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| Photo Credit: Felder Rushing |
| Space fountaingrass adequately to show off its mounding habit. |
There are hundreds of ornamental grasses out there. Some grow slowly, while others can grow very quickly and easily take over your garden, no matter how careful you are. If planted in spring, plants will probably grow to their full size in a year, and flowering will occur in autumn.
Planting ornamental grasses is easy. Just remove the plant from its container and place into a prepared hole at the same depth at which it was growing in the pot. In other words, don’t bury the roots too deep or allow them to be aboveground. Remember to water in thoroughly. After that, there’s not much to do but sit back and watch the grass grow. In early spring, just before new growth begins, you’ll need to cut back your grasses. (You’ll know they’ve begun their new growth when you see some green leaves at the base of the plant.) Cutting back is done in spring so that the flowers will be present all winter long. The easiest way to cut back is to use pruning shears and remove all the old, brown grass blades down to 6-12 inches above the ground. Don’t use a lawn mower, as this will cut the grass too short and may injure the new growth. Alternatively, you can burn off the old grass. This is actually very easy and quick; just have your water hose ready! Most ornamental grasses that are available for sale are the clumping forms. These slowly expand in size every year. After a few years, however, you may want to divide the plant, either due to its very large size or because you’d like to have another plant from your original. The best time of year for dividing plants is in spring, just after cutting back or burning. Dig up the entire plant and then divide the root system. (Be warned: This job is not one for the less-than-fit, since the roots are dense.) Division can be done using a sharp shovel, machete or pruning saw. Divide the plant into two or four pieces, and then replant as described above. Ornamental grasses are easy to plant and grow, and most are easy to maintain. They’re some of the most drought-tolerant plants you can buy, so they rarely need supplemental watering. Unlike lawns, ornamental grasses are great plants for gardeners who don’t want to be bothered with weekly maintenance tasks. (And they just look prettier!)
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