Pruning Lady's Mantle

Lady's mantle doesn't require pruning in the traditional sense, but it does benefit from a tidy-up in July after the main flush of flowers has faded. The frothy lime-yellow blooms are charming in early summer, but once they turn brown they look tatty and, more importantly, the plant self-seeds with enthusiasm. If you don't want seedlings popping up everywhere, cut back the whole plant before the seed heads ripen and scatter. Use a pair of sharp garden shears or secateurs and shear the entire clump down to about 10 cm above ground level, removing all the spent flower stems and the older, tired foliage in one go. This might seem drastic, but lady's mantle responds quickly with a fresh mound of soft, pleated leaves that will look good for the rest of the season. If you value the flowers for cutting or enjoy their appearance in the border, you can delay this cut-back by a week or two, but don't leave it much later than mid-July or you'll miss the window for regrowth. If you do want seedlings—perhaps to fill gaps or pot on for friends—let a few flower stems set seed before cutting back the rest. Lady's mantle self-sows reliably but not aggressively, and unwanted seedlings pull out easily when small. In late autumn or early spring, remove any remaining dead or damaged foliage to tidy the crown, but the main "prune" is that July shearing. This single cut keeps the plant compact, healthy, and looking its best without any complicated technique or timing.