When is best time to divide clumping bamboo

[_Keith]

I planted a 25g clump of Alphonse Karr a little too close to my fence line last year, but rather than moving the whole clump, just moving half would do fine and give me a new clump.  When is the best time of year to do this division?

[PalmGuyWC]

I've been told Feb. is the best time to divide and move bamboo, when it's still dormant. Now with tropical bamboos, I don't know. Maybe in your area Jan. might be the best time.

Dick

[John Case]

(keiththibodeaux @ Nov. 20 2007,20:15)

QUOTE

I planted a 25g clump of Alphonse Karr a little too close to my fence line last year, but rather than moving the whole clump, just moving half would do fine and give me a new clump.  When is the best time of year to do this division?

It is my understanding that tropical bamboos (Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, etc.) do most of their growing (up that is) from June through August and it happens afer the rhizome expansion that occurs during the spring, that winter might be the best time, in the absence of really cold temps.

It has been my experience that the divisions will probably succeed in the 2nd year, not in the first as the rhizomes will be bulking up after the division.

Go to www.americanbamboo.org for a ton of information.

[Creekside]

Alphonse Karr is such a reliable and hardy bamboo, you really can divide it any time of year with good expectations, though you'll likely lose emerging culms (at any time of year.)

[_Keith]

(Creekside @ Dec. 05 2007,17:12)

QUOTE

Alphonse Karr is such a reliable and hardy bamboo, you really can divide it any time of year with good expectations, though you'll likely lose emerging culms (at any time of year.)

Great.  I have to dig it up and move it anyway, because when I planted my brain was on drugs I guess.  I know how big it gets, yet gave it no room for growth.  Since it was a decent size, but manageable, I thought why not stick a sharpshooter right down the middle and have two.  Or maybe an ax or a saw as I have  read it has a pretty tough rootball even when small.

[waykoolplantz]

we have a chainsaw we use only on bamboo..as dirt will ruin the blade quickly...but thats the right tool for the job

[MattyB]

Paul and I hacked off a lump of his Bambusa beechiana in September.  The once naked culm now has 10 foot long braches coming out all over the place from multiple nodes.  It is freakin' hard!  The rizomes are like hard wood, not soft roots at all.  A sawsall is Paul's weapon of choice.