feeding time at the zoo

Post by **needmore** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:34 pm

This is a public service reminder...I like to do my spring feeding about a month before shooting season which for me would be to feed last week, so upon return home that is my first task. Anyone in the late March - early April shooting areas might want to feed now.

I usually see a warm-site Moso, Pl. Viridistriatus, Sasa Veitchii, and a few others shooting in late March, with Yellow Groove right around the beginning of April.

Iowaboo · Post by **Iowaboo** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:58 pm

Which to use?
I have a lawn fertilizer 31-0-0 or something of that nature and
another 13-13-13.

Any info about zoo feeding time would be greatly enhancible appreciated , with distribution reasoning.

Markj · Post by **Markj** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:22 pm

This doesn?t apply to you lucky folk in a warm summer climate, where the rhizome grows freely

, but here in the Uk where Phyllostachys can usually be regarded as 'clumping'. Most of the 'old timers' growing bamboo rec- a slightly different approach to spring feeding. The theory is that too much Nitrogen before shooting can trigger too many shoots and then these will be of smaller diameter, here it's said best to fert once the new shoots are visible. This then leads to fewer but larger shoots, I did a test a few years back on two plants side by side and it worked

Post by **bambooweb** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:24 pm

My bamboos shoot later than Needmore's but I started fertilizing and spreading compost today. I put down 21-0-0 over the winter straw mulch at about a hand full per Sq yard then I cover with about 4 inches of compost. On the short bamboos I will remove most of the winter mulch and add only two inches of compost.
I moved 2.5 cubic yards of compost today.

Bill

Post by **needmore** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:04 pm

I prefer to use which ever granular the farm bureau co-op has - it is either 12-12-12 or 13-13-13. I loosely throw a coffee cup full for about sq. yard of plant area. I do this a month before shooting and again at the end of shooting. Additionally I spread lots of horse poo all year.

I've always wondered how one quantifies the results of a feeding regime - how do I know that it is appropriate unless there are extremes exhibited by the plant? I can't honestly say that my feeding strategies have any visible impact whatsoever, but my plants always look healthy, vibrant, and they spread & size up.

I am feeding according to the instructions that Adam Turtle gave me a few years ago and if my groves end up looking like his, then I'll be happy.

BooKing · Post by **BooKing** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:57 pm

I still got the darn snow on the ground!

Post by **David** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:58 pm

Brad,
USDA booklet #ARS-s-176, March 1978 has the effects of types of fertilizer, timing, and frequency of application. If you can't find a copy I'll make you a copy of this one.

Did I tell you that I was able to get a good piece of lancifolia at Byron?

Post by **needmore** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:57 am

Yes, you mentioned that you dug a square - it is a really nice bamboo don't you think? It's an acid freak so be sure to keep that in mind.

Post by **David** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:04 am

I was able to divide the square into 3 large pieces, and had enough rhizomes that were hanging off to plant 3 more pots. Yes it was a very attractive plant. I almost hated to mess up its beautiful form by cutting into it but I got over it.

I'm going to put in the dappeled shade of some lg cedar trees that are growing happily on good old worn out Tennessee red soil/clay that is usually quite acidic. I'll probably dose them with Mir-acid when I dose the kumasaka.