How to Neaten Up a Messy Flax Plant
With its spiky leaves and myriad of color possibilities, flax plants can be a lovely ornamental addition to your garden. Ornamental gardeners typically plant the genus Phormium, which includes the New Zealand Flax and Mountain Flax species. Phormiums are recommended in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 11, so if you live in a mild climate you can plant your plants directly in the ground without much fear of losing them to frost. Growing them in the ground may mean that your plants get big and messy over time; that's when a good pruning job is in order.
Step 1
Inspect the plant and look for leaves that are brown or wilting. These dead leaves are doing your plant no good and are contributing to its messy appearance. As you inspect the plan, you'll notice that it's made up of individual "blades" or leaves -- plan to get rid of any blades that are brown or unhealthy looking.
- With its spiky leaves and myriad of color possibilities, flax plants can be a lovely ornamental addition to your garden.
- As you inspect the plan, you'll notice that it's made up of individual "blades" or leaves -- plan to get rid of any blades that are brown or unhealthy looking.
Step 2
Snip off and compost all brown-tipped blades near the base of the plant. It's OK to remove a lot of the leaves of the plant if they are brown. This will encourage the plant to grow new leaves.
Step 3
Step back, and inspect the shape of the plant. If your plant is already fairly established and large, you may want the plant to maintain a roundish shape. Look for any leaves that are sticking out beyond the general round shape, and prune them from the plant's base.
Step 4
Remove any leaves or debris that have collected around the base of the plant. This will prevent mildew or excess moisture from collecting around its base, and clean up the appearance of the plant.
- Snip off and compost all brown-tipped blades near the base of the plant.
- Look for any leaves that are sticking out beyond the general round shape, and prune them from the plant's base.
Tip
Place your pruning shears into a solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water for about five minutes before each use to disinfect them. This will help prevent contaminating one plant with the diseases of another. Also be sure to wash your hands with soap and water before and after each pruning session.
Warning
Don't trim the leaves or "blades" at their center; this will create an awkward look.
Related Articles
References
- San Francisco Chronicle: Move Flax; Prune Only Brown Leaves
- United States Department of Agriculture: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Hoe and Shovel: Flax Lily: How-to Maintenance
- University of California: Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Phormium
- Ball Ornamentals: Colorful & Stunning Phormium
- University of Florida IFAS Extension: Disinfecting Pruning Tools
Writer Bio
Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.
