A visual aid for thinning, harvesting timber, digging shoots or live plants, and the hidden benefits of a bamboo grove.
Photos © Bamboo Garden
Although many of our customers use bamboo to make tall, dense screens, the benefits of growing a full grove, or bamboo forest, should be considered. A flourishing bamboo grove has an amazing effect on the surrounding landscape. It creates a forest with clouds of lush, evergreen foliage that rustle in the breeze. The canopy is supported by robust, woody culms that have a multitude of uses. A bamboo forest where one can peacefully stroll among towering culms is both good for our environment and good for our health. A grove does not require as much space as one might expect to be effective in creating a small sanctuary within the city. A planting area of about 50 to 60 feet in circumference (distance around the perimeter), or 10' x 20', is sufficient if properly maintained, including regular rhizome pruning (see our Bamboo Control and Barrier Installation pages for info on rhizome control).
Remove any dead, scarred, or weak culms by cutting them at ground level with a horizontal cut. If targeting bamboo for timber or craft, make sure to cut canes that are at least three years old, so that the wood has achieved the proper density. 5-6 year old canes are ideal. Thinning prevents bamboo from becoming too congested. Allowing more light into the center of the grove often promotes larger overall growth, and it is helpful for controlling pests such as aphids or mites.
Bamboo can be pruned into whatever shape is desired. For example, one can cut a path into a hollow area in the middle of a grove, creating a peaceful sanctuary. Avoid pruning when the bamboo is producing new shoots (spring through early summer). Do not remove more than a third of the grove or screen per year. The ideal time for pruning is after the new culms have matured in late summer. Some of the best species for producing groves include: Phyllostachys vivax, P. dulcis, and P. edulis “Moso”.
Bamboo can be topped to maintain a certain height or create a dense and defined canopy. Make cuts just above a node, so as not to leave a stub that will die back and look unsightly. The branches remaining below the cut will produce more foliage to make up for what they lost, thus creating a very dense cover. Colorful bamboo, such as Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis' and P. vivax ‘Aureocaulis’ can be enhanced by removing smaller culms and by cutting off lower branches, a technique called legging up. This draws attention to the beautiful, robust culms at the base of the plant.
To harvest edible bamboo shoots in the spring, dig beneath the shoot and clip it off of the rhizome. Look for large diameter shoots that have grown 1 to 6 inches above the mulch level. Peel the culm sheaths away and cut the tender shoot into small pieces. Steam or sauté the shoots for a delicious meal. Fresh bamboo shoots are much tastier and better for you than the canned and imported shoots that are often used in restaurants. It's like any vegetable: better when fresh out of the ground. Savvy shoot farmers plant species that have staggered shooting times, so that they can have harvestable shoots from Feb. through July.
Edible new shoots attached to a rhizome, sliced, and ready to cook:
Species that are best for eating include Phyllostachys edulis Moso, P. atrovaginata, P. dulcis, and P. vivax
Shoot timing for selected bamboo, known for good quality shoots:
P. edulis "Moso": early March / April
P. preacox: early March / April
P. atrovaginata: mid May
P. dulcis: mid May
P. vivax: mid May
P. bambusoides: late June
*Timing can depend on your climate.
When it comes time to transplant or remove bamboo, there are tools and methods to employ for success.
The bamboo below had long overgrown its containment system. We see this fairly often in very small barrier enclosures. In general we recommend using larger barrier enclosures, or better yet, an open sided barrier to allow for bi-annual rhizome pruning.
The bamboo was split in half using a bamboo slammer. The two halves were pried apart and transplanted in a different area of the yard. Free to flourish in its new home, the bamboo has grown into a nice miniature grove and is maintained by root pruning twice per year. This species (Phyllostachys aurea) and its color variations make great small scale bamboo groves or privacy screens.
