Clumping Bamboo: February 2023 maintenance

The Bamboo has been left alone fore a while, so I decided to give it a clean.

The depressing thing about working on this one is how similar the final view is going to be. I need to look up how to actually maintain this – I’m sure there’s more I could do.

The main issue I find with the Bamboo is the refuse that builds up in the center. We have some full size bamboo growing in the yard, and they drop *a lot* of refuse… old leaves and trunk wrappings. I think this is an evolutionary strategy to crowd out other growth: bamboo shoots come up like spears, but other ground growth is likely to get smothered.

Refuse. And I don’t mean just say no.

So a bunch of cleaning later, and we can see a clear mound which has built up in the center.

I wonder if I should try to remove that mound.

I’m going to drop this link for future reference.

Anyway: this finished result. I don’t know what to do about those goal posts in the center. I like the thickness, and I’m afraid if I cut them they’ll stop growing.

Clumping Bamboo: February 2023 maintenance
Told you it wouldn’t look very different.

As per normal, I haven’t done any styling. And as I write this I think I should. Looking at some internet pics, I see some features I don’t have:

  • space between trunks, and fewer trunks
  • taller and thicker (although I should probably discount this as selection bias)
  • more green trunks, less brown
  • styled to look like a forest (I have a hedge)

… which leads me to think I should cut about half the trunks to stop the crowding and create space. But also, it’s very possible I have a poor species choice for bonsai.

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