How To Prune Lambs Ear For Winter

Knowing how to prune lambs ear for winter is a simple task that makes a big difference for your plant’s health. This essential winter care guide will walk you through the process step by step, ensuring your soft, silvery perennial returns lush and vibrant each spring.

Lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) is a tough, drought-tolerant favorite, prized for its fuzzy, velvety leaves. While it’s hardy, a little seasonal attention prevents common problems like rot and keeps the plant looking its best. Winter care isn’t complicated; it’s mostly about smart pruning and simple cleanup.

Pruning is the core of your winter prep. The main goals are to remove dead growth that can harbor disease and to shape the plant for a healthier comeback. The best time to do this is in late fall, after the first few frosts have hit but before the deep cold of winter sets in.

Tools You’ll Need

Sharp, clean pruning shears or scissors
A pair of durable gardening gloves (the leaves can be a bit rough)
A garden rake or your hands for gathering clippings
A compost bin or yard waste bag

Step-by-Step Pruning Instructions

Follow these steps for a successful prune. It’s a quick job, but doing it right matters.

Assess the Plant: First, take a good look at your lambs ear. Identify the spent flower stalks from summer and any leaves that are completely brown, yellow, or mushy. Healthy leaves at the center are often still greenish-gray.
Remove Flower Stalks: Using your shears, cut all the old flower stalks down to as close to the base as you can get. These are energy drains and won’t come back.
Trim Damaged Foliage: Next, trim away all the visibly dead or damaged outer leaves. Cut them off at their base, where they meet the crown of the plant. Don’t be afraid to cut liberally; the plant can handle it.
Thin the Center: Gently pull apart the center of the plant to allow for air circulation. If you see any dead material or crowded leaves in the middle, carefully remove them with your fingers or shears. This prevents moisture from getting trapped.
Shape Lightly: You can give the plant a light overall shape, but avoid cutting into the main crown or any healthy, low-growing central leaves. The idea is to clean it up, not give it a drastic haircut.
Clean Up Thoroughly: Rake or gather all the cuttings from around the base of the plant. Leaving this debris invites slugs, snails, and fungal diseases to overwinter right at your plant’s feet.

Common Pruning Mistakes to Avoid

Pruning Too Early: Wait for frost to signal the plant into dormancy. Pruning in early fall can encourage tender new growth that will just get killed by frost.
Cutting Into the Crown: The crown is the central growing point at soil level. Avoid cutting into this woody base, as it can damage next year’s growth buds.
Leaving Debris: This is a top cause of winter rot. Always clear away the pruned material from the plant’s immediate area.

What to Do After Pruning

Once you’ve finished pruning, your main job is done. However, a couple extra steps can provide added protection in very cold or wet climates.

If you live in an area with heavy, wet winter snows, consider laying a very thin layer of loose, dry mulch like straw or pine needles around (not on top of) the crown. This helps insulate against freeze-thaw cycles and improves drainage. Avoid thick, dense mulch like bark chips, which holds too much moisture against the crown.

In most regions, lambs ear is perfectly fine without any extra covering. Its main winter enemy isn’t the cold—it’s excess moisture sitting on the plant.

Spring Follow-Up Care

When spring arrives, your pruned lambs ear will start showing new growth. Once the threat of a hard frost has passed, do a final tidy-up. Gently remove any leaves that didn’t make it through the winter and clear away your winter mulch if you used it. This lets the new silvery leaves unfurl without obstruction.

A light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can give it a boost, but it’s often not necessary for this low-feeder. The plants energy reserves, protected by your good pruning, will fuel its comeback.

Dividing Overgrown Plants

Late fall pruning is also an excellent time to divide lambs ear that has become overgrown or has a dead center. After you prune, dig up the entire clump. Use a sharp spade or knife to cut it into smaller sections, each with healthy roots and leaves. Replant the divisions immediately, water them in, and they’ll establish roots before winter, ready to explode in spring.

FAQ: Lambs Ear Winter Care

Should lambs ear be cut back in the fall or spring?

For overall health and neatness, a major cutback is best done in late fall. This removes material that rots over winter. A light spring cleanup is then all that’s needed.

Can lambs ear survive frost and snow?

Yes, established lambs ear is very cold-hardy (usually to Zone 4). The foliage often dies back but the roots and crown survive. Snow can actually provide a protective insulating layer.

Why is my lambs ear rotting in the center?

Center rot is almost always caused by too much moisture. Poor drainage, overhead watering, or a lack of air circulation due to crowded, unpruned growth are the usual culprits. Fall pruning and thinning is the best prevention.

Do I need to water lambs ear in winter?

No. Once the ground is cold and the plant is dormant, it does not need supplemental water. In fact, winter watering in cold climates can cause the crown to freeze and rot.

How do I protect lambs ear in pots over winter?

Container plants are more vulnerable. After pruning, move the pot to a sheltered spot against a house wall. You can also insulate the pot by wrapping it in burlap or placing it in a larger pot filled with leaves. Ensure the pot has excellent drainage so it doesn’t become waterlogged.

Following this essential winter care guide ensures your lambs ear remains a resilient and textural highlight in your garden. The simple act of knowing how to prune lambs ear for winter sets the stage for a robust return, with those wonderfully soft leaves ready to be enjoyed for another season. With just a little seasonal effort, you can keep this easy-care perennial looking its absolute best year after year.