Pruning Sesleria autumnalis

Plantminded · 28 January

I’ve had three of these grasses for a couple of years. They are classified as evergreen and I haven’t pruned them before but this year they look a bit discoloured and ragged. Some sources say to comb out the dead grass with your hand, others say to cut the grass down to the ground. If I just leave them, I wondered whether they will green up in spring. I’d appreciate any thoughts please.

punkdoc · 28 January

I just pull out the flower stalks and try to comb out the dead leaves. I find it looks a bit manky until well into spring.

Plantminded · 28 January

Great, thank you, that’s what I’ll do!

Loxley · 28 January

I shear mine to about 2" - they grow back fast. It's worth dividing them too, I'm finding the bigger ones actually flop in late summer. I divided all mine this winter and filled a wheelie bin with the excess plant material generated.

Plantminded · 29 January

Thank you @Loxley.

GardenerSuze · 29 January

I have Seslaris autumnalis year two I split it. I think it is going to be a useful plant for a new garden. It will fill some gaps until other things become established. I think it is a plant that should be used more often too as it is easy to grow. You rarely see it here in the GC's. my plant came from Chatsworth.
Since then I have added S Nitida and S Summer Skies different flower shapes I believe all are semi evergreen . Anything that suits my soil, I will look at similar options. Because the flowers are not a 'clean' white you do need some thought when planting with other perennials.

In my old garden I cut back Stipa gigantea every year to 2ft , it is classed as evergreen,you should just tease out the dead stuff. Clearing it let in light and air to the new growth which was easier to do when cut back. Always came back year on year just as good.

Loxley · 29 January

S. nitida looks interesting Suze, I saw it in the rock gardens at Chatsworth with lovely fluffy flower heads in early spring. Unusual for a true grass to flower so early. I've seen them looking bedraggled later in the season though so wonder if they benefit from cutting back after flowering.

GardenerSuze · 29 January

@Loxley Thankyou, any info I can gather on these plants is helpful as they are all new to me. It would seem like all grasses Sesleria is more than happy with a haircut.

So much work has been done on the gardens at Chatsworth but I have only visited in high summer. A spring visit is planned for this year. It is great to be able to buy the plants that grow in the garden.

I understand that Dan Pearson will be making some changes to the Arboretum in the near future. It is one of the best gardens in the country in my opinion.

Plantminded · 29 January

Thank you @GardenerSuze and @Loxley for this information which is very helpful. I also have a Cortaderia which I have cut down to ground level a couple of times and it has always come back very well. I now have a Plan A and a Plan B! I like the round habit of the Sesleria, it’s like a grass version of Box! I’ll have a look at those other two varieties too.

Plantminded · 29 January

Just looked at the range available at Knoll. This is a nice one too!

https://www.knollgardens.co.uk/product/sesleria-greenlees-hybrid/

Pruning Sesleria autumnalis

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