As heavenly bamboo shrubs and my middle school yearbook photos can attest, there’s a fine line between an organic, natural look… and just being a mess.
A well-pruned Nandina domestica manages to rock the “au naturel” aesthetic without looking artificially manicured. But the hairstyle in my junior high headshots? Definitely on the wrong side of “windblown.”
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I can’t go back in time and tell my secondary school self to get a haircut – he wouldn’t listen to me anyway. But I can tell you how to prune heavenly bamboo the right way.
In this primer, you’ll receive the lowdown on all things heavenly bamboo pruning: the why, what, when, and how. And the who? Well, by the end of the guide, that’ll be you!
A shrub native to Japan and China, heavenly bamboo grows very aggressively, and naturalizes in new environments quite easily.
It’s considered especially invasive in the southeastern United States, with N. domestica appearing on many invasive species lists in states throughout the region.
If your area has a “no heavenly bamboo” rule, then by all means skip this guide and get to work on removing any existing specimens from your landscape.
But if you live in a place where cultivating N. domestica is permitted – and not environmentally irresponsible – then have at this here know-how!
How to Trim Heavenly Bamboo for a Beautiful and Healthy Shrub
Heavenly bamboo, also known as Nandina domestica, is a popular ornamental shrub grown for its attractive foliage that turns reddish-purple in fall and winter It also produces clusters of small white flowers in spring, followed by red berries While heavenly bamboo is easy to grow and generally requires minimal care, periodic trimming is important to keep the plant looking its best. Here’s a guide on how and when to trim heavenly bamboo to maintain a beautiful, dense and healthy shrub.
When to Trim
The best times to trim heavenly bamboo are late winter, early spring before new growth emerges, or mid to late summer after flowering. Avoid pruning in fall after the leaves have turned color, as this can interfere with the plant’s winter display.
If you only prune yearly, aim for late winter or early spring. This allows the plant to produce new growth throughout the spring and summer to fill in any bare spots Trimming just after flowering in mid to late summer encourages new growth before winter dormancy.
For the healthiest shrubs, prune lightly at both times. Take out no more than one-third of the plant at each pruning session. Frequent, minor trims are better than occasional drastic cuts.
What to Remove
When trimming heavenly bamboo, always start by removing any dead, damaged or diseased stems. Cut these back to the base of the plant.
Next, look for branches that rub together, thin and leggy stems with few leaves and canes that stick out beyond the general shape of the shrub. Removing these helps encourage bushy new growth inside the plant and maintains a natural, rounded shape.
If the shrub is overgrown and dense, you can thin up to one-third of the oldest, tallest stems at ground level to open it up. Spacing the removals evenly maintains the plant’s shape.
How to Trim
Use sharp bypass hand pruners for smaller stems up to about 1/2 inch thick. Loppers are better for thick, older canes. Sterilize tools before each cut with isopropyl alcohol to avoid spreading disease.
Always trim just above leaf nodes, buds or branches, not mid-stem, to avoid dead stubs. The exceptions are dead, damaged or diseased stems, which should be removed entirely.
Make cuts at a 45 degree angle about 1/4 inch above the node or bud. This angle encourages water to run off rather than pooling on cut ends, reducing risk of rot.
When removing a stem completely, cut all the way down to ground level. Pruning partway down a stem leaves an unsightly and unproductive stub.
Clean cuts speed callusing, the natural sealing process that protects plants from insects and diseases. Avoid ripping or tearing stems, which leaves jagged edges that are slower to heal.
Disinfect tools between plants to prevent spreading diseases. Soak blades for 10-30 seconds in a solution of one part alcohol to two parts water. Wipe blades with a cloth soaked in alcohol after use on a diseased plant.
What Not to Do
Never trim heavenly bamboo into formal shapes or hedges. Its branches and leaves emerge from multiple points along the stems, unlike boxwoods and many other shrubs suited to shearing. Cutting heavenly bamboo into blocks or balls leaves ugly stubs and destroys its graceful form.
Also avoid pruning heavily in fall. This removes the foliage that provides winter interest. Only take out dead or damaged branches in fall. Healthy stems can be trimmed the following late winter or early spring.
Sticking with the one-third rule prevents over-thinning that can starve the plant of needed energy stores for regrowth. Drastic pruning shocks the shrub and leaves large gaps.
