It's that time of year when we get out into the garden and clean-up for another season in the garden. I always get the question of when to cut back ornamental grasses, to which I always say now. I prefer to leave the golden foliage up through the winter as opposed to cutting the grasses back in the fall. Either time you will not harm the grasses, it's just a gardeners personal preference. I love their contrast against a new fallen snow or in front of some evergreens.
This spring I have noticed incorrect horticultural practices when cutting grasses back. I have seen grasses not cut back far enough to the ground. I have seen grasses sheared like shrubs. The photo shows the correct way to to trim them back to the ground. Easiest way to trim is a sharp pair of hand pruners or shears. If you have numerous and larger clumps in the garden then electric or gas powered hedge shears make quick work of it.
