How to prune galangal

Late winter to early spring before new shoots emerge. Cut dead or old canes down to soil level with clean loppers or shears. Leave healthy green canes intact. If clumps are overcrowded, dig and divide the rhizomes rather than pruning tops.

As needed for tidying; once per year in late winter. Galangal (Alpinia galanga) is a large rhizomatous ginger relative that rarely needs pruning beyond tidying. Cut old, yellowing or dead stems to the ground any time. In late winter or early spring, remove the previous season's spent stalks entirely to make room for new growth. Division every 3–4 years is more useful than pruning.

Cut dead or old canes down to soil level with clean loppers or shears. Leave healthy green canes intact. If clumps are overcrowded, dig and divide the rhizomes rather than pruning tops.