Planting

• When planting bamboo in the ground, press on the dirt firmly after filling in around the roots. There should be no air pockets in the root area. Make sure the plant is an inch or so below ground level so it can trap water during the initial growing period. If the soil is clay based, you will want to break it up some. No air pockets doesn't mean no air at all, and clay tends to seal out all air and water. Spacing is up to you. Bamboo can be planted somewhat close with no effect on the plant. Four feet apart is close enough, since these plants can get very tall.
  
  

Watering

• Although in a lot of cases bamboo is treated almost like lumber when it is harvested, it is in fact a grass. As such, it needs water. The plant can live with 40 or so inches of water per year, but if you want a healthier plant. it will need more. The water needs to get to the roots of the plant. Surface watering will not be much. The root ball of bamboo can be as deep as 3 or 4 feet down and is normally not much larger than the width of the plant at its base.
  
  

Trimming

• After the bamboo has grown for two years, it will be time to trim and thin out. Cut out some of the smaller shoots in a clump, but no more than a third of the entire plant. Cut near the base of the plant on the second or third notch from the ground. Thinning can be done as often as every two years if needed. If growing for lumber, bamboo is at its strongest at about four years.