Q: I planted some porcupine grass this spring. Now the clumps are sending out long plumes that I don’t like. Can I cut off the plumes now so the whole plant will be the same height?

A: Porcupine grass, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’, has attractive striped leaves and tall seedheads in fall. Most folks don’t object to the plumes but I don’t see why you can’t cut them off if they bother you. The remaining leaves and roots of the plant won’t be affected by the pruning