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bamboo in the snow
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:24 am
by stevelau1911
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:56 am
by moriphen
nice photos, thanks for posting
M
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:02 pm
by stevelau1911
Here are some snow pictures.
The greenhouse is pretty much crushed from the last snow storm.
Parvifolia
Spectabilis
Propinqua beijing
Dulcis
Fargesia denudata left, moso right
f rufa
atrovaginata
makinoi
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:37 pm
by jpluddite
Hi guys.
I'm curious about attitudes regarding whether to shake the snow off or leave it on. I'm sure this has already been covered in prior threads, but maybe opinions have changed...
I've been shaking the snow off because I don't want the culms to be permanently bent, e.g. see Steve's posts of Dave Andrews' boo. On the other hand, I realize that if you completely cover the boo, the snow will act as an insulator.
What do ya'll think?
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:03 pm
by Tarzanus
I try to keep it on. I even covered more delicate specimens myself. Using a shovel I created a pile of snow that kept soil below warm and cozy. In a matter of fact, It was -15C several nights and even daily high temperatures stayed below freezing. which made me think I'll have to say good bye to Moso seedlings and especially not so hardy Borinda fungosa. They both remained in great shape under the pile of snow, the only problem were mice issues for Moso and broken culms for Borinda. All the culms got broken on Borinda fungosa. Leaves on it are mostly still fresh and green so there is still some activity in it, transport of water wasn't completely stopped. Exposed branches that were not under heavy snow cover of Phyllostachys pubescens 'Moso', Hibanobambusa tranquillans ' Shiroshima' and Phyllostachys aurea got quite damaged. All late autumn shoots seems to have froze to death, except perhaps fresh shoot on Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis - lamatemple'. That one is still erect, has visibly damaged branch-buds and seems to be alive. It did not fall down like other (dead) shoots did.
I'd say... Keep it covered. Hopefully culms will not snap under the weight of snow, especially if you decide to add some more yourself. Sadly we usually get dry cold with not much snow cover last years.
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:46 pm
by johnw
I will dig bamboos out of the snow in late autumn or late spring or if the weather is predicted to be above 20F for the next few weeks. Otherwise I'd leave them buried to protect them from cold, especially seedlings.
We were promised 40cm of snow overnight but only got 7cm and now it's raining and to get cold later in the week..
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:46 am
by jd.
jpluddite wrote:
I'm curious about attitudes regarding whether to shake the snow off or leave it on.
It's typically too cold and windy for bamboo here, so I tend to leave any snow on.
jpluddite wrote:
I've been shaking the snow off because I don't want the culms to be permanently bent, [...]
If a bamboo is marginal for the weather in an area, no protection could cause the culms to be permanently dead.
Yet taller bamboo tends to be too exposed to wind and sun for snow to persist long anyway, so shaking off snow may change the outcome little if the bamboo is otherwise left unprotected.
I notice the Ph. propinqua 'beijing' bamboo, too tall for any snow drift here, is already looking tattered with a few leaves now extremely curled.
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:48 am
by stevelau1911
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:57 am
by JWH
Bamboo looks great with some snow. Though I don't look forward to snow and cold here if we get it this winter. Would it be too much to ask for a 3rd mild winter in a row?
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 12:14 am
by pokenei
Saw a bit of snow covering as well this morning. All bamboos took it well.
Last Winter was not mild. It was on or below average in my area, but there wasn't extreme cold temperatures either, so that was good. The lowest last Winter for me was -21 or -22 Celsius.
Re: bamboo in the snow
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 1:20 am
by stevelau1911