How can I winterise my bamboo?

Originally from China, bamboo is a sturdy shrub that can grow at altitudes of up to 3,000 metres. There are over 1,000 species. Those found in Europe are resistant to the cold, but not to long periods of frost. For this reason, a few precautions should be taken before the winter frosts.

Helping your bamboo cope with winter

Garden enthusiasts prepare their plantations to get through the cold season without suffering too much. Bamboo, whether planted in the ground or in a pot, requires special care in certain cases.

Trim the soil

Those who have a magnificent bamboo hedge bordering their vegetable garden can mulch the soil before the temperatures drop. In this way, they protect the plant. One tip is to prune the old canes in autumn and cover the soil with them. This slows water evaporation and warms the soil. What's more, as the canes decompose, they act as a fertiliser. The aim is to prevent frost from attacking the roots.

Let nature take its course

There's no need to add fertiliser to your bamboo. The deep rhizomes remain isolated from the cold. During the cold season, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. However, bamboo continues to "drink" and should be watered from time to time. If it snows, there's nothing to be done. Paradoxically, snow protects the leaves, so don't remove it.

Greenhouse

It must be comfortable in its pot. Its root system needs space, and water. Because of the reduced volume of soil, potted bamboo is naturally more fragile than its soil-bound cousin. Some people move their plants to a greenhouse or shelter. This precaution avoids cold winds. In this case, it is important to allow light to filter through.

Packing the pots

In some gardens, bamboo pots are wrapped in bubble plastic during the winter. It's not aesthetically pleasing, but it's effective.

For ornamental bamboos in pots, the easiest thing to do is to bring them into the garage (beware of places that are too hot), or to raise the pot, if it is on a terrace, by putting it on a pallet or a material that insulates it from the ground. Protected in this way, your bamboos will thrive from spring onwards!