How to prune narrow small-reed

Late winter to early spring (February–March). Cut the entire clump to 3–4 inches with hand shears before new growth begins. Remove any dead or winter-damaged stems during the growing season if tidiness is important.

Annually. Narrow small-reed (Calamagrostis stricta) is a slender native wetland grass. Cut it back hard to 3–4 inches in late winter or early spring to clear old growth and make way for fresh shoots. It spreads more modestly than its relatives; a simple annual cut-back is normally all the maintenance required.

Cut the entire clump to 3–4 inches with hand shears before new growth begins. Remove any dead or winter-damaged stems during the growing season if tidiness is important.