Pruning Bamboo

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by DoubleMM, Feb 18, 2017.

  1. DoubleMM

    DoubleMM Gardener

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    Hi all - very amateur gardener here and looking for some help please.

    I have a black bamboo in my garden - well established having been in the garden for some 15 years plus.

    It has grown extremely tall -albeit stayed in place without being too invasive - and I'm wondering if I might cut it to the ground and clear/tidy the centre - will it grow new shoots from the Base? Don't want to kill it off .

    Any advice would be appreciated Thankyou.
     
  2. Sirius

    Sirius Total Gardener

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    Hi, and welcome to the forum

    If the bamboo is doing well, and you are happy with it, leave it as it is.

    Rather look at the grove, and thin/cut out the culms (will prob be the older ones) that are starting to look tired - losing colour and with poor leaf production.
    Chop off at ground level.

    Afterward give the bamboo a thick mulch of well rotted horse manure.
     
  3. DoubleMM

    DoubleMM Gardener

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    Well if I said I was entirely happy with it then I'd be lying I suppose. The 'outside' of the plant stands at around 12 foot but the inner canes must have grown to in excess of 20 feet. It's fairly healthy looking - without too many 'grey' canes and the foliage is looking pretty good. I just wonder - when is it going to stop growing!!
     
  4. wiseowl

    wiseowl FRIENDLY ADMIN Staff Member

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    Good afternoon @DoubleMM my friend I cut my black bamboo down to about a foot every year.last year it grew to 8ft,it P1230590.JPG will soon grow tall again,this is mine at the moment,but not for long:smile:
     
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    • DoubleMM

      DoubleMM Gardener

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      Wow! Impressive! Is there a 'good' time to do it - or can I head outside tomorrow with the loppers:)
       
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      • wiseowl

        wiseowl FRIENDLY ADMIN Staff Member

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        Good evening @DoubleMM tomorrow sounds good as long as we don't get any more frost this year:smile:
         
      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

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        I've just finished thinning out my black bamboo. I remove the thin or damaged ones and then thin out so there is a couple of inches between the canes. I also cut the lower leaves off to give a clear cane of 4 to 5ft so you can see the black colouration. The canes I remove get used around the garden for sweet peas, peas, beans etc
         
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        • Sirius

          Sirius Total Gardener

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          Agree with this approach. Rather remove the thinner culms to give some space for the new ones than just chop off the whole lot.

          On some forms of nigra it takes two seasons or more for the culms to mature and develop the nice dark colour
           
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          • daitheplant

            daitheplant Total Gardener

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            If the plant is too big for what @DoubleMM wants, then she is right to cut it down. Plants don`t control the gardener, the gardener controls the plant.
             
          • DoubleMM

            DoubleMM Gardener

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            Thankyou all - very helpful advice. I'll ponder another week or so - but am sorely annoyed by the height of the clump at its' centre.
             
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