Cutting bamboo: instructions | When to cut back garden bamboo

The rapid growth is one of the reasons why bamboo is often used. One pole at a time sprouts out of the ground, forming a bushy look. But that also means a lot of work for the owner. The scissors are required to tame the garden bamboo and give it the desired shape. But it has to be used skillfully. Learn how to cut your bamboo the right way in this guide.

The special thing about bamboo poles

A garden bamboo grows very differently than we know it from other shrubs. A newly sprouted bamboo pole only grows for a year, after which it is over. During this time it will reach its final size.

  • Poles are perennial
  • remain unchanged after “growing out”
  • some bamboo species produce short side shoots
  • the shortening does not produce branches

What follows are always new poles, which can become longer as the plant ages .

Note: Although bamboo forms woody shoots, this plant is an ornamental grass from a botanical point of view.

Root lock for less shedding

How a garden bamboo develops over the years and how much pruning it requires also depends on the species.

  • some types of bamboo, so-called fargesia, grow like clumps
  • expand with age
  • other types of bamboo form strong runners
  • the spread takes place over a wide area
  • meters from the planting site, bamboo poles sprout out of the earth
  • require a lot of cutting measures

All bamboo species that form strong runners should definitely be planted with a root barrier, also called a rhizome barrier. In this way the bamboo remains localized and the pruning measures are kept within limits. Such a lock can also be installed at a later date. The installation is time-consuming and laborious, but in the long run it saves a lot of trouble and work with cutting the bamboo.

The reasons for a cut

Bamboo plants that come fresh into the garden soil should first and foremost grow quickly and abundantly, and every new bamboo pole is welcome. But over time, the use of secateurs becomes inevitable:

  • for a denser and compact growth
  • for a creatively shaped look
  • to limit if there is not enough space
  • to rejuvenate older specimens
  • in the event of damage

All types of bamboo are cut compatible. Ground cover varieties such as Indocalamus, Sasa or Sasaella can also be cut back vigorously.

Possible types of cuts for bamboo

There are several types of cuts available for cutting bamboo. While the maintenance pruning should be done regularly and at the optimal time, the other types are used as needed.

  • Care cut
  • Taper cut
  • Topiary
  • Decorative cut
  • Cut in case of damage

Suitable cutting tool

While ornamental grasses, which only form annual stalks, require complete pruning close to the ground every year, a selection must be made with bamboo. Only a part of the rods is specifically selected and cut off. The following tool is suitable for this:

  • sharp secateurs for thinner bars
  • Loppers for thicker sticks
  • Hedge trimmers for fargesia and hedges

Since bamboo leaves can also be sharp-edged, it is advisable to wear protective gardening gloves for all cutting work.

Care cut, a must for bamboo

A garden bamboo drives out many poles that are all very close together. It is inevitable that some of them do not become beautiful and strong, or that they hinder other urges. Some of them are out of line or hidden so deep in the middle that they can hardly get any light. The nourishing cut ensures balanced proportions with targeted reduction.

  • creates ideal conditions for remaining shoots
  • offers enough space for new shoots
  • brings the plant into an appealing shape, e.g. B as a hedge

Because of the strong growth , the maintenance cut is one of the types of cuts that must be carried out every year. Fast-growing bamboo works even require maintenance pruning twice a year.

Tip: Cut bamboo poles do not necessarily have to be disposed of. Cut into pieces, they can be built into insect hotels that you have built yourself. Thicker specimens can also be used as a supporting plant stick.

The optimal time for a nourishing cut

The optimal time for a maintenance cut is in spring, when the days are a little warmer. A second maintenance cut is finally made in late summer so that the bamboo has enough opportunity to gather strength for the approaching winter. Old, dried up and parched shoots should be removed promptly all year round. Be careful when doing this so as not to damage healthy shoots.

  • first cut in March
  • second cut in August
  • if necessary, continuously clear

If you choose the optimal time for the maintenance cut, you don’t need to worry much. The strongly overgrown bamboo has good self-renewal powers, so that it also forgives a courageous grip on scissors.

