Pennisetum provides attractive accents in the bed all year round. It looks particularly pretty in autumn and winter, when the feathery inflorescences appear and are decorated with hoarfrost in cold weather. Some hobby gardeners are somewhat unsure about pruning and the correct time for this care measure.

The stalks of the lamp cleaner grass not only look beautiful in winter, they also serve as winter protection for the plant

When is it cut back?

Once a year, the ornamental grass must be shortened so that it sprout again vigorously and healthily. However, this should not be done in autumn, but in early spring, before the new shoots.

Why are grasses only cut in the spring?

If you leave the stalks on the plant during the cold season, they serve as natural winter protection.

If you cut in autumn, there is also a risk that rot will form in the short stubs. This can damage Pennisetum enough that it will die.

The dense, long ornamental grasses provide shelter for numerous animals during the winter months and are therefore also ecologically valuable.

How is it cut?

Never cut back so deeply that the juicy green, freshly sprouting inner core is visible and lies open. Proceed as follows when pruning:

  • The dead stalks can often be removed simply by pulling vigorously.
  • If this is not possible, shorten it to about ten centimetres.
  • Cut out any dead shoots.
  • Be careful not to cut off too much. Dried leaf remnants often roll around the new leaf shoots, which serve to protect the new shoots.
  • Never cut into the fresh green, because then the grass tip dries up, which greatly affects the appearance of the ornamental grass.
  • Because pennisetum can be very sharp, wear gloves when doing this job.
  • Always use sharp and well-cleaned cutting tools. This prevents pathogens from entering the plant.

pruning during the year

Sometimes culms dry up and turn unsightly brown. You can cut these out throughout the gardening season.

Properly winter the uncut grass

Pennisetum is quite hardy and can remain outdoors in our latitudes even in the cold months. If experience has shown that the winters in your region tend to be wet, you should tie the long shafts together in a tuft.

  • Leaves,
  • Brushwood,
  • winter protection fleece

ensure that the lamp cleaning grass is not damaged in severe frosts.

tips

Pennisetum is very easy to propagate by division. The best time is spring, before budding. If you combine this care measure with pruning, you can look forward to several of these attractive ornamental grass perennials in the coming garden season.

Category:

Herbs