Regular gardening also includes pruning various plants. The giant Chinese reed, which grows up to four meters high, is no exception. However, you should proceed with caution, because a wrong cut can also cause damage.

The pruning serves the beautiful growth of the elephant grass

Does giant Chinese reed have to be cut regularly?

Regular pruning is not absolutely necessary for any variety of Chinese reed, but it makes sense. Without pruning, your giant Chinese reed may become unsightly over time. Sometimes the stalks die in the middle and new ones only grow on the outside. The pruning also gives the young shoots enough space to develop well.

When should I cut my giant Chinese reed?

The best time to cut Chinese reed is (late) spring. The winter should already be over, but the new shoots should not have started yet. Since this starts quite late with the Chinese reed, a pruning in April is well timed.

Occasionally there is debate about pruning in the fall, but this can potentially damage your giant Chinese reed. After cutting, water can penetrate the stalks and cause them to rot. It is better to let the plant hibernate completely. You can tie the straws together to protect against snow breakage.

What should I watch out for when pruning?

For your own protection, you should definitely wear robust gardening gloves when cutting Chinese reed, because the leaves are very sharp and the cut caused by them is quite painful. Cut your giant reed about four inches off the ground.

However, before cutting back, check whether the plant is already getting new shoots. Under no circumstances should you cut these off. In this case, set the cut higher. If there is a lot of new growth, only cut a few stalks, possibly only on the outside of the reeds.

The essentials in brief:

  • ideal time: April
  • Cutting height: approx. 10 cm above the ground (about a hand's breadth)
  • do not cut off new shoots
  • wear gloves

tips

Pruning is a good time to divide the giant Chinese reed.

Category:

Herbs