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Pruning guide · Grass-like plant
False brome: when and how to prune
Brachypodium sylvaticum
False brome is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | June–August |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
False brome: when to prune it?
In March, before the new leaves appear.
What else to prune in those months? March
False brome: how to prune it?
- Cut the tuft back to 10 cm above the ground, or comb out the dead leaves with gloved fingers.
- Leave the old tufts and stems standing all winter: they protect insects and the caterpillars in the tuft.
- Cut off the spikes in August if you do not want seedlings.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Caution: Do not cut back in autumn: young caterpillars of, among others, the ringlet and the large skipper overwinter in the tufts.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: False brome · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.