Ornamental grasses are very low maintenance<\/a>, but some do need cutting back at the end of winter. Others may need a general tidy up in spring.<\/p>\n But which grasses need which treatment? How and when to cut back grasses depends on whether they are deciduous or evergreen, explains Neil Lucas.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s our piece on the best ornamental grasses to grow.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Most flowering grasses, including Calamagrostis<\/em>, Miscanthus<\/em>, Panicum<\/em> and Pennisetum<\/em><\/a>, are deciduous. Simply cut all the old growth back to the base at the end of winter \u2013 in late February or early March.<\/p>\n Use secateurs<\/a>, removing each of last year\u2019s stems individually, and being careful not to cut off the new shoots that are emerging at the base. If the clump is too large for this treatment, you can use shears<\/a> but leave about 10cm of the old stems to avoid cutting through new growth.<\/p>\n You can chop up the old stems and leave them on the border as a surface mulch<\/a> which helps retain moisture, controls weeds and encourages wildlife<\/a>.<\/p>\n Deciduous grasses include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Evergreen grasses such as Carex<\/em>, Festuca<\/em> and Stipa tenuissima<\/em> (now officially called Nassella tenuissima<\/em>) do not need any regular annual care if they are looking neat and healthy, advises Neil Lucas. Comb or rake<\/a> off any old, tired or dead leaves and flowers in spring.<\/p>\n Neil says that some grasses are semi evergreen, but can be cared for in the same way as evergreens. If they are looking tatty or tired they can be cut back hard in spring.<\/p>\n Neil points out that the golden oat grass, Stipa gigantea<\/em>, is an evergreen but will require last season\u2019s flower stems removing at the end of winter to make way for the new. You can also cut back the wiry green foliage by about half if it is getting untidy but be careful not to damage the new flower spikes that appear around April.<\/p>\n John Hoyland suggests that to save time, you can cut the whole plant down with shears<\/a> or a cordless hedge trimmer<\/a> to form a dome about 25cm high. Within a few weeks new leaves will push through to create a lush base for the golden panicles that are the plant\u2019s main attraction.<\/p>\nHow to cut back ornamental grasses<\/h2>\n
Cutting back deciduous grasses<\/h3>\n
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