The garden plants known collectively as ornamental grasses include dozens of species valuable in the garden as landscape plants.
However, once the foliage turns brown, you must trim ornamental grasses.
And because manyornamental grassesare native species, they’re favored among gardeners interested in natural anddrought-tolerant landscaping.
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There are three main types of ornamental grasses: warm-season, cool-season, and evergreen.
Warm-season grasses begin growing in mid to late spring, or even early summer.
They thrive when the temperatures rise, with major growth and flowering occurring during summer’s heat.
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Warm-season grasses turn brown in winter.
When you prune these warm-season grasses, cut them severely, right down to the ground.
Some common warm-season grasses include northern sea oats(Chasmanthium),Japanesesilver grass(Miscanthussp.
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Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses should be cut back in very early spring.
Cool-season grasses grow primarily in spring before the temperatures exceed 75F, and in fall when temperatures cool.
These grasses keep their color throughout the heat of summer without much growth.
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As soon as the snow clears, cut the grass back by two-thirds, leaving one-third in place.
Pruning too drastically can harm the plant.
Evergreen grasses grow year-round and keep their beauty throughout every season.
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Warning
If you live in a region where wildfires are endemic, use ornamental grasses with caution.
When planting ornamental grasses, keep them far away from your home and other structures.
In some regions, authorities now caution against planting ornamental grasses and other plants likely to burn easily.
Biodegradable paper tape is recommended for an eco-friendly approach.
As an alternative, many gardeners like to use reusable bungee cords stretched tightly around the grass.
Especially wide plants might need to have their stalks divided into two or more sections before bundling.
If your ornamental grass is thick, apower hedge trimmermight be helpful.
Either way, aim to keep the bundle intact as you cut.
Finish the Job
Cutting each grass bundle is the bulk of the job.
But there will undoubtedly be a few renegade blades outside of the bundle to clean up with pruning shears.
Finish by raking the garden area to catch any loose blades of grass.
It’s easy to do this when the grass stalks are still in bundles.
Plus, fresh foliage in the spring can have difficulty growing through the depreciated foliage.
Ornamental grasses live anywhere from three to 10 years but longevity depends more on the species and care.
University of Illinois Extension.
