Ornamental Grass Winter Preparation
One of the many advantages of ornamental grasses are they extremely hardy and tolerant.
Ornamental grass winter preparation. And because many ornamental grasses are native species they re favored among gardeners who are interested in natural and water efficient landscaping but once the foliage turns brown at the end of the growing season gardeners must remove the dead grass. Depending on their growth habit and your climate they may require very little pruning to extensive hard pruning each year. Here at the nursery we don t cut back anything until late february at the earliest. It doesn t have to if you just leave cutting back your ornamental grass until spring.
In warmer climates where the foliage does not die back in winter maintenance pruning to keep the plant looking tidy is all that is required. Ornamental grasses are a popular choice in the garden where their textures and colors provide distinct visual interest. When there is little on view but the skeletons of your garden ornamental grasses provide structure texture and drama to the gardenscape. Even if a grass becomes too large during the growing season they can be pruned for shape.
Nearly all ornamental grasses can be cut back anytime from early fall to late spring. Does your landscaping look stark and boring in the winter. Ornamental grasses are very low maintenance plants. Many people cut back their clumps of ornamental native grasses as soon as they go dormant in the fall or in early winter.
Cutting back ornamental grass is best done before this growth begins. Cutting the foliage back will remove the vertical backdrop grasses provide in the winter garden. Ornamental grasