It’s spring, that means all of the plants are ready for their trimming. Or, rather, for me it means that I need to get my bumbum in gear and get everything trimmed before all of the plants are leafed out… for once. I admit it! I can’t keep up with the crazy number of flowerbeds and tropical pots that I’ve collected over the years, but that’s the fun, screaming-your-sanity-away, part of life.
Alright, back to the subject at hand. Trimming lemongrass plants!
Spring is the best time to trim lemongrass back, before it starts its new growth. If your plant went through a crazy winter like mine did where it experienced some temperatures lower than its preferred minimum of 40 degrees F, then there may be some dead sections to clear away as well. Trimming lemongrass yearly keeps it looking neat, which helps to prevent any diseases from attacking, and promotes new growth, which means more to enjoy.
First, start by trimming the whole thing back. I prefer to go down to about 6 inches from the soil, but I have found some websites recommend going as far as 2 inches. You can use sharp shears, trimmers, or, even, a chainsaw. I’ve seen some pretty impressive, quick trimmings get done with a chainsaw, though I can’t verify how good it is for the plant.
Next, cut or lightly pull away any dead material. This includes shoots as well as dead leaves. If the whole shoot is brown and shows no signs of greenery, that usually means it’s dead.
Add in some extra soil or mulch to replace settled soil/mulch from last year or if your outdoor cat decided to go after a frog that may have jumped into the pot and threw all of your soil all over the place.
A couple more brown leaves to remove and this little guy is done! Happy farming!