Beginners now ask themselves how far you should cut back ornamental grass. Does the same rule apply to all types and varieties or is it individual? And what if you have cut in autumn instead of waiting until spring. Did you do something wrong and possibly harm the plant? We will summarize the basic rules for the grass cut soon so that they always keep an overview.
Autumn or spring for the pruning?
Most grasses first cut themin spring (March or April), not only because the dry stalks have a decorative effect for the garden, but because it also protects the plant from the winter cold and moisture. This applies especially to the hardy varieties such as:
- Blaßrahlhafer (Helictotrichon Sempervirens)
- Chinstaschilf (Miscanthus)
- Lamp cleaner grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) - autumn cut also possible
- Pampasgras (Cortaderia Selloana)
- Giant feather grass (Stipa gigantea)
- Rod brirse (Panicum virgatum)
- Many species of swinging (Festuca)
- Seggen (Carex) - depending on the variety, because some are winter green
In any case, the pruning takes place before the new shoot or at the latest as soon as you can see the first drive tips. Otherwise, you risk reducing these shoots, which in turn would affect the growth of the plant.
If you have cut them out of ignorance in autumn, this does not necessarily have to be damaged. Usually they run out again so easily. Just watch.
Ornamental grasses that are not hardy and are therefore particularly lazy are usually not particularly beautiful to look at in winter. Thereforecanyou alreadycut in autumnbecome. Such are, for example:
- Blush swing (Festuca Gauzza)
- Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’)
- Lamp cleaner grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
- Seggen (Carex) that have no winter ornamental picture
The next question that arises is how far you can and should cut back ornamental grass. This is actually not always the same, but depends on the final height of the respective grass.
1. Cut low ornamental grasses
Small ornamental grass types may be cut somewhat shorter than their larger relatives. Types that up to50 cm hochbecome. The following applies: measured from the groundAbout 10 to 15 cmor, with particularly low varieties, even on5 cm. The following decorative grasses belong to this group, for example:
- Berg-Szegge (Carex montana)
- Blue pipe grass (Molinia caeruleea)
- Blush swing (Festuca Gauzza)
- Japangras (Hakonechloa macra)
- Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’)
- Lamp cleaner grass 'Hameln' (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’)
- Moor-Pfeifengras (Malinia Caerulea 'Moorhexe')
- Lawn Schmiele (Deschampsia Cespitosa)
- Seggen (Carex)
- Silver Chinstaschilf (Miscanthus sinensis)
- Waldmarbel (Luzula sylvatica)
BUT:The cut is not mandatory for small types of grass. The evergreen variants in particular can only be cleaned. More on this below.
2. Cutting medium -height decorative grasses how far back
Varieties thatBetween 50 and 100 cm highwill receive the same pruning as the low varieties, namely between10 and 15 cm, possibly tooup to 20 cm. This includes, for example:
- DiamantGras (Calamagrostis brachytricha)
- Flatterbinse (Sildrefuse)
- Lamp cleaner grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) - can be cut to just above the earth, but be careful with new shoots
- Pipe grass (Molinia caeruleea)
- Lawn Schmiele (Deschampsia Cespitosa)
- Riding grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)
- Wald-Schmiele (Deschampsia Cespitosa)
3. Correctly shorten the high grass varieties
As you can think, you don't go down with the scissors with these grasses. They are considered “high” with a growth of an elevator ofat least 1 meter. In this case, leave the stalks between20 and 30 cmlong. So you don't need to worry that you could hurt the new shoots. Which popular garden grasses belong to this group?
- Chinstaschilf (Miscanthus sinensis) and including zebragras (Miscanthus sinensis‘Zebrinus’)
- Pampasgras (Cortaderia Selloana) - do not go under 20 cm
- Rearfered wraps (Stipa Barbata) - can be cut to just above the earth, but be careful with new shoots
- Riding grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)
- Giant feather grass (Stipa gigantea)
- Rod brirse (Panicum virgatum)
- Silberhaargras (Spodiopogon sibiricus)
Our tip:Cutting high grasses can be a bit tedious due to the mass. You can make the task easier by tying them together beforehand. Regardless of the size, you should wear gloves, as some grasses have sharp stalks.
Summarized again:
Exceptions are the rule: Which decorative grasses do not need any cuts?
Varieties that are evergreen do not have to be cut and this applies to all heights. It is enough for them to clean them - combing it out is called it and it works exactly as it sounds. A (hand) rake or brush is carefully pulled through the stalks from the bottom up, with dried out. In oneContribution of the ARDthe cat brush is even recommended.
@anyathegardenfairyThis grass should not be pruned back, but in April or May simply comb through it.#lovegardening #containergarden #englishgardenstyle #growfromseeds #growfromseed #cottagegarden #grasses #ornamentalgrass #stipa #cottagegarden #contemporarygarden #gardeningisntmything #gardeningislife #gardeningisfun #gardeningismytherapy #gardeninginspiration #gardeningideas #gardeninginspiration #gardener #gardenergirl #Gardenersoftok #gardenersworld #gardenersoftik #gardeninghacks #gardeningtips #gardents ♬ J'Adore - Daniele Baldi
Thisevergreen ornamental grassesFor example, do not necessarily have to be shortened:
- Bear fur grass (Festuca Gautieri)
- Federgras (stipa thin)
- Blaßrahlhafer (Helictotrichon Sempervirens)
- Swingel grass (Festuca arundinacea,Festuca Gauacca)
- Evergreen blessing (Carex species)
- Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra)
- Roaming (Luzula sylvatica,Luzula Nivea)
- Dwarf vicinity (Sheep feast)
- hardy lamp cleaner grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
@lucywillcoxgardenProbably the most satisfying gardening job, combing out dead growth from evergreen grasses. These are my#stipatenuissimaI use my#wolf gardenhand rake attached to the handle and gentle comb out the dead growth. Easy as you like!#evergreengrasses #maintaininggrasses #gardeningtipsandtricks ♬ original sound – LucyWillcoxGardenDesign
So you can feel like itCombine boxwood and grasses.
