Step 4: Trim the sides - To get the best look out of your bamboo plant and to give it a refresh, Tony advises 'for aesthetic purposes, trim side branches to create a more open and airy look'.

If you want to make your bamboo the centrepiece of your zen garden, the plant boffins at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) say you should prune it in a way that best shows off its striking canes.