When it comes to dividing ornamental grasses, it … Sad face. The Gardener’s Answer. Do so before mid-October because planting ornamental grasses after October is risky. Hi Ron-Normally the Blue Rush (Juncus inflexus) is cut back to the ground in late winter. Ornamental Grass: End of Season Care. How to Divide Grasses. Warm-season ornamental grasses bloom during late summer into fall and go into a dormant period when soil temperature dips to 55 degrees Fahrenheit in autumn. Some warm-season grasses will do better if planted in the spring to allow the growing season to establish a good root system prior to winter. ... You can transplant your seedlings into your garden after your last frost when they have grown their second set of true leaves. It can be quite overwhelming (depending on how large the grass is) and be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves; some of them have razor sharp blades. Plant them at the base of leggy shrubs, in masses as a groundcover, in rows as edging, as accents or in containers. Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’) is native to Japan and one of the Miscanthus maiden grass cultivars, all of which are used as ornamental grasses.Zebra grass plants die back in winter, but are perennial and re-sprout in spring. Match the correct plant to your garden’s climate (hardiness zone). Layer grasses into your beds and border to keep the show going into fall. But Indian Grass's usefulness in the ornamental landscape has been somewhat limited by the variable look and habit of seed grown … Ornamental grasses are grown from seed. These grasses are brown throughout winter and slowly come back to life in the spring. Preparing a new home for the additional plants that you are about to create in advance will help ensure success when transplanting grasses. It will be much easier to move when you do not have to deal with the foliage at all. Ornamental grasses can be planted in the spring or the fall. Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass Fall planting is often not as reliable without some additional precautions, particularly in years with early or severe winters. The plant is only hardy in zones 8 – 10. If planting outdoors, sow them after the soil has begun to warm in the spring season. This is also a good way to spread favorite ornamental grasses around your yard or share with friends and family. This will give the grass adequate time to establish before the hot summer months. The best time to transplant would be late winter-early spring before much growth appears. The majority of commonly grown ornamental grasses, however, are deciduous. Ornamental grasses tend to grow in clumps that expand over years of growth. Many are ideal for gravel gardens, prairie planting, wildlife gardens and are great to add to the cutting garden; others perform well in containers. Ornamental grasses can be used to great effect in our gardens, from providing a calming presence to more exuberant flowering plants to being the only focus of the design. Their foliage dies and turns brown in the fall, but often remains standing. Ornamental grasses are fairly new to the landscape scene—they've increased in popularity in the past couple decades. Grass Highlights for This Fall: 'Thin Man' Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) Indian Grass is a tall, native species with showy seed heads. In general, you know it is a good time to divide a grass when the center appears to die back or becomes hollow, and before the grass begins to flower. How to Care for Ornamental Grasses Grasses typically are pretty tough, but keep new plants watered the first few years in order to establish healthy roots. transplanting ornamental grasses in summer. For best results, ornamental grasses should be dug and divided on a cloudy cool day in late winter or early spring. Especially when left in tact through late fall and early winter. Choose a site with well-drained soil and full sun (many grasses need at least six hours of direct sunlight every day). In regions experiencing drought, native and ornamental grasses are a smart and show-stopping part of the landscape. Trees: Potted trees are fine to plant anytime from early spring to late fall. A young transplant of blood grass takes off in early summer. Schedule this type of thinning in the spring just after new growth appears. Just then ornamental grasses take center stage as feathery or frothy plumes begin to change color, as does the foliage. When to Divide Ornamental Grasses. divide when actively growing. The advantage of spring planting is to give the plants adequate time to develop a good root system before winter. Burpee lists the hardiness zone at the end of each variety description. There are grasses for damp or dry soil, shady as well as sunny situations. Compare this with your Hardiness Zone. 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