Question
In the spring our yukka plants looks overgrown with brown leaves along the base of the plant.  There are also brown leaves during the summer.  Do I cut them off? There are also several new plants growing next to the old plant and it looks very messy and overgrown. Does it need to be trimmed? I get a beautiful flower on them every summer so the plant seems to be doing well. Thanks


Answer
Hi Wilma,
Thanx for your question.  You can safely cut off the brown, dried up leaves.  The new plants growing next to the mature plants are called pups.  You can sever them from the main plant and grow them as new plants or you can cut them off and throw them away.  Yuccas require little care in most instances.  I don't know that I would be bothered with too much fuss.  They really aren't a real messy plant (to me) but they are also not meant for really manicured, precision gardens either (in my opinion).  They look great in formations or clusters or as sentinels at the front of a house or driveway.  I hope this helps.
Tom