Question about Texas winter damage to gracilis bamboo
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 4:08 pm
All - I have significant gracilis bamboo hedge that wraps the entire backside perimeter of my yard. The clumps are roughly 5 years old. During the winter storm in Central texas, they suffered severe cold damage. They were even covered in ice for several days until it warmed up. In the past, we had a cold streak and all of the foliage dropped. This time nearly ever calm above 4 ft from the ground has turns completely brown/tan along with leaf drop.
My question is should I cut all the clumps down to the ground and let them grow back with the necessary space in the clump? I'm hesistant to only 'chop' it down to approximately 5 feet if all the tops are dead to give me only temporary privacy until it full returns. The plants definitely are still alive as they are starting to shoot but haven't produced any leaves on the existing culms yet.
My question is should I cut all the clumps down to the ground and let them grow back with the necessary space in the clump? I'm hesistant to only 'chop' it down to approximately 5 feet if all the tops are dead to give me only temporary privacy until it full returns. The plants definitely are still alive as they are starting to shoot but haven't produced any leaves on the existing culms yet.