Pruning Hakone grass

Hakonechloa macra requires very little pruning in the traditional sense, but an annual tidy-up keeps it looking its best. The foliage turns attractive shades of bronze and gold in autumn and persists through winter, providing structure and interest when many perennials have died back. Leave the old foliage in place over winter to protect the crown from frost and wet, and to give shelter to overwintering insects. In early spring—March or April—cut back all the previous year's growth before the new shoots emerge. Use sharp secateurs or hedging shears and cut the whole clump down to within 5–8 cm of the ground. This is a straightforward job: simply gather the old stems in one hand and slice through them cleanly. The old foliage will be dry and brittle by this point, making it easy to remove. Rake away the debris or add it to your compost heap. Timing matters. If you prune too early in late winter, you remove the protective layer before the worst weather has passed. If you leave it too late, you risk damaging the fresh new shoots that emerge in mid to late spring. Aim to complete the job before you see bright green tips pushing through at the base. Hakonechloa doesn't produce showy flowers—the late-summer blooms are inconspicuous green spikelets—so there's no deadheading required. If any stems look tatty or damaged during the growing season, snip them out at the base, but otherwise leave the plant alone to develop its graceful, arching habit undisturbed.