Cut deciduous ornamental grasses back to the ground in late winter or very early spring, ideally February to early March, just before the new growth appears. Evergreen grasses should not be cut back hard at all. Instead, simply comb out the dead blades with your fingers.
Getting this right comes down to knowing which of the two types you are growing, so here is how to tell them apart and what to do.
Deciduous versus evergreen grasses
Deciduous grasses die back to a clump of dry stems over winter. These include Miscanthus, Calamagrostis, Panicum, Pennisetum and Molinia. Evergreen grasses keep their foliage year round and include Carex, Festuca, most Stipa and Hakonechloa. If you are not sure what you have, our ornamental grasses collection lists the type and habit for each.
Deciduous grasses: leave, then cut in late winter
Resist the urge to tidy deciduous grasses in autumn. The faded stems and seed heads look beautiful through winter, especially with frost, and they protect the crown from the worst of the cold. Then, in late winter, cut the whole clump down to around 10cm above the ground before the fresh shoots come through. If you cut too late you risk trimming the new growth and leaving brown tips all season.
Evergreen grasses: comb, do not cut
Evergreen grasses resent hard pruning. Rather than cutting them back, run your gloved hands or a spring rake through the clump in spring to pull out the dead, brown blades. This tidies the plant without removing the living foliage it depends on.
How to cut back deciduous grasses
- Gather the clump loosely with string or a bungee to keep it tidy as you work.
- Cut through the whole bundle with shears or secateurs, around 10cm from the base.
- Wear gloves and long sleeves, as some grass blades are sharp.
Grasses earn their place by adding movement and texture, and they are brilliant in exotic and tropical borders and tough enough for dry and gravel gardens. Explore the full range of ornamental grasses for year round structure, and pair them with bold architectural plants for contrast.