Reed Mace

[feet of clay]

My reed mace look like they are fully 'out' - the brown wooly thiings that everyone calls bullrushes.  I want to pick some for friends and some to sell for charilty.  I also need to thin them out (a lot).  When should I pick them and how should I dry them?  Any ideas on how I could prepare bits of the plants for sale would be appreciated.