Ornamental Grasses – What now?
DrPulte_Moderator
| Posted in Southeast Gardening on
Now is the time to Care for your grasses (Maybe??). Cut back ornamental grasses to just above their growing crown. Divide any thick and overgrown clumps, and fertilize established grasses as soon as new growth appears. Further South this could happen in early March, in cooler areas of the Southeast you may want to wait until the first of May.
Replies
Here is an article on Ornamental grasses.
https://www.finegardening.com/article/ornamental-grasses-that-shine-in-the-south
My rule of thumb in Boise is to start cleaning up the ornamental grasses on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. That works for most of our region, unless you have snow on the ground!
I have an extensive grass garden in the cold PNW. It is hard to pinpoint the exact timing of cutting grasses back. I look for 'greening' at the base that shows that the grass is coming out of dormancy. I have left the grass all winter for shelter, food, and nest building. Birds, small mice, and insects all benefit from this. When they start to green up, it is time to cut them back.
great tips
We are starting to see warming temps here in the Southeast. If you can wait a little longer to cut back your ornamental grasses I think it would be good.