Don't miss our bamboo events in March.

Don't miss our bamboo events in March. 350 plants, over 50 varieties, all at prices that can't be beat.

Please mark your calendars for these special events we have lined up:

March 13 - Bamboo Open House

We are busy getting ready for Spring and have set the date for our next Bamboo Open House. Here are the details:

What: Bamboo Open House - dozens of running and clumping bamboo plants for sale.

When: Saturday, March 13, 2010; 9 am to 3 pm

Where: 5719 Jersey Drive in Rocklin (95765) [Map]

Looking forward to seeing you there and we'll be on hand to answer any bamboo questions you may have.

March 20 - Sacramento Perennial Plant Club's Annual Plant Sale

On Saturday, March 20, we will be at the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club's Annual Plant Sale at the Shepard Arts and Garden Center located in McKinley Park (3330 McKinley Boulevard, Sacramento). The sale is open to the public and will have a large variety of plant vendors there from bamboo to succulents to fruit trees to water plants. If you love unique plants, this is a fun event and worth attending. Hope to see you there!

Can't make the Open House?

No problem, we are also available by appointment. Call (916) 300-6335 or e-mail at sean@madmanbamboo.com to set up a time to come by and see our bamboo garden, ask questions or seek advice. If you want to see what clumping bamboo will look like in the ground after several years, you are welcome to set up a time and see for yourself. We also have several types of running bamboo growing in containers as well.

Suggest our Facebook Page to your Facebook Friends and get chances to win a 5 gallon bamboo plant of your choice.

We know Facebook is not for everyone, but if you are a Facebook user, we have a new contest where you can earn chances to win a 5 gallon bamboo plant of your choice, a $39 value.

Here's how it works:
Use the "Suggest to Friends" function (look to the left of our FB page under the profile photo) on Facebook and suggest our Facebook page to your friends. Then reply on the comments section on our Facebook page on how many friends you recommended our page to. Just note the number of suggested friends and thats it. The more suggestions, the better the chance to win - for every suggestion I'll put your name in a hat. We'll draw a name on Thursday, March 11 at 8 pm. Winner will be announced on our Facebook page. Winner to pick up the plant here in Rocklin, no shipping. $39 value. Go forth and "suggest!"

Here's to a spectacular Spring!

Sean

Fertilizing your bamboo plant

Fertilizing your bamboo, you start in March and provide a light application every other month of a high nitrogen fertilizer to keep your bamboo plants green and lush. Last application is in September. You can use a synthetic fertilizer like a triple 16 lawn fertilizer (no weed and feed) that is sold at the big box stores. Personally, I like to use organics like blood meal, fish meal mixed with a smaller proportion of bone meal. Get real fancy and you can add some bat guano as well. I like E.B. Stone's fertilizers that you can find at most independent garden centers.

Happy gardening!

Sean

Exceptional 'Buddha Belly Kimmei Bamboo' for sale

Have some really exceptional Bambusa ventricosa kimmei 'Buddha Belly Kimmei Bamboo' for sale now in 5 gallon containers. The yellow culms have green striping and distinct 'belly' growth on them. They are tall and have brilliant green foliage. Really nice plants at a price that can't be beat. This variety and more are for sale by appointment (call or e-mail) and at my March 13 Bamboo Open House (details on the Mad Man Bamboo website - www.madmanbamboo.com).

Photo by Gerhard Bock
www.gerhardbock.com

My day today... stocking up for spring with lots of new bamboo plants

Spent the day today moving bamboo plants from the driveway to the back. All in preparation for my spring bamboo events - the Bamboo Open House on March 13 and the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club plant sale at McKinley Park, Sacramento on March 20. Also am bringing in plants for sale by appoinment this spring (as usual) and for those customers that pre-ordered plants.

I felt pretty good skipping the gym today...

Sean

Bamboo alleyway in Carmel, CA

Bamboo sighting in Carmel, CA... Entrance to the Secret Garden...

Sean

Like butta...

Got this from a reader of my Bamboo Geek blog...

Hi Mad Man Bamboo,

We have almost recovered from repotting my Black Bamboo which I should have attended to last year. It was very hard work for two seventy year olds. In the end my darling husband sawed the congested roots into two pieces, it was extremely hard work and... took two sessions spread over two days. I am happy to say that both parts are repotted in larger pots now and look well, after a little intensive care.

Could you please give advise for next year, the middle part will be just as dense. How would you recommend we divide it, without risking a visit to 'intensive care' ourselves?

I would be so grateful for your wisdom and experience over this matter.

All best wishes,

Helen

My response: Dear Helen, This is a great question and thanks for reading my blog. After dealing with sore backs I "wisened" up and bought a Sawzall and use a long wood cutting blade on it. It cuts through rhizomes like butter and has been a back and time saver for me.

Sean

Bamboo and the sustainable city...

An interesting question to pose to cities seeking to become sustainable. Should bamboo be added to approved tree lists used by city aborists? No doubt that having a vigorous tree canopy has many air quality and heat island offsets. But what about bamboo? According to the Environmental Bamboo Foundation, bamboo minimizes CO2 gases and generates up to 35% more oxygen then equivalent stand of trees. 1 hectar of bamboo sequesters 62 tons of CO2/year, where 1 hectar of young forest sequesters 15 tons of CO2/year. Check out the Environmental Bamboo Foundation website for more information on the environmental benefits of bamboo.

Sean

Photo of Phylostachys aurea 'Holochrysa' by Gerhard Bock. www.gerhardbock.com