Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is an ornamental grass with conspicuous blue to blue-grey stalks. However, it is not only cultivated because of its distinctive colouring, but also because of its dense, clump-like growth. Blue fescue grass is also very robust and is considered to be extremely easy to care for - provided it is in a suitable location. Experts disagree on whether to cut back the ornamental grass or not.
Blue fescue should better not be cut
Basically no pruning necessary
First of all: even if your garden center has recommended annual pruning, this is actually unnecessary, and in some specimens even deadly. Many a gardener has already had the experience that the pruned blue fescue has not sprouted again. However, this has nothing to do with the fact that the plant is generally not compatible with pruning, but rather with an unsuitable location. If the blue fescue does not feel comfortable in one place, new growth may simply not appear - or the hardy plant freezes back in the cold season. If you want to be on the safe side, it is better not to trim your blue fescue clumps.
What to do when the blue fescue is dead?
But what is to be done when the blue fescue grass is full of yellow stalks after a long winter or, thanks to your own or the neighbor's cats, is flattened out? In this case, you can either prune vigorously or simply comb out the clumps vigorously with your hands. You can carefully pluck out yellow stalks individually and simply leave the rest. Incidentally, a few sticks stuck in the eyrie help against cats, which make the nest no longer appear quite so cuddly.
Radical pruning only in spring
Should a pruning be necessary - for example because the plant is infected with fungi - you should carry out this measure on a warm day in spring if possible. If, on the other hand, the blue fescue is cut back in autumn, you weaken the plant even more. Incidentally, mowing (e.g. with a lawn mower) is also not advisable, not even if you have planted a larger area with blue fescue grass as a lawn substitute.
tips
If the blue fescue feels very comfortable in one location, it tends to self-seed. To prevent this, you should remove the flowers that appear in June / July after they have faded.