Photo: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Grass-like plant
Red fescue: when and how to prune
Festuca rubra
Red fescue is best pruned in July and September.
| Pruning months | July and September |
|---|---|
| Flowering | May–July |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Red fescue: when to prune it?
Early July, after flowering, and in September.
Red fescue: how to prune it?
- Mow at 5–10 cm with a scythe or bar mower, in dry weather.
- Leave the hay for 2–3 days so that seed can drop, then remove it.
- At each cut, leave a strip standing as a refuge for insects and overwintering caterpillars.
- In a flowering lawn, mow high and not too often, so that low flowers can bloom.
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: Do not mow short in winter: the young caterpillars of the marbled white and other browns overwinter low down in the grass.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Red fescue · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.