo plants that grow well in the UK.
Each bamboo is suitable for gardens and can be used for different purposes.
The running bamboo can be a concern because of the potential impacts on the other structures.
Here at gardenbambooplants.com, we advocate for planning before planting.
This means taking two actions.
Firstly, survey the nearby site. The initial survey does not have to take longer than 10 minutes. Yet, it is important to control the bamboo from the start.
So, find out
what is near the potential bamboo site;
what are the likely impacts on the built environment; and
whether it’s necessary to grow running bamboo there.
Secondly, use a root barrier. Regardless of where you are going to grow the running bamboo plants, a root barrier is vital to spreading.
Take precautions when growing running bamboo
The steps above will stop the running bamboo plants from invading the built areas or neighbours' gardens.
Survey the garden site and use root barriers before planting.
Do not grow the running bamboo close to the paths and buildings.
As a rule of thumb, grow the running bamboo at least 5 metres away from any built area.
Another option is to grow the running bamboos in large heavy-duty pots. The pots will act as barriers so that there is no need to spend extra money on root barriers.
Also, you can move the pots and place them wherever you want.
The disadvantage is that you may have to re-pot the plants every 5 or 10 years.
Not bad because it’s less work than digging up the running bamboo rhizomes in the garden.
Where to buy running bamboo in the UK?
Your nearest garden centres will have supplies of running bamboo plants.
Ask for the features and growth requirements, and what you expect of the plant.
Get their professional opinion on what to do to stop the bamboo from invading other built areas.
Many labels on the running bamboo plants do not have a warning on them.
So make sure to find out how far the running bamboo is likely to spread.
Based on the popularity and gardeners' preferences, here are the top 5 running bamboo plants you can grow in the garden. (Get more information via the links)
1) Phyllostachys Aurea (Fishpole bamboo) – Tall, slim and tough bamboos, ideal for garden sticks. If you want a good supply of bamboo sticks to use in the garden, this is the best bamboo.
2) Phyllostachys Bissettii (Green Bamboo): tall culms and long, dark green leaves, dense evergreen foliage. A fantastic bamboo for the border hedge or privacy screen.
3) Phyllostachy Areosulcata 'Spectabilis' (Golden Groove Bamboo) – spectacular culms, ideal for the driveway, or tall hedge and privacy screens. It’s also great as an individual plant, plant it where you can see the colours (yellow and green stripes) all year round.
4) Phyllostachys vivax aureocaulis (Golden Chinese Timber Bamboo) – similar to Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis', but bigger and taller. This timber bamboo has yellow and stunning green stripes. Best for thick privacy screens.
5) Bamboo Phyllostachys Sulphurea Viridis (Ougon-kou Chiku Bamboo) - is a stunning ornamental plant due to its appearance. At 4m average height, this bamboo is a great addition to woodland forests, large gardens and dense garden hedges. It is edible bamboo. Very invasive.
FEATURED: Phyllostachys rubromarginata, (also called the Reddish Bamboo or Red Margin Bamboo) has a rather reddish colour of the new shoots. This running bamboo is tall and upright. It tends to spread very quickly, ideal for tall hedges and quick natural privacy screens.
What to do when bamboo invades other spaces?
It will cost you a lot of money, time and effort to bring them under control later. If your garden bamboo invades other sections or the neighbour’s side, you’ll have to act fast.
An effective way to remove running bamboo rhizomes is to dig them up completely. Uprooting bamboo plants is hard work because the rhizomes are tough.
But the underground parts do not grow deep, they are often found on the top 30 – 50 cm layer of the soil. To remove the bamboo rhizomes, dig around the plants to get an idea about how far they’ve grown.
Then, use a pickaxe and crew bar to remove small sections until all is done.
Alternatively, dig around the plants and put in root barriers.
Take a look at how we managed to bring our running bamboo plants under control in this YouTube video.
The best thing to do is to wear heavy-duty gardening gloves and boots when working in the bamboo garden.
Tidying up your bamboo garden is a great way to monitor the growth of the plants.
The bamboo care and maintenance jobs you do will keep your bamboo in good shape. But bamboo splinters and cutting edges are sharp with the potential to cause nasty cuts.
We need to protect ourselves when working with bamboos.
Let’s take a look at the common hazards to look out for.
Why wear heavy-duty gardening gloves?
