Freshen up?

MondoMondo

Anyone know what this spreading groundcover stuff is? 

If a whack it back today will I get some new growth this year?

K67

It looks like snow in summer which will spread indefinitely. Just cut it back or dig it out if you want.

Ceres

It is "snow in summer".....cerastium tomentosum. The tatty brown bits are the dead flower heads so if you trim those off, the plant will bulk out and look a lot better in a short time. It's a great ground cover plant and doesn't mind hot sunshine.

MondoMondo

I whacked it back entirely, it was full of dead material and spreading too far. Fingers crossed!

JennyJ

I whack mine back to the ground every year after the flowers finish (and pull it out where it's spreading too far) and it always grows back nice new foliage.  Admittedly it took a while longer than normal last year in the drought, but it was back to normal this year.