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Bamboo Canes
Bamboo’s are part of the grass group of families and are similar to many grasses in that they have hollow stems in the intermodal regions (area between the buds)
They are evergreen, woody stemmed plants that thrive in moist, humus rich soils. Not all bamboos are hardy enough for cultivation in Great Britain but the ones which are, come in a diverse array of sizes and characteristics. Bamboos grow quickly from spreading rhizomes once established and form dense clumps. They take 2-3 years to become established and require regular watering when first planted out or maintained in a pot. The canes, which generally take 3 years to mature, have a branching habit and are very strong and pliable. When in use and partly buried in soil, they can last up to 2 years before decaying.
One of the few Bamboo species suited to the production of canes for garden use in Great Britain is Phyllostachys aurea the Golden Bamboo. Fortunately this is one of the most commonly seen species in garden centres. The bamboo gets its name from it yellow to golden lance shaped leaves. Full light is required to ensure the leaves stay yellow. They become greener in the shade.
Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
Origin: South East China
Habit: Clump forming with stiff upright canes.
Height: Up to 10m
Spread: Indefinate
Uses
Bamboo cane production for home and garden use.
Canes can be used for training plants such as runner beans and sweet peas, for supporting young trees in pots.
If enough canes are available they can be nailed to a simple wooden frame to make decorative screens.
Hedging
Plant a line of bamboos along a boundary to create an almost impenetrable hedge or screen.
Propagation
Mature and established plants can be divided with a spade, large knife and secateurs in early spring (March to May). Reduce the height of the division to 1ft (30cm) to compensate for the loss of roots and therefore loss of water.
If seed can be sourced from a seed merchant. Sow them in the spring.
Planting
Plant in a moist spot in full sun during the spring (March – May) or autumn (September to November), water well and on a regular basis until the bamboo plant is established. Plants can be planted at 2 m spacing.
Pruning and Maintenance
Remove dead canes at any time of the year. Add some well rotted compost around the base of the plant during late Summer and early autumn. The composted mulch will keep the warmth in the soil during the early autumn, will provide a nutrient boost for the plant and will help to protect young buds and shoots.
Harvesting
Mature canes of the Golden Bamboo are ready for harvesting by their third year, once they have turned brown-yellow in colour. They are best cut during the winter when activity in the plant slows and nearly becomes dormant. Either coppice the entire plant and cut all shoots to soil level with secatears or remove 1/3rd of the old bamboo canes, this will ensure the plant is not excessively stressed and will maintain some of the its appearance. Regeneration takes the form of new shoots sprouting from the spreading rhizome.
The crop of canes should be stacked outside under a shelter to allow them to dry naturally and season steadily.
Growing and harvesting your own bamboo canes is a great experience and is an excellent means of generating something useful other than fruit and vegetables from your garden.