Pruning Blue fescue

Blue fescue is evergreen, so it doesn't die back completely in winter, but it does benefit from an annual tidy-up in March. This is the single most important maintenance task for keeping the plant looking fresh and compact. In early to mid-March, before new growth begins in earnest, use your hands or a pair of garden shears to comb through the clump and remove dead, brown, or tatty foliage from the previous year. You can be quite firm—grasp handfuls of the old leaves and pull them away, or trim the whole clump back by about one-third to one-half its height. The aim is to clear out the old growth without damaging the crown or the fresh blue-green shoots emerging at the base. Some gardeners prefer to cut the entire plant back hard to about 5–8 cm above ground level in March. This works well if the clump has become messy or sparse in the centre, and it encourages a flush of tidy new growth. Use sharp hand shears or secateurs and cut just above the crown, taking care not to slice into the woody base. If your blue fescue sends up beige flower spikes in early summer, you can leave them for their subtle ornamental effect or cut them off once they fade if you prefer a neater look. Removing spent flowers won't harm the plant, but it's not essential. Avoid autumn or winter pruning. The old foliage provides some protection to the crown during cold, wet weather, and cutting back too early can leave the plant vulnerable to rot.