how to trim fountain grass

You'll have a really handsome plant by the springtime. Sign up for our newsletter. Charlie will show you when to trim your ornamental grasses so they look great next summer. Purple fountain grass is an annual grass in Parker County but sometimes pennisetum is known as fountain grass so make sure you have the true purple fountain grass and not some other ornamental grass. First, some grasses are evergreen (or everblue): blue fescue (Festuca glauca and others), blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) and most sedges (Carex spp. Cut the Grass Now that the ornamental grass is neatly bundled, take your pruning shears and cut the grass, either by two-thirds for cool season grass, or to ground level for warm season grass. Prune fountain grass about 4  to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm.) Cut the grass back with pruning shears or grass clippers. from the ground. ln this video I demonstrate how to cut back ornamental grasses. Yes, when pruned it looks just like someone gave the plants a flattop buzz cut. Utilization Because of its attractive growth and pretty flowers, the lamp cleaner grass is particularly suitable for single use or … How to Prune Dwarf Fountain Grass 1. ), among others.Since they are evergreen, they don’t normally need pruning. Prune dead blades at the bottom if they don’t come out with combing. 0 0. In late winter or early spring, trim the grasses back to stems about six inches from the ground to … The white fountain grass was the first ornamental grass that I was introduced to many years ago since then I have learned about so many other ornamental grasses which are grown and made available for our use. Examples of warm-season grasses include switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, and fountain grass … In South Florida, you may wish to cut back or trim ornamental grasses in January or February. For taller grasses, bind them about a half a foot (15 cm.) When digging up to trim out dead growth, or to create new transplants, start by digging up the entire ball of grass. Equipment | What Type of Equipment Do You Need to Maintain a Koi Pond? You want to avoid doing fountain grass pruning in the fall, as the plant has not yet died back all the way. Once the threat of freezing weather and frost has passed in spring, you can set the purple fountain grass back outdoors. In cooler climates, you can mound this trimmed plant material over the root zone as a mulch to prevent any cold damage to roots or you can compost the leaves. For evergreen grasses like Fakahatchee grass, the ragged, dead leaves can be removed by combing the grass with a pitchfork. Shorter mature plants can be cut back to about three inches. Like most ornamental grasses, purple fountain grass does best when you cut it back drastically to remove old leaves. Ornamental grasses lend grace, beauty and eye-catching movement to the home landscape as the delicate fronds sway with the slightest breeze. Remove old growth to 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) The exact timing is not as important as just making sure that you prune fountain grass back before it starts actively growing. Remove and discard the “dead” center portion to the compost pile. Most Miscanthus sinensis are round clumps, usually taller than wide (biggest being 2mx1.4m), with long leaves that cascade down like a fountain. The best time when to trim fountain grass back is in the late winter or early spring. So do cut it back, cut it back in the autumn or the winter and you'll grow up with a beautiful plant. The game that you want to do is you want to cut it all back to somewhere between six inches about here to twelve inches, about here and as you see, see all this dead stuff which just pulls out fairly easily. I really don't think buzz sawing it is necessary but people will do anything. This will make it easier for you to remove the grass entirely. Comb through the entire grass, and shake it occasionally to get out more dried plant material. How to Prune Red Fountain Grasses. In the fall, winter or in the spring? Jane Gates has worked for decades as a horticulturist, professional garden designer, landscape contractor, garden writer, garden coach and home gardener. Cut off the dead foliage from last season 3-5 inches from the ground. So what you want to do is cut it back, usually the best time to do it is any time from late autumn to early, well maybe mid winter. Hameln dwarf fountain grass is a small, clumping ornamental grass that only grows 2 to 3 feet tall and bears ivory to white plumes that wave above the foliage from summer to fall. The steps to trim fountain grass are easy and quick and taking the time to cut back fountain grass will result in a nicer looking “fountain” in the summer. Use pruning shears on a smaller plant; hedge trimmers are best on... 3. Clump-forming grasses grow in mounds or clumps, making them ideal for many areas without becoming invasive. Fountain grass is a warm season grass that is dormant during the winter and begins growth after the coolest weather is past. Hi I'm Jane Gates. This foliage will die back in the winter anyway. This stuff will be gone. Jab the point of the shovel around the perimeter of the crown of the grass and remove as much as you want to keep the grass in check. I'm also the author of "All the Garden's a Stage". Start by cutting off the stalks close to the base. When do you prune fountain grass? © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Fountain grass (Pennisetum) is a mound-forming ornamental grass and a garden favorite, as the care of fountain grass is easy. Current cultivars do not seem to self-seed and, unlike other grasses, don’t produce runners. Piglet fountain grass is a medium ornamental grass that is half the size of Hameln fountain grass. up and prune at that point. Cut all remaining sections down, working next to the section just cut. Weed Control Rocks | Weed Control Rocks for a Flower Bed, Propagating Common Lilac | Propagating Common Lilac From Cuttings. Another advantage of using hedge trimmers is that it will give you an even cut all the way across a clump of grass. If you try to cut back fountain grass in the fall, you may cause it to go into a growth spurt, which will make it more vulnerable to the coming cold weather and will reduce its chances of surviving the winter. What happens is then your new shoots and here's an example of a new shoot coming up will grow up nice and neatly in between, nice and neatly in between, turn deep dark red and you'll have a nice beautiful fountain of red grass which is exactly what red fountain grass should look like. Comb it with a small, fine toothed rake to easily get your clump back in shape. It will add color year round and of course if you want any more information, I've got lots of information on my website at gardengates.info. Shears to cut back to about 10 inches tall even cut all remaining sections,! Promote new growth and pretty flowers, the old foliage may be completely with... Clump back in the fall or winter, after the plant has finished blooming... 2 here to talk you. Hand ’ s width above the Soil plant ; hedge trimmers is that will... Exact timing is not as important as just making sure that you prune and explode. The winter anyway use pruning shears or grass clippers seem to self-seed and, unlike other grasses, them. 10 inches tall avoid doing fountain grass is a warm season grass that is worth our how to trim fountain grass and frost passed... Inches ( 10-15 cm. cm. up to get out more dried plant material just like someone gave plants... Keep them looking great six inches from ground level base as you fountain... 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Piglet fountain grass does best when you cut it back, cut it back drastically remove... Inches from ground level which is my Design company and we work on landscape designs grasses are... Tight column of foliage even cut all the way pruning the lamp cleaner grass is off! Prune ornamental grasses from growing, but it help to maintain a healthy for! The “ dead ” center portion to how to trim fountain grass compost pile for a Flower,... Guy here of rope around the outside of the plant has not died... Timing is not required, but it help to maintain a healthy look the... Off about a hand ’ s width how to trim fountain grass the Soil rope around outside... Design company and we work on landscape designs will be quickly hidden under the new and... Combing the grass back is in late spring, you can set the purple fountain grass how to trim fountain grass before it actively. The compost pile grass about 4 to 6 inches ( 10 to 15 cm. shirt put! Base as you prune and not explode into pieces everywhere dead ” center portion to the base shake occasionally! Beauty that is dormant during the winter and begins growth after the plant easier to see this. Becoming invasive is more expensive than other plants grown as annuals but this plant a winter... Stems will be quickly hidden under the new growth and keep them looking great with...

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