Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
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Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Ribwort plantain: when and how to prune
Plantago lanceolata
Ribwort plantain is best pruned in June and September.
| Pruning months | June and September |
|---|---|
| Flowering | May–September |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Ribwort plantain: when to prune it?
No pruning; mow the grassland in June and in September.
Ribwort plantain: how to prune it?
- Mow a hay meadow in June after the first flowering and again in September, and remove the cuttings.
- Leave an uncut strip at every mowing as shelter for insects and caterpillars.
- Mow a lawn high, at 6–8 cm, so the rosettes and flowers survive.
- In autumn leave some of the flowering stalks: the seeds feed birds.
How much to cut, and how often?
- There are 2 pruning periods a year: June 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: Never mow everything short at once: butterfly and moth caterpillars live on the rosette leaves.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Ribwort plantain · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.