Bamboos are biodegradable. They’ll break down within a couple of years.
But fresh bamboo splinters can inflict cuts to the body, which can lead to serious infections. Wearing gloves is the best way to protect you from bacterial infections.
Bamboo cuts may not be a major concern if they are washed, cleaned and treated immediately.
The concern is that microorganisms in the garden can enter your body through cuts and cause serious infections.
The important thing is to prevent cuts, scrapes or splinters by wearing gardening gloves.
Bamboo gardening hazards
New bamboo plants and established bamboo groves pose different risks. As mentioned, the main concern is to avoid cuts from bamboo splinters and strips.
Gardeners who have worked with bamboo will attest to the fact the bamboo splits are very sharp. Cuts are like paper cuts but deeper.
The potential for infection is high. So, here are 5 hazards to look out for when working in the bamboo garden.
Splitting bamboo pot plants
Splitting bamboo before planting is the best way to get several plants out of a single purchase.
Wear gardening gloves when splitting bamboo to protect yourself from the dirt.
Sharp bamboo strips
Bamboo strips are sharp due to the way the bamboo culms grow. Split bamboos tend to have a lacerated edge.
Fortunately, many garden bamboo plants in the UK do not require splitting. They are mostly used as garden sticks for staking plants. But if you are working with split bamboos and bamboo splinters, always wear gloves for protection.
Bamboo edge cuttings
Remove the old bamboo culms neatly by cutting across the cross-section. This will prevent any sharp bits from sticking out at the base of the bamboo groves and causing injuries.
Ominously, the base of the culms lasts longer than the other parts of the bamboo because they are strong. Any past cutting can cause nasty cuts to bare hands.
Bamboo splinters in garden soil
If you are using bamboo sticks in the past year, you are likely to find remains in the soil. You do not have to worry if you pulled all the bamboo sticks out neatly.
However, be cautious that the remains of bamboo sticks in the soil can enter your fingers with great ease. So, look out for any bamboo remains in the garden soil if you used it recently.
Wear heavy-duty garden gloves or thorn-proof gardening gloves when weeding and planting.
Pulling bamboos from the grove
Injuries to the hands can happen when pulling bamboos out of a grove. Bamboo branches spread and form a strong interconnecting network.
It can be really hard to pull them out.
If your grip on the bamboo slips and accidentally catches a sharp strip, it can be nasty. Cuts could be deep.
Therefore, if you are going to cut a bamboo stick for garden plants or remove old culms, always wear a pair of heavy-duty gardening gloves to prevent bamboo cuts.
If you want a pair of heavy-duty and thorn-proof gardening gloves, here's one you'll like:
Cuts and scrapes caused by bamboo splinters and strips can get infected very quickly.
Wearing gloves is the best way to protect you from bacterial infections regardless of how old you are.
Protection is better than cure.
Comment and let us know what you think.
They are the fastest-growing plants. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens has one of the largest collections of garden bamboo in the UK.
At Kew’s Tropical Palm House, you’ll see the giant bamboo.
Gigantochloa verticillate Giant Bamboo.
Bambusa ventricosa Buddha's Belly Bamboo.
Bambusa vulgaris – the Common Bamboo.
The three Giant Bamboos are a must-see. Kew Bamboo Garden also has 130 different bamboo growing naturally.
Gigantochloa verticillate Giant Bamboo
Here is what Kew said about the giant bamboo:
The giant bamboo is the largest of all the bamboos. It grows 25-30 metres in the wild, as tall as a tree.
This bamboo is native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, particularly China and Papua New Guinea.
In the greenhouse at Kew Gardens, this bamboo reached the top of the ceiling and had to be cut.
Bambusa ventricosa Buddha's Belly Bamboo
Another large bamboo in Kew’s Tropical Glass House is the popular Buddha's Belly Bamboo.
Its peculiar shiny green culms are a standout – you will hardly miss it.
The swollen or bulging internodes of its culms resemble Buddha’s fat belly which is why it earns the name Buddha's Belly Bamboo.
The culms are deep dark green smooth and glossy with multiple branches growing at each node.
Bambusa ventricosa (Buddha's Belly Bamboo) is probably the most peculiar-shaped bamboo that also grows in the UK. It has a clumping nature, great as a pot plant or garden plant.
This is by far one of the largest collections of bamboo you will see near London, UK.
