With the arrival of winter, the switchgrass has by no means fulfilled its tasks this year. If you reach for the scissors too quickly, you rob yourself of a wintry eye-catcher in the bed and on the balcony. Likewise, the beneficial insects of the garden lose a secure shelter. However, switchgrass cannot go entirely without pruning. Read how to do it right here.
The beautiful switchgrass is often cut as an ornamental grass for the vase
The best time is in spring
Biting frost down to -28 degrees Celsius does not bother hardy switchgrass. If, on the other hand, the eyrie is exposed to permanent winter wetness, there is a risk of rot and mold. The withered stalks therefore act as a natural protective shield against the rigors of cold wetness. The beneficial insects in the garden also appreciate this advantage, so switchgrass is a frequently used shelter.
Therefore, only cut back your switchgrass in early spring. Choose a date in February or March, in good time before the new shoots. If the first culm tips fall victim to the scissors, they turn brown. You then struggle with this shortcoming for the rest of the year.
The right cut goes like this
The filigree appearance of the straws belies the sharp edges that cause painful cuts. Therefore, please put on protective gloves before you start working with the freshly sharpened, disinfected scissors or saw. How to do it right:
- Hold the stalks in a tuft with one hand
- With the other hand, cut or saw the grass a hand's breadth above the ground
In view of the capricious weather in recent years, budding may have taken place very early in the year after a mild winter. In this case, put the scissors or saw aside. With gloved hands, comb out the clump of grass as much as possible.
tips
With the pruning in early spring, this year's care program starts. Now is the best time to give your switchgrass the necessary momentum with a well-measured portion of compost and horn shavings (€32.93) for a lush sprouting of fresh stalks.