Knowledgebase
Hello, My clumping bamboo… looks horrible after the storm. For the last few years, it’s been in a slow decline but nothing like this. It receives the right amount of sun and water. I rarely fertilize, was told it’s not necessary. My non-clumping-contained bamboo looks very healthy with minimal damage. You can see both in my picture. My clumping/dying bamboo is around 12 years old. Most stalks show green when scratched but otherwise are very unattractive. I’ve been thinning out the soft ones. It takes center stage from my kitchen window and serves as a privacy screen. Cypresses… Although they get full sun, they have a lot of dead areas. Will these dead spots ever regrow? I’d like to plant a few more in other full sun areas but…they will receive little sun on their north side. Is it inevitable their north side will also die? If so, tall , thin alternatives? Is there anything I can do to revive the ones with dead patches? Please advise what can be done to revive these plants or, give up and start over? If I must start over with my bamboo privacy screen, I need all the advice I can get. Lastly, Do you have a page that already addresses storm damage? Thank you!!! ~ Rita #863883
Asked April 09, 2024, 6:55 PM EDT
Hello,
My clumping bamboo…
looks horrible after the storm. For the last few years, it’s been in a slow decline but nothing like this.
It receives the right amount of sun and water. I rarely fertilize, was told it’s not necessary. My non-clumping-contained bamboo looks very healthy with minimal damage.
For some reason, it’s only allowing me to send a picture of the bamboo but, the cypresses have large patches of brown/dead foliage
My clumping/dying bamboo is around 12 years old. Most stalks show green when scratched but otherwise are very unattractive. I’ve been thinning out the soft ones. It takes center stage from my kitchen window and serves as a privacy screen.
Cypresses…
Although they get full sun, they have a lot of dead areas.
Will these dead spots ever regrow?
I’d like to plant a few more in other full sun areas but…they will receive little
sun on their north side. Is it inevitable their north side will also die? If so, tall , thin alternatives?
Is there anything I can do to revive the ones with dead patches?
Please advise what can be done to revive these plants or, give up and start over?
If I must start over with my bamboo privacy screen, I need all the advice I can get.
Lastly, Do you have a page that already addresses storm damage?
Thank you!!!
~ Rita
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Bamboo: Clumping bamboo is less hardy than running bamboo, and needs protection to prevent the foliage damage you have. The cold and ice we experienced in January impacted many plant species. It is likely that the underground rhizomes survived, and will produce new culms, but it won't happen quickly. In the meantime, you can remove the browned (dead) growth, leaving any viable tissue intact. https://cales.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/bamboo2019.html
Trees: Here is a reference for storm-damaged trees: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/forests/tree-care/triage-tips-storm-damaged-trees
If you want an expert to assess your trees' health, you can find a certified arborist here:
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist
Good luck!
