Quck answer
Lamb’s Ear is a popular perennial plant known for its soft, fuzzy leaves. Pruning is an essential part of maintaining its health and appearance. Here are the key steps to prune a Lamb’s Ear:
1. Timing: Prune Lamb’s Ear in early spring or late winter before new growth emerges.
2. Remove dead leaves: Trim off any brown or withered leaves close to the base of the plant.
3. Shape the plant: Use clean, sharp pruning shears to trim the plant into a desired shape. Cut back any overgrown or leggy stems to promote a compact, bushy growth.
4. Maintain hygiene: Clean your pruning tools with rubbing alcohol after each use to prevent the spread of diseases.
Remember, Lamb’s Ear is a resilient plant, so don’t be afraid to prune it to keep it looking its best.
Lamb’s ear, although soft and pleasant, can spread unexpectedly in your garden, even if you didn’t plant it. Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina, USDA plant hardiness zones 4a through 9b) is a fuzzy plant with grayish-green leaves and purple flower stalks.
In early spring and late fall, it can cover the ground with a silvery layer that some find unattractive. Additionally, as the season progresses, it can grow long and spread in unwanted areas. You can either remove the lamb’s ear completely by pulling it out or simply trim off the undesired or brown growth.
Trimming Lamb’s Ear
Once lamb’s ear is established in your garden, there is very little maintenance required except for controlling its growth. During winter, the plant will die back to the ground. In spring, when the weather and soil warm up, the plant will produce new soft green shoots. If you haven’t cleaned up the garden bed in winter, make sure to prune any old lamb’s ear stems from the previous season at this time. This is not only for aesthetic purposes but also to make space for the new growth to emerge fully. Cut these old, dead stems to the ground, being careful not to damage the plant’s roots. Before pruning, ensure that your garden shears are clean to prevent disease spread between plants.
As the season progresses, lamb’s ear will typically produce flower shoots with pink or purple flowers. After these flowers fade, trim them off completely at the base of their stems. This will encourage new flower growth.
Again, there is no need for extensive trimming, but if lamb’s ear is taking over a garden bed, it can be pulled out easily since its roots are shallow.
Caring for Lamb’s Ear
Lamb’s ear prefers slightly dry, well-drained soil and can thrive in full sun or partial shade. Overwatering can lead to disease, especially if the leaves get wet from overhead irrigation. If the stalk or leaves turn brown, it may be a sign of fungus, so always water the soil beneath the plant and avoid wetting the leaves.
In ideal conditions, lamb’s ear can be invasive, spreading through its stems, which develop roots at the nodes and create new plants with their own root systems. In highly humid or rainy conditions, it is susceptible to root rot. Generally, the main issue with lamb’s ear is its tendency to spread throughout the garden, so there is usually no need to actively promote its growth.
As part of your regular fall garden cleanup, trim your lamb’s ear down to the ground. It will produce new shoots in spring.
