A horticulturist has revealed how using an old hairbrush can save outdoor plants ahead of winter in just two minutes.
As the season changes some outdoor plants need some extra attention as it gets colder to stop them from looking tired.
The savvy horticulturist Laura Ridgway-Grace believes she's found a useful hack to keep outdoor grasses looking fresh by using just a hairbrush.
She posted a video to her Gracefully Growing Instagram account to share her little-known tip captioned 'brushing through ornamental grasses like Stipa keeps them looking light and airy'.
Laura says that you can use a 'beloved' hair brush to tease out loose seed heads to refresh your ornamental grasses this autumn ahead of the winter.
This is because the seed heads of ornamental grasses such as Stipa tenuissima stop the fresh growth underneath, which can leave the plants looking dull.
In the video you can see Laura gathering a handful of grass in her hand before brushing it through.
Later in the clip you can see her removing a large clump of old seed head.
She advises people to spend just two minutes brushing through the old growth.
However, you don't have to let these old seeds go to waste as they can develop into new plants or can be used for nesting birds in the winter.
You can use an old hairbrush you have laying around or if you don't have one spare you can buy a bristled outdoor brush for as little as £5 on Amazon.
Laura said: "If there is one tool you should have in your tool belt at the minute let it be your beloved hairbrush.
"It is this time of year that you'll see Stipa tenuissima become shaggy and tired. That is because it is pushing lots of lush fresh new growth underneath as it has produced this dense growth of seed heads.
"It is so simple and it takes just two minutes. You just want to brush through that old growth and pull all that old growth and pull all that old seed head out.
"These seed heads will develop into new plants so feel free to pop them into your bed to see what surprises you next year. It is great for nesting birds come the winter so leave it in your bed and it will have so many benefits."
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