How to prune clumping bamboo
I’ve known many people who are afraid to plant any kind of bamboo, even a clumping type, for fear it will take over their yard — and with good reason. Here in Austin, many a back yard is clogged with running bamboo, which is often planted for privacy along a fence but quickly metastasizes, spreading across the lawn and into the neighbors’ yards as well.
Clumping bamboos, however, don’t “run,” making them garden-safe.* Even so, they grow vigorously enough to require regular pruning in order to look their best. Take ‘Alphonse Karr’ bamboo, for example (pictured here). I usually prune it twice a year, in late spring and early fall, to keep it from looking like a shaggy green beast and to give it shapely definition. Here it is in beast mode (above) — lots of leaves amid a thicket of culms (the canes) that are arching over the gutters and blocking a window.
And here it is after an admittedly exuberant pruning. I removed about a quarter of the culms entirely, all the way to the ground (never cut them off halfway, which causes ugly side growth), and limbed up others, revealing the green-and-yellow stripes on the exposed canes.
I start by trimming off the side branches that grow along the culms, starting at ground level and pruning up to just above my head. How high up you prune should depend on the height of the bamboo. You do still want to have plenty of leaves up top to keep the plant healthy.
Using a pair of sharp bypass pruners, clip off the stems close to the culm, holding onto them with your free hand to keep from making a mess below. Just toss them in a bin for composting later. And be careful not to nick your free hand with the pruners!
I use a long-handled pruner for getting into the culms and pruning out weak ones or those leaning over the gutter. I also thin out culms that spread beyond the original planting.
And that’s it. It’s a pretty Zen activity, really. Here’s another look at the overgrown beast, before pruning. Nothing wrong with this, of course, if you need a green screen that won’t run, but it’s too much for a small space like this one.
And here it is after an hour of pruning. Leggy, airy, and out of the gutter!
Here are a few more bamboo-pruning resources:
I first learned about limbing up bamboo on the Austin blog Growing Optimism, which also features a nifty bamboo-and-zip-tie fence to hold leaning canes away from paths: Growing bamboo in a narrow space – pros, cons, and a solution for support
For expert advice, watch Cass Turnbull of Plant Amnesty explain how to prune bamboo: How to Prune Bamboo – Instructional Video w/ Plant Amnesty
Also, watch Austin’s own Merrideth Jiles share his extensive knowledge of bamboo, including pruning tips, on Central Texas Gardener: Bamboo Basics | Merredith Jiles |Central Texas Gardener
And finally, here’s a helpful list of clumping bamboos for Austin from The Great Outdoors nursery. By the way, although TGO’s guide says bamboo needs to be watered twice a week during Austin’s summers, I have not found this to be true in my garden. Once a week works fine for my established bamboos ‘Alphonse Karr’, ‘Tiny Fern’, and, to a lesser extent, Mexican weeping bamboo.
*Note: Clumpers do gradually expand but not aggressively. Please, do your research to learn which is which before buying. I can’t think of any reason to plant a runner, frankly.
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How very helpful Pam! I’m one of those hesitating before planting bamboo at the moment – you may have swung me. But I am going to copy/paste and save your links because otherwise they will be lost to me.
I think it’s smart to hesitate before planting bamboo, just to make sure you’re choosing the right kind (no runners) and that you’re willing to do the regular pruning required to keep it looking neat. And as The Great Outdoors’ article points out, bamboo is not a xeric choice in drier climates and does need to be watered (at least once a week in summer, in my experience). That said, it can be very pretty in the right spot. —Pam
It looks quite nice with your trim job. I love the look of bamboo but have never found a place in my garden for it.
It’s not a low-maintenance plant, but it can be very pretty when properly trimmed. —Pam
Good warning about being careful about where your “free hand” holds the to-be-cut-off limbs. The only ER visit I’ve ever had was when I wasn’t so careful. Stitches ensued.
Ouch. I’ve snipped the palm of my free hand before — no stitches required, but it hurt. You definitely want to be careful when pruning. —Pam
Hello Ms. Penick
I love your books and your fb page.
Im San Francisco, I have gorgeous clumping bamboo in my backyard.
My question: I’m considering what groundcover or mulch to put under mine. ..how can you grow bamboo in that gravel mulch. I was warned that it would shed a lot of leaves and that would look pretty messy…do you clean it all up before your pretty photos? or..? I
thank you
Alison
Hi, Alison. Bamboo does shed a lot. Luckily, the tan leaves that drop blend quite nicely with my tan gravel. 😉 I do blow them out with a leaf blower from time to time, but I didn’t before these pics were taken. They just blend well. Thanks for visiting! —Pam
Excellent post on a group of plants that is often misunderstood. I do exactly what you do. Thinning and limbing up makes all the difference in the world.
In fact, I need to tackle my massive Bambusa oldhamii. The tallest culms are now as tall as our 2-story house.
Wow, do you ever make anything from the culms? Fencing or trellises? Flooring for your house? 😉 —Pam
I’ve used the dried culms for stakes but they tend to rot fairly quickly in the ground and then fall over :-).
Ah well, too bad. —Pam
Pruning is a favourite activity of mine – totally agree with you on it’s zen factor 🙂
The trick is not to get so zen-ed out that we just keep pruning, right? 😉 —Pam
Great article. It answered a lot of what I was looking for. We planted two specimen plants last fall of Graceful Weavers Bamboo. This winter, with several days in the 20s and then one night down to 15 degrees (in Georgetown) killed all the leaves, and upper parts of the culms and smaller branches are brown and brittle.
Both plants are coming back well at the base–and from the ground already–but I was hesitant to trim back the brown tops. Finally went ahead and did it today, to clean things up. They were really unsightly, and we’ll let the new growth this spring establish the size of the plants.
My bamboo got hit pretty hard by that freeze too. I didn’t end up having to cut it to the ground, but that’s a good solution when the entire top freezes and browns. I’m sure yours will recover quickly. —Pam