Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Pruning guide · Ornamental grass
Feathertop: when and how to prune
Cenchrus longisetus
Feathertop is best pruned in April.
| Pruning months | April |
|---|---|
| Flowering | July–October |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Feathertop: when to prune it?
Grown as an annual it is not pruned. An overwintered plant is cut back in April.
What else to prune in those months? April
Feathertop: how to prune it?
- Cut an overwintered clump back to about 10 cm in April before it regrows.
- Remove dead leaves.
- Cut plumes for a bouquet just as they reach full size.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: April.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- If you only cut back in April, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
Caution: In warm regions such as parts of Australia and California it has become naturalised. In our climate it is killed by frost, but do not dispose of ripe seed in the wild.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Feathertop · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.