Perennials · pruning calendar
When to prune ornamental grasses
Leave ornamental grasses standing through winter, then cut them back in early spring before new growth appears.
Ornamental grasses pruning by month
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldzones 3–5 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Prune now | April: Prune now | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Temperatezones 6–8 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Prune now | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Warmzones 9–11 | January: Wait | February: Prune now | March: Wait | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
- Prune now
- Wait
- Don’t prune now
- Wait Leave it standing through winter. It looks good in snow and shelters wildlife.
- Prune now Early spring, before new green shoots appear. Cutting now keeps old stems from shading the new growth.
- Wait New growth is up. Cut carefully above the green shoots, or just comb out dead blades.
- Wait It’s growing or in plume. Leave it standing.
How to cut: Tie the clump with twine, then cut it a few inches above the ground. For evergreen grasses like blue fescue, comb out dead blades instead.
Sources
Months are grouped into broad USDA zone bands, so local weather, elevation and the plant itself still have the final say.
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