Photo: User:Tigerente, CC BY 2.5 · source
Pruning guide · Ornamental grass
Tufted sedge: when and how to prune
Carex elata
Tufted sedge is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | April–May |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Tufted sedge: when to prune it?
Cut back the dead foliage in March, just before the new leaves appear.
What else to prune in those months? March
Tufted sedge: how to prune it?
- Cut the old foliage down to 5–10 cm above the ground with secateurs or shears.
- Cut carefully around the young shoots, which appear early.
- Leave the old foliage all winter: it protects the centre and shelters small creatures.
- Take cut leaves out of the water and put them on the compost heap.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Caution: Wear gloves: the leaf edges are rough and can cut your hands.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Tufted sedge · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.