How to prune agave ovatifolia

Spring for tidying; dead leaves and flower stalks any time after dieback. Wear thick leather gloves and long sleeves. Use a sharp pruning saw or heavy loppers to cut dead outer leaves cleanly at the base. Avoid contact with the serrated leaf margins. Leave all healthy grey-blue leaves in place.

Rarely — only as dead leaves accumulate over time. Agave ovatifolia (Whale's Tongue Agave) is a dramatic blue-grey rosette that requires minimal pruning. Remove dead outer leaves at the base as they dry — wear heavy gloves, as the leaf margins and terminal spines are sharp. Do not shape or reduce the plant; its wide symmetrical form is natural. Remove the spent flower stalk after the monocarpic bloom.

Wear thick leather gloves and long sleeves. Use a sharp pruning saw or heavy loppers to cut dead outer leaves cleanly at the base. Avoid contact with the serrated leaf margins. Leave all healthy grey-blue leaves in place.