My asparagus plant is in its second season. It is very tall and feathery. Should it be cut back before winter?
I lie in Central Oregon's high desert where it can freeze almost any time of the year.

You could cut the fronds and use them as green filler in floral arrangements (They're short duration foliage, will shed pretty soon, but very pretty.) Or lay them down over the bed. Since it's a raised bed, you may want to put a protective cover over the box. Did you, the first winter? During the dormant season, the crowns can tolerate freezing - mine have been fine for years in Ontario winters that get very cold sometimes; -20-25F not unusual . We do have thick snow cover as a rule, which may help.

I wait until they get brown.. let them gather energy as long as possible.

Thank you both. Central Oregon can have freezing nights most of the year. With the drought we have less snow than normal so I will mulch heavily to protect the crowns. I like the idea of using he ferns in a floral arrangement.

JoetteStorm said:With the drought we have less snow than normal so I will mulch heavily to protect the crowns.

Always a wise precaution.

I like the idea of using he ferns in a floral arrangement.

Not all of them, obviously; just the young, fresh ones, and leave the big old ones for the plant as long as possible.

I agree 100% with sallyg.