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Miscanthus

boleyn_nickboleyn_nick Posts: 6
in Plants
I experimented with Ornamental Grass last year and happy to say they were a success. When should i look to cut back? Thinking March/April but would welcome any guidance/tips. Thanks

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - grasses should generally be left until there's signs of new growth coming through at the base, and then you can cut back to let it develop. Miscanthus would fall into that category    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @boleyn_nick,

    I cut mine back in January.
    I find if I do it later than that it takes a lot longer as I'm trying not to damage the new grass shoots which are already growing. In January I can just chop the whole lot down with sharp shears.
    Make sure you wear stout gloves ... the old grass stems can be quite sharp.

    Bee x


    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    edited January 2021
    Some grasses are evergreen and will sulk or die if you cut them back.  With these you're recommended to pull out the old dead leaves from the base, as you would do with pampas grass.  This RHS site is useful:

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=434

    Whoops.  Just seen your thread is headed "Miscanthus"... if that's all you have, then yes, cut back in early spring.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I usually cut mine back around the end of February depending on the weather and the state of it. Some years the whole thing has collapsed by the end of January. 
    When you see the new green growth appear at the base, don't wait much longer. Mine are quite large so l use shears and then secateurs to tidy up.
    As Bee says definitely wear gloves, the leaves on grasses can be razor sharp. 
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