Photo: Rasbak at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Smooth hawk’s-beard: when and how to prune
Crepis capillaris
Smooth hawk’s-beard is best pruned in September–October.
| Pruning months | September–October |
|---|---|
| Flowering | June–October |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Smooth hawk’s-beard: when to prune it?
Mowing in September–October, once most of the seed has dropped.
Smooth hawk’s-beard: how to prune it?
- Mow a wildflower meadow once or twice a year and remove the cuttings, so the soil stays poor.
- Leave an unmown strip each time as winter shelter for insects.
- In a border you can cut off spent stems, but leave a few for the seed and for the birds.
- In a lawn: raise the mower blades a little, and it will flower between mowings too.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: September–October.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Smooth hawk’s-beard · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.