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Grasses - cut back?

bryanedwbryanedw Posts: 20
hi
Should I cut these grasses back? And when? 
Thanks in advance
mr happy days 

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  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
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  • bryanedwbryanedw Posts: 20
    bryanedw said:
    hi
    Should I cut these grasses back? And when? 
    Thanks in advance
    mr happy days 

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited 8 March
    @bryanedw You can cut back grasses once you see signs of life at the base. The exceptions are the evergreen ones and the Pennisetums which are cut back in April. If you have lots to do tie so string around the base and cut with sharpe shearers. Stops them going everywhere. Sometimes it is not easy to ID grasses at this time of year.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited 8 March
    The first two photos look like varieties of Carex which are evergreen sedges and don’t usually need cutting back. You can tidy them up just by combing your hand through them to remove any dead leaves.  The two in the pot in the last photo look like either Stipa tenuissima or Carex Frosted Curls in front and a variegated Carex behind. Both are evergreen and should be treated like the others. If they still look untidy, all these plants can be cut down by up to half from April to July and new growth will be generated in response quite quickly.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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