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Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Goat’s-beard: when and how to prune
Tragopogon pratensis
Goat’s-beard is best pruned in July and September.
| Pruning months | July and September |
|---|---|
| Flowering | May–July |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Goat’s-beard: when to prune it?
Mow in July, when the seeds have blown away, and again in September if you like.
Goat’s-beard: how to prune it?
- Wait to mow until most of the seed clocks are empty.
- Cut at 5–8 cm and leave the cuttings for a few days before removing them, so the last seeds can drop out.
- In a border: only cut faded stems after the seed has ripened; leave the leaf rosettes of young plants.
- Leave a strip unmown as shelter for insects.
How much to cut, and how often?
- There are 2 pruning periods a year: July and September. You don’t have to prune in every one.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Caution: If you mow in June, before the seed ripens, it disappears within a few years: it is short-lived and depends on its seed.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Goat’s-beard · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.