The Bamboo Garden is magnificent, quiet calm and soothing. You can wander through the beautiful walkways and the arching bamboo. Or relax and listen to the rustle of bamboo leaves against the wind.
Check out our video and image collectionof the bamboo at Kew’s Tropical Glass House and Japanese Bamboo Garden.
Uses of Giant Bamboo plants
The giant bamboos are so versatile, they earn the name ‘friends of the people’.
The bamboo sticks are used in buildings, paper making, utensils and tools, musical instruments and even for food.
They also protect watershed areas from flooding. In mountainsides, they are important barriers to preventing soil erosion.
However, the giant bamboo natural habitats have now been lost to urbanisation and agricultural land use. Yet, it is often planted in stands as a source of building materials.
The giant bamboo Gigantochloa verticillate at Kew Garden grows to 2.4 metres in just 16 days.
In Kew’s Tropical Palm House, the conditions are right for the bamboo plants. The greenhouse imitates tropical conditions, that is why the bamboo grows at this absolutely crazy rate.
The giant bamboo Gigantochloa verticillate at Kew Garden grows to 2.4 metres in just 16 days.
How fast do the giant bamboos grow in the UK?
To put it in perspective, the giant bamboo grows at a rate of 15 cm per day. Think about a typical classroom ruler is 30 cm, right?
That would be how tall the bamboo grows in just 2 days. There are several factors that affect the growth of the bamboo plants such as humidity, sunlight, soil and moisture.
As for UK bamboos, we measure the growth rate of Phyllostachys aureosulcata spectabilis in Summer (one of the common garden bamboos in the UK).
This running bamboo grows at a rate of 1.43 cm per day. Take a look at how we measured and calculated how fast bamboo grows in a day.
Where to see the giant bamboo in the UK?
The Kew Royal Botanic Gardens is the place to see not only the Giant Timber Bamboos but also garden bamboo plants that grow in the UK.
The Kew’s Tropical Glass House is where you’ll see these three giant bamboos in all their glory.
This is by far one of the largest collections of bamboo you will see near London, UK.
The Bamboo Garden is magnificent, quiet calm and soothing. You can wander through the beautiful walkways and the arching bamboos. Or relax and listen to the rustle of bamboo leaves against the wind.
Check out our video and image collectionof the bamboos at Kew’s Tropical Glass House and Japanese Bamboo Garden.
Uses of Giant Bamboo plants
The giant bamboos are so versatile, they earn the name ‘friends of the people’.
The bamboo sticks are used in buildings, paper making, utensils and tools, musical instruments and even for food.
They also protect watershed areas from flooding. In mountainsides, they are important barriers to preventing soil erosion.
However, the giant bamboo natural habitats have now been lost to urbanisation and agricultural land use.
Yet, it is often planted in stands as a source of building materials.
Sasa nipponica is an evergreen small bamboo that can grow to 1 metre in height, hardy and evergreen.
It has slim culms and is comparatively small compared to other bamboos. One of the best to grow in small gardens, driveways or as ground covers and undergrowth.
This small bamboo is undemanding and thrives in the UK climate.
Sasa nipponica
Pleioblastus fortunei
Pleioblastus fortunei (or Pleioblastus pygmaeus or Dwarf Bamboo) is a small bamboo.
There are two types, one has variegated leaves, and the other does not have variegated leaves.
Pleioblastus fortunei 'Variegata' is the variegated cultivar whereas Pleioblastus pygmaeus or Dwarf Bamboo is not variegated bamboo.
Check carefully if you are buying the Pleioblastus fortunei online.
Pleioblastus fortunei
Small Bamboo Garden Kew London
Kew’s Bamboo Garden is the best place to see magnificent bamboo plants.
As mentioned, there are over 130 running and clumping bamboo plants. The giant timber bamboo is about 20 metres tall, reaching the top ceiling of the glasshouse.
When you’re in Kew Gardens, this is definitely a must-see. These 13 bamboos are our top picks. We hope you like the images and videos.
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Bamboo sticks in use in pots and patio
A square trellis provides good support for creeper plants.
(L) Making A-frame trellis for runner beans, (R) new runner beans climbing up (Garden Pictures)
Bamboo pot trellis: (L) Sweet pea in full summer bloom and (R) the sweet pea and trellis support in winter.
