Cut back battered fronds so they look their best come summer
Cut back battered fronds for improved plants, says Ruth
ORNAMENTAL grasses add a light, airy touch to borders and, in summer, provide a beautiful foil for more colourful and vivacious plants.
Many can be left alone when winter comes, as their elegant fronds and seedheads give interest when there is little else about, and they also look wonderful when touched by frost on clear, freezing mornings.
However, by now they will be starting to look a bit bedraggled and battered by winter weather, and will need cutting back in order to grow well and look their best this summer.
Remove the seeded stems with sharp, clean secateurs, taking care not to damage any new growth. Then cut the rest back to a few centimetres from the ground, leaving just a hairy tuft.
Weed around the clump, and mulch well to feed the plant as it comes back into growth.
Some deciduous species, including Deschampsia and Calamagrostis, should be trimmed before new growth emerges, whereas later-shooting Pennisetum can be cut back in late April.
Late pruning is also beneficial for Miscanthus, whereas the deciduous Stipa tenuissima can be treated as you would an evergreen grass, and be cut back now.
Evergreen grasses such as blue fescue (Festuca glauca) just need a trim, so snip off brown tips and remove dead leaves from the base.
Larger evergreens, including pampas grass, should be cut back hard in spring. It used to be a common practice to burn pampas grass, but this is no longer recommended as it can damage new, emerging growth.