Harvest citronella in the early morning

Yes, timing matters more than technique.

Citronella grass stores its essential oil in the leaves, and that oil evaporates as the day heats up. Harvest just after the dew dries but before the sun gets high — typically between 6 and 9 AM. You’ll get noticeably more oil per pound than cutting in the afternoon.

Cut the stalks a few inches above the ground, not at the base. The lower part of the stem is tough and low in oil. Use sharp shears — tearing or bruising the leaves triggers moisture loss and oxidation before you distill. And cut before the plant flowers. Once it flowers, energy goes to seed production and oil content drops.

If you can’t distill immediately, keep the cut leaves in a cool, shaded place. Stacking them in a hot pile will cook off volatiles fast.

The sun is your enemy here.