This is an easy to maintain plant that is often maintained incorrectly, creating more work than is necessary and making the plant look less good in the process! The brown flower clusters on this plant are considered to be one of its ornamental aspects both when it is in flower and after the flowers fade and are totally dry. Often gardeners remove the many dried flowers in an effort to “clean up” the plant by cutting each stalk immediately below the flower cluster. These cuts never fully heal, and usually die back some, creating a less clean looking plant where the gardener has gone through a lot of effort to remove one of the most ornamental aspects of the plant! Avoid this and appreciate the dried flower clusters. They are beautiful! Rushes (stiff round leaved grass-like plants) should never have leaves partially cut back, because they will never heal or regrow. If needed, individual leaves can be carefully removed all the way to near the base of the plant if they are dying back. If many leaf tips or leaves are browning or dying back, the entire plant can be reinvigorated by cutting it almost all the way to the ground, leaving only a very small mound. New leaves will emerge. This can probably be done through out the year, but leaves will probably regrow most quickly if done in early spring (S). If plants seem to be declining in vigor or if additional plants are desired, divide plants every few years by digging apart root balls into a number of clumps with a sharp spade. Plants can be replanted or potted up to grow out and plant later. Newly divided and replanted plants will need similar care as if they were newly planted, including regular water (S). References