Deschampsia Goldtau - is there such a thing as a hairbrush for grass?

[shovetheholly]

I have three of these in my garden, having been seduced into buying them by their clouds of shimmering silver and gold. (And the fact that they are one of the few grasses that will grow in part-shade).

However, they're looking a bit on the weedy side. One problem is that they mat up badly in the winter. I haven't found a way of getting the old, dead grass out of the clump in spring without damaging the new green blades that are coming through. How do I do this? It's almost like I need a special grass hairbrush or something.

Advice appreciated!

[YAsoNBU]

I use fingers to give grasses a good comb over. I believe you can also cut them back in the spring just before the new growth appears

[shovetheholly]

See, I tried to get in there with my fingers a couple of months back, but the old, dead stuff was just utterly matted together. I ended up tearing out chunks of rooted stuff, which can't be good, can it??

Maybe I did it too early?

I find mine have all fallen over by mid-autumn. I would love to have those pannicles there all winter, but the October gales tend to flatten them

[aircooled]

www.wolfgarten-tools.co.uk/fixed-hand-tools/small-sweep-with-fixed-handle

Wolf tools do a small long-tined hand rake which is good for this, it's also good for jobs like getting out beech leaves which get stuck in all the new plant growth when they fall in the Spring.

[shovetheholly]

aircooled - thank you SO much. You're a mine of gardening knowledge!

[Ferguson]

The trouble with grasses is, one wants to keep it over winter as long as possible, then before you realise, the new year's growth starts.

It's obviously too late for this year, but I don't think it hurts to rake it hard, and possibly cut it over.

This may help:

www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/deschampsia-cespitosa-goldtau/classid.1985/