[header] How to cultivate bamboo [title] Decide on a type of bamboo. [substeps] While it isn't necessary to research each of the 1200-plus varieties of bamboo, deciding on clumping or running bamboo should be the first step in cultivating bamboo. Clumping bamboo will work best for container gardens or small areas. 
Running bamboo works best when it's intended to fill in a large area of a landscape or needed to create a natural fence between properties. [title] Consult local garden centers for information about the different varieties of bamboo available.