Regular, conservative trimming is key to maintaining heavenly bamboo’s dense yet airy look. Proper pruning also keeps it vigorous and encourages lush new growth and beautiful color. Follow these guidelines for how and when to trim, and your heavenly bamboo will thrive for years to come.
Why Prune These Shrubs?
In the gardening game – where your to-do list is never-ending – I’ve found that knowing the “why” really helps to suppress the “why bother?”
It goes without saying that a plant with dead, damaged, or diseased branches will look way better once that’s all removed.
Even if all the branches are healthy and vibrant, they may leave the plant with a less-than-desirable form overall.
By removing structures that don’t add to the intended shape, you’ll be left with the exact appearance that you want.
And in the case of heavenly bamboo, it definitely looks better once it’s trimmed up a bit.
It may not need the laser-precise, geometrically-shaping cuts that a world-class boxwood hedge requires, but you can’t let N. domestica grow without occasional interference. Not if you expect it to look its best, anyway.
This kinda goes hand and hand with aesthetics, since a healthy plant tends to look better than a sickly one. Even beyond its appearance, pruning heavenly bamboo properly will definitely improve the plant’s health.
Injured or dying plant tissues can act as entry points for disease-causing pathogens, and can also signal to pests that the plant is especially vulnerable.
Even if every part of a plant is at peak health, that doesn’t guarantee its well-being.
When shoots are too densely-packed, inter-plant airflow is reduced, and moisture from rainfall or irrigation hangs around for longer than it should. And when that happens, water-loving pathogens are all the more inclined to visit.
Want to prevent potential infestations and infections? Then you should dial in your pruning!
In a botanical balancing act, the aboveground shoots and belowground roots of a plant try to stay in approximate proportion with each other, as X amount of shoot needs the support of X amount of root in order to stay alive, and vice versa.
When you remove some shoots, there’s suddenly a greater amount of roots by comparison and these are out of proportion. This “extra” root mass provides an increase in resources to the remaining shoots, which results in speedier shoot growth and development.
Time this with the flush of springtime growth that already occurs naturally, and you’ve got rejuvenation levels that’ll make Marvel Comics’ Wolverine blush.
On board? Great! Here’s what you’ll require to get started:
Even though heavenly bamboo pruning lacks the thorn-poking that, say, rose pruning does, there are still some potential risks, such as splinter-piercing and accidental finger amputation.
Alright, hopefully not that last one. Safety first, everybody! No need to go overboard with head-to-toe protection or anything, but a humble set of safety glasses and work gloves will further reduce the already minuscule odds of bodily harm.
Avoid eyeball evisceration in style with these scratch-resistant, anti-fog safety glasses from Amazon.
Puncture-resistant gardening gloves in blue or black are available from Garret Wade.
When it comes to trimming up a heavenly bamboo, a high-quality set of hand pruners will be your go-to tool, as they’re the perfect size for maneuvering through dense shrubbery with ease.
Be sure to keep the blades sharp for clean, aesthetic cuts!
For a beautiful set of sky blue or rose gold hand pruners with a sap-resistant handle and a titanium nitride upper blade, head on over to Garrett Wade.
They even come with an optional leather sheath, for carrying convenience and/or honing your quick-draw skills.
Some heavenly bamboo canes will require something more than hand pruners.
Even if the canes can fit within the blades, habitually forcing snips can leave you with messy cuts and dulled blades over time.
The oldest and thickest canes will probably warrant the use of long-handled, sturdy loppers, which cut thick stems with relative ease.
Grab a set of heavy-duty loppers with rubber handle grips via Garrett Wade.
Pathogens are resourceful, and can hitch a ride on many different things: bugs, water, or even the air.
They can also travel via your cutting tools, which can spread them from plant to plant if said tools aren’t sterilized in between plantings.
A simple and inexpensive way to sterilize your blades is via a solution of isopropyl alcohol and water – a 7:3 ratio of alcohol to agua should do the trick.
For a bottle of 99 percent isopropyl alcohol, Amazon has you covered.
How to Prune Heavenly Bamboo
First things first: let’s cover what absolutely has to go.
Any heavenly bamboo tissues exhibiting signs of sickness, damage, or decay should be removed whenever you notice them, regardless of the season. These structures pose potential health risks, and need to go bye-bye ASAP.
Next, you have your annual pruning session, in which you should try and shape up your heavenly bamboo by removing no more than a third of the plant’s total aboveground mass.
