Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Tormentil: when and how to prune
Potentilla erecta
Tormentil is best pruned in October.
| Pruning months | October |
|---|---|
| Flowering | May–September |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Tormentil: when to prune it?
Mow once a year, in October, along with the rest of the thin meadow or heath.
What else to prune in those months? October
Tormentil: how to prune it?
- Cut at 5–10 cm and rake off the cuttings so the soil stays poor.
- Leave a patch uncut here and there until spring, as shelter for insects.
- Single tufts in a border need no cutting back: the old stems die off by themselves.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: October.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Caution: Do not mow in summer: you would lose the flowers and the caterpillars of the grizzled skipper.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.