How to neaten sacred bamboo

How to neaten sacred bamboo

Find out how to tidy up your sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) in three easy steps.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is at its best in January

Plant is at its best in February

Plant is at its best in March

Plant is at its best in April

Plant is at its best in May

Plant is at its best in June

Plant is at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is at its best in September

Plant is at its best in October

Plant is at its best in November

Plant is at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do To do in March

Do not To do in April

Do not To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

Sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) is a great choice for a small garden, offering attractive foliage, flowers and berries.

Slow growing, it rarely needs pruning, but it does benefit from a little maintenance in spring. Removing some of the oldest stems and any dead material will ensure you can fully appreciate this shrub’s elegant architectural shape.

Here’s how to tidy your plant in three simple steps.

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You Will Need

  • Secateurs

Step 1

Use secateurs to remove about a third of the oldest upright stems, cutting them back to a low joint or right down to the ground.

Cutting back sacred bamboo stems
Cutting back sacred bamboo stems

Step 2

Prune out the old flower stalks and any remains of the old berries, cutting back to the top of the stem, or just above a leaf.

Pruning out flower stalks of sacred bamboo
Pruning out flower stalks of sacred bamboo

Step 3

Check the rest of the plant, cutting out any dead or weak shoots back to where they meet a strong stem with leaves attached.

Cutting back dead wood
Cutting back dead wood
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