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Pruning guide · Grass-like plant
Common cottongrass: when and how to prune
Eriophorum angustifolium
Common cottongrass is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | April–May |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Common cottongrass: when to prune it?
In March, before the new shoots appear; it is optional.
What else to prune in those months? March
Common cottongrass: how to prune it?
- Cut the dead, brown leaves back to a few centimetres above the ground, or simply leave them.
- Remove the cut leaves so that the soil is not enriched.
- Leave the cotton tufts in June–July: the seed blows away and you enjoy them for longer.
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: Do not cut from April onwards: the flower spikelets are already appearing then.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Common cottongrass · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.