Instructions for a maintenance cut

For the maintenance cut, it is essential to choose a suitable tool that can cope with the strength of the individual rods. The bamboo poles should not be squashed, but cut through with a clean cut. Below are the instructions in detail:

  1. Check the tool to make sure it is sharp enough and touch it up if necessary.
    2. Thoroughly disinfect the blades so that no harmful germs adhere to them.
    3. Remove any unwanted side shoots. You should also thin out branches that are too close together.
    4. Cut off individual branches of the bamboo that are hanging far out close to the ground.
    5. Shorten protruding side branches to fit using a knot.
    6. If necessary, reduce the height of the bamboo plant by cutting back all the poles with hedge trimmers.
    7. If you discover dried up or damaged bamboo poles, you should remove them as well.
Note: If you only cut back a few bamboo stalks, you can make sure that you start the cut above the nodes. These are thickenings or knots on the stalk. In this way, the pruned plant regenerates better after it has been cut.

Regular taper cut

To keep a bamboo plant nice and dense, you should regularly rejuvenate it with a suitable cut. As a result, it drives out stronger and stronger.

  • Cut out stalks that are too high
  • remove old and thin stalks close to the ground
  • Cut dried bamboo poles

Limiting the height also promotes more vigorous growth, even if the result is different than with the procedure described above.

Radical taper cut

If the garden bamboo no longer looks so beautiful after years and is no longer sprouting well, you can cut it back radically. After cutting the bamboo, he gets a chance to build a “new” life with new shoots.

  • prune back about every 4 -5 years
  • the ideal time is in spring
  • Cut in March at the latest
  • just before the start of the growing season

This radical cut doesn’t require complicated instructions. All you need is a pair of sharp-bladed secateurs.

  • Shortly cut off the entire plant
  • up to a maximum of 20 cm above the ground

The desolate sight that presents itself after cutting back will only remain like this for a short time. As soon as warmer days come, the garden bamboo will sprout much stronger and stronger. In the same year it will delight you with a beautiful shape.

Tip: The interval of 4-5 years does not apply equally to all types of bamboo. Therefore, make specific inquiries as to when your type of bamboo needs to be rejuvenated.

Topiary

The topiary is one of the types of cuts that do not have to be mandatory. However, those who enjoy design can dare to use the numerous bamboo poles with suitable tools. Admittedly, a garden bamboo is not a box tree, but it can still be designed into artistic shapes.

  • Bamboo grows quickly and changes its appearance
  • the shape has to be reworked again and again
  • Design the basic shape with the hedge trimmer
  • a pair of rose shears is ideal for keeping the shape going
  • everything that disturbs the shape is removed promptly

Bringing a hedge into shape

Bamboo is also often used as a hedge because it quickly grows into a dense privacy screen. Because old bamboo poles no longer grow tall, you need to be careful when cutting your hedge. Cutting back too radically can result in permanent bald spots. It is recommended:

  • cut the central shoots at hedge height
  • Cut side shoots lower or stepped
  • in this way the hedge is greened evenly at all levels

Decorative cut

Bamboo varieties such as Phyllostachys nigra form very decorative stalks that are even more effective with a decorative cut. To do this, all the lower branches are removed with secateurs. This is easiest at the beginning of growth.

Cutting bamboo in case of damage

Bamboo originally comes from Asia, where it enjoys a climate that we can offer it here. Nevertheless, the garden bamboo can withstand freezing temperatures in the open air in this country as well. However, if the frost is too hard and the bamboo is in an unprotected place, it can suffer from frostbite in winter. Even low-growing bamboo varieties are more exposed to frost. But brown shoots can deceive about the extent and should not be removed too quickly.

  • wait until June
  • if no leaves are visible, cut back radically

If only part of the bamboo plant is sprouting while other areas remain brown, no action should be taken until August. The brown areas of the plant will not be removed until later, as they are needed beforehand as a supplier of nutrients for the new growth.

Conclusion
What gives us a lot of joy with a bamboo also makes us a lot of work at the same time: its rapid growth. Again and again you have to swing the secateurs to keep the bush in shape. But that doesn’t have to put anyone off. The solution for a respectable result: plan cutting work correctly and stick to it consistently.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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