What Is the Best Way to Cut Down Bamboo Stalks?

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The grass family, Poaceae, includes the bamboo subfamily, Bambusoideae. Bamboo plants range from 1 to 164 feet tall in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 12, depending on the species and cultivar. While a clump may have multiple stalks, they are all one plant that is connected by underground stems called rhizomes. Whether grown as decorative garden plants, as a fence or hedge, or for timber, the best way to cut down bamboo stalks depends on the size and age of the plant as well as your goals.

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Your choices vary depending on the size of the stalks. New stalks can be mowed with a lawn mower, while an established stand of timber bamboo may require a chainsaw to effectively cut through its 5- to 6-inch-diameter culms.

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Newly Sprouted Bamboo Stalks

Young bamboo shoots are best cut down with a lawn mower. Generally, the shoots appear between April and June. The sprouts, appearing from the underground rhizomes of the plant, are easy to cut down while still small. Mowing over them halts that year's growth.

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If the new shoots are not mowed, cut down or otherwise removed, they rapidly grow to their full height. Over a few years, a clump with four stalks can become a thicket of 60 or more woody canes, also known as culms. Each year, the new culms draw upon the energy of the rhizomes to grow faster and taller until the bamboo plant reaches its maximum height.

Cut Small Bamboo Stalks

Put on safety goggles, gloves, long sleeves, long pants, closed-toe shoes and a dust mask before cutting down the bamboo stalks. Sterilize your cutting tools when cleaning up or trimming back bamboo clumps by dipping or spraying the blades with rubbing alcohol.

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The best way to cut 3/4-inch-diameter or smaller bamboo stalks is with hand pruners. Anvil pruners allow you to easily cut the stalks at ground level or to trim back too-tall culms. A rachet-type anvil or secateur pruner will cut through thick or tough culms with ease even if you have small hands, are afflicted with arthritis or have other issues with your hand strength. When cutting thicker stalks that are up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter, loppers provide the extra reach needed to remove dead or overgrown culms from the inner part of the clump.

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Best Way to Cut Down Bamboo Stalks

Mature bamboo culms may be cut using a pruning saw or in the case of timber species, a chainsaw. While a pruning saw can be used on thick, woody culms up to 6 inches in diameter, an electric hand saw makes the job easy.

Chainsaw loppers and electric or gas chainsaws can also be used to cut bamboo culms. The electric lopper clamps and cuts culms up to 4 inches in diameter, while a chainsaw can be used to cut down the entire thicket.

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While small, thin stalks are relatively easy to cut, but use caution when cutting timber bamboos. The tall, thick culms may splinter while being cut and can "kick up" as the weight of the stalk pulls the culm to the ground. When using a chainsaw, follow all safety precautions. Make a shallow cut on the side that faces the direction that you want the culm to fall and then a second cut on the other side approximately 1 inch above the first so that it falls away from you and clear of other plants or structures.

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