Black Bamboo Phyllostachys nigra

• Before planting, dig over the ground and add well-rotted manure or garden compost.
• Dig a planting hole so that the rootball sits slightly lower, with 2-3cm (1in) of soil covering the original surface.
  Backfill the hole, taking care not to damage the young rhizomes, then water and mulch.
• Water regularly and ensure that bamboo plants in containers do not dry out even in winter as the foliage is prone to wind scorch.
• Give a high nitrogen feed in spring and apply a balanced fertiliser through the rest of the growing season until late August.
• New bamboo plants can be contained within a physical barrier to prevent them spreading through beds and borders.
• Divide the bamboo every couple of years.
• In spring, remove any weak, dead, damaged or spindly canes, cutting them to ground level with secateurs or loppers, at the same time remove any debris at the base of clumps.
• Smaller bamboos are ideal grown in a container at least 45cm (18in) across.
• In very cold weather, insulate containers with bubble wrap or move them to frost-free conditions.

Please allow us 3-5 working days to dispatch your order. Pre-ordered items will be sent as soon as possible after the date quoted and we'll generally ship your entire order with your pre-ordered items. When your order is dispatched, we'll send you another email with details of how to track it.

Most orders are sent on a fully-tracked courier service with Yodel. To avoid perishable items being stuck at depots and deteriorating, no signature is required, and our courier is asked to leave your order in a safe place on your property.

We'll send a tracking link when we dispatch your order, so you know when its due to arrive. Please note, once delivered we cannot be held responsible for loss or theft from your property. If you have any specific delivery instructions, please let us know - there's an option to enter a short message for the courier at the checkout.

Smaller, lighter, single-item orders may be sent through the post with Royal Mail - in which case no tracking is available.

Our experienced nursery team will always send your plants nursery fresh in the perfect condition to thrive when you plant them, so although most plants are very tough and will not be affected by all but the most extreme frosts or heatwaves, we avoid dispatching the most perishable plants if extreme weather is forecast, or over Bank Holiday weekends.

Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location.