Pruning, trimming, seasonal maintenance, etc.

[Mmathis]

For the plants that die back over winter, not an issue. But for the ones that:

1. Die back but still have their dead parts showing [grasses, rushes]
2. Don't die back at all, but stay green [evergreens]

Do you do any kind of maintenance on them when spring comes and the plants start showing new growth? I have several rushes that I left alone through the winter, but I then cut the "dead" growth back to just above the crown when it got warmer. New growth has started, but there are gaps where the "dead" reeds were.

I don't know if I did the right thing, but they are still alive and slowly putting our new growth.

 

[Sunshine]

I cut my Iris's, grass and cattails back in the Fall. The new growth has already come up. You can still see the short dead parts. It doesn't bother me to see it. I cut mine back in the Fall just to keep them from dying and laying in the pond water all Winter.

 

[sissy]

I do the same cut them back in the fall so they can store energy in there bulbs

 

[j.w]

Me too on trimming back the dead in fall and then in Spring if anything is brown and ugly I just snip it off no matter what it is. If it's just something that has small brown on it I just let it wait and get covered by new stuff.