You can time this session in the middle of winter, in early spring before the first flush of new growth, or any time in between.
During this bout of shaping, remove any bare, leaning, rubbing, or excessively tall canes that detract from the plant’s natural-looking form.
If the growth of your heavenly bamboo is looking rather thick and crowded, increase airflow within the plant by removing a few of the oldest and thickest canes.
When removing a cane, make the cut all the way down to the ground at the base of the stem.
I’m of the opinion that N. domestica looks its best with a natural-looking form, so it’s best to avoid leaving one with a shape that appears manicured! Pruning into a dense hedge can also impede airflow.
Another thing to remember about heavenly bamboo: the red berries contain cyanide. Eaten in large amounts, they may be toxic to birds and household pets such as cats and dogs.
Any concerned gardeners should remove the flowering branches as they bloom in spring to prevent the fruits from forming.
Any removed structures can be composted or tossed onto the brush pile… except for ones that exhibit signs of disease. Any plant material collected from sick plants should be thrown away to prevent spread of infectious pathogens.
If you find the leaves, branches, flowers, and berries you’ve removed are aesthetically pleasing, feel free to use them in floral arrangements! Arranging foliage from the garden is a lovely way to brighten up your interior decor.
How to Prune Nandina Domestica
FAQ
When and how to trim heavenly bamboo?
Get out the pruners or loppers in winter or early spring and begin. Start by cutting back heavenly bamboo canes. Take out one-third of the total number at ground level, spacing those you remove evenly throughout the bush. Then, prune heavenly bamboo stalks – one-third of those remaining – to reduce their height.
Can nandina be cut back hard?
Prune the canes out all the way to the ground and don’t remove more than 1/3 of the total canes. This will encourage fresh, new stems to sprout with beautiful new foliage. Never shear Nandina as it destroys the soft, informal character of the plant.
How do you control heavenly bamboo?
Cut the stem as close to the ground as possible. Nandina stems are very brittle and prone to snapping. If it does, make a clean cut below the snap. The stump should be treated with the herbicide within 5 minutes after the cut.
What is the difference between heavenly bamboo and nandina?
It’s commonly known as Sacred Bamboo or Heavenly Bamboo, while its scientific name is Nandina Domestica. Despite the name, Nandina is not in the same family as bamboo, although its leaves do resemble it. This broadleaf shrub is durable and tough, growing up to 4 to 8 feet high and 2 to 5 feet wide.
How do you prune heavenly bamboo?
Get out the pruners or loppers in winter or early spring and begin. Start by cutting back heavenly bamboo canes. Take out one-third of the total number at ground level, spacing those you remove evenly throughout the bush. Then, prune heavenly bamboo stalks – one-third of those remaining – to reduce their height.
Do heavenly bamboo plants get leggy?
Gardeners are so thrilled with their nandina that they call it “ heavenly bamboo.’ However, nandina plants can get leggy as they grow taller. Pruning heavenly bamboo plants keeps these foundation shrubs dense and bushy. If you want to learn how to prune nandina, we’ll give you the top tips on cutting back heavenly bamboo.
How tall do heavenly bamboo plants get?
You’ll find that heavenly bamboo comes in different sizes. Dwarf cultivars are available that stay under 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall. Other shrubs can get to 10 feet (3 m.) tall. They have a lovely, natural shape and it is a mistake to try to shear them into shapes. Pruning heavenly bamboo plants to keep them bushy is worth the effort.
What is nandina – heavenly bamboo?
Nandina, also known as heavenly bamboo, is a versatile and beautiful plant that can add an elegant touch to any garden or landscape. With its delicate leaves, vibrant colors, and unique growth habits, it is no wonder that many gardeners choose to include Nandina in their outdoor spaces.
What does a bamboo tree look like?
Despite its name, it is not related to bamboo at all; it is actually a shrub with bamboo-like leaves. It gets white flowers in the spring, and bronze-tinted leaves in the winter. In the fall, it develops bright red berries. It is an aggressive grower, and without annual pruning, it can get unruly.
What does Nandina bamboo look like?
In spring and summer, it offers frothy white flowers that turn to bright berries in autumn and winter. Nandina’s leaves turn red in the fall as well, while new foliage grows in bronze. You’ll find that heavenly bamboo comes in different sizes. Dwarf cultivars are available that stay under 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall.