Pruning lamb's ear
Advice for October in the Netherlands
Lamb's ear is mainly grown for its soft silver foliage. Retain it and work selectively: tidy dead, mushy leaves and remove flower stalks if desired. Months are guidelines for the Netherlands and Belgium; also assess growth, flowering and the weather forecast.
Lamb's ear — October
Check this first
No scheduled pruning is needed. Retain healthy foliage and living rosettes; selectively tidy only clearly dead or rotting material. Any post-flowering trim depends on the actual flowering stage.
Pay attention to this
- Do not remove healthy rosettes just to make an even surface.
- Preferably work with dry foliage and do not leave wet cuttings on the clump.
- Some cultivars rarely flower; missing stalks do not call for extra pruning.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I cut lamb's ear right down?
- No. Keep healthy silver foliage and remove only damaged or dead parts.
- May I remove the purple flower stalks?
- Yes, if you prefer a foliage display. You can also let them finish flowering first.
- Why are the leaves turning mushy?
- Persistently wet foliage and humid conditions can encourage leaf rot. Check drainage and remove rotten leaves selectively.