A question from Instagram: I see Karl Foerster in a lot of corporate landscaping and wondering how often they have to split them? I have them in my backyard and they tend to get wider pretty fast and start to look messy and flip over. How does everyone keep them looking so neat?
Gardening Answers
Gardening Questions
Member Exclusives
Fine Gardening Magazine
Fine Gardening – Issue 218
Replies
Often I see them flop when they get too much water. I wonder what others will say?
I have found that all grasses do best when kept a bit on the dry side and planted in soil that is a little lean on nutrients. One reason they do so well in commercial plantings. When given ‘too much love’ they become soft and floppy. I learned this from a friend that is well versed in native plants and design. Clump form grasses will also die out in the center as they age and require a dig and divide periodically to reinvigorate the plant. The work in a garden is never-ending. :)
Thanks guys!
I do see lots of Karl Forester grass (Calmagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster), looking poorly after just a year or so. They look best with some water (as opposed to no water) in the garden. They do need pretty frequent division and can become very congested when not groomed. In the Pacific Northwest region they may get beat up with lots of moisture combined with wind
during our long wet spells.