In terms of care, the feather bristle grass is considered undemanding and suitable for beginners. But is it really like that? Especially when cutting, you shouldn't approach your work naively.
When and how should you cut the feather bristle grass?
The feather bristle grass should be cut in spring, between February and March. To do this, the stalks are gathered into a bundle and cut off about 10 cm above the ground. Autumn pruning is not recommended as the old plant parts serve as winter protection.
Autumn cut? Better not
While many other plants are cut back in autumn, the feather bristle grass still has to wait. Fall is not a good time to cut it back. Wait until spring and let the feather bristle grass overwinter as it is.
The stalks and leaves act as winter protection
The stalks and leaves, which have already dried up, serve as natural winter protection. If they are removed, snow, rain and ice can hit the root area of this ornamental grass directly. When there is a thaw, it can become wet. This often results in rot. Then the feather bristle grass can no longer be helped.
However, if the plant parts remain standing - they can be tied together in a bundle with a rope so as not to break - they keep most of the water away from the root area. On top of that, they provide a cozy shelter for wintering insects.
Prune between February and March
Early spring is the right time to prune. The period between February and March turned out to be ideal. Then there is only a little frost and the new growth has not yet started.
Grab the secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon), gather the stalks together into a bundle with your hands and cut off the plant parts. You should cut them back to 10 cm above the ground. If they were not affected by diseases, they can end up in the compost.
Other reasons for a cut
In addition to pruning to remove the old parts of the plant and to stimulate the growth of new stalks and leaves, there are other reasons to pull out the scissors in the presence of feather bristle grass. These include these:
- for removing dried, browned plant parts
- Cutting off the flowers, for example for the vase
- for removing parts of plants affected by diseases
Tip
In September, cut off the flower stalks, clean them of possible insects and put them in a vase at home. These dry flower awns look beautiful and decorative for many months.
