Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) is a popular perennial known for its distinctive silvery-gray, velvety foliage that spreads to form a dense groundcover. The plant’s soft texture and drought tolerance make it a favored choice for many garden beds and borders. Although it is widely celebrated as a low-maintenance plant, occasional cutting back is necessary to maintain its appealing aesthetic and overall plant health. Determining the correct timing for pruning ensures the plant remains vigorous and prevents issues like rot or legginess from developing within the dense foliage.
Deadheading Spent Flower Spikes
The most common pruning task is removing the tall, woolly flower spikes that emerge from the central rosette of leaves. Lamb’s Ear typically produces these spikes in late spring, and they begin to fade and turn brown around mid-summer, generally in June or July. Removing these spent flower stalks, a process known as deadheading, is primarily an aesthetic decision.
Leaving spent flower spikes leads to a messy, unattractive appearance as they collapse and dry out. Deadheading also conserves the plant’s energy, which would otherwise be directed toward seed production. By cutting the spikes, the plant redirects its resources back into developing a denser, more robust mat of foliage.
Follow the flower spike down to where it originates near the base of the plant. Use clean, sharp bypass pruners to make the cut as close to the basal rosette as possible. Care should be taken to avoid damaging the surrounding new foliage, which is the plant’s primary ornamental feature. This targeted removal prevents unwanted self-seeding and maintains the plant’s compact, carpet-like form throughout the remainder of the growing season.
Seasonal Renewal Pruning
Beyond deadheading, Lamb’s Ear benefits from a heavier cutting back of the foliage mass, often called renewal pruning. The first and most beneficial time for this aggressive cut is during late winter or very early spring, just before new growth begins. This timing allows the gardener to remove any leaves that were damaged by winter weather, including snow compression or frost burn.
This annual renewal involves shearing the entire plant mass back significantly, removing up to two-thirds of the old, tired foliage. Cutting the plant back hard at this time stimulates the production of fresh, dense, and vibrant new leaves from the crown. This practice prevents the plant from becoming woody or sparse in the center, which often occurs as the older leaves crowd out new growth.
Aggressive pruning may also be necessary during mid-to-late summer, particularly in regions with high heat and humidity. These conditions can cause the dense leaf layers to trap moisture, leading to fungal issues or rot, often visible as browning or mushy leaves in the plant’s center. When this damage appears, it is necessary to cut out the affected areas entirely to improve air circulation.
Removing the rotting material prevents the spread of pathogens and opens up the canopy to allow sunlight and air to reach the crown. This targeted mid-season cleanup helps to revitalize the plant and is a preventative measure against further deterioration.
Tools and Post-Pruning Care
Using appropriate, well-maintained equipment is essential for successful cutting back. For precise work like deadheading individual flower spikes, sharp bypass hand pruners are the ideal tool, ensuring a clean cut that minimizes stress on the plant tissue. When performing the broader seasonal renewal pruning, hedge shears or electric trimmers can be used effectively to shear back large patches of foliage quickly.
Regardless of the tool chosen, it is paramount to clean the blades with a disinfectant, such as a 10% bleach solution or rubbing alcohol, both before and after use. Sanitizing the tools prevents the accidental transmission of fungal spores or bacterial diseases from other garden plants to the freshly cut tissues of the Lamb’s Ear. A clean cut heals faster and reduces the opportunity for pathogens to enter the wound.
Immediate aftercare is crucial for the plant’s recovery. After any major cutting back, all removed plant debris, including cut leaves and spikes, must be cleared away from the base of the plant. Allowing clippings to remain creates a layer of organic material that traps moisture, creating an environment perfect for rot and slugs.
Following an aggressive renewal, it is advisable to temporarily reduce supplemental watering to allow the cut surfaces to dry and heal properly. If the renewal pruning was performed in spring, a very light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer can encourage rapid and robust regrowth of the new foliage mat. The focus remains on keeping the crown dry and exposed to good air circulation during the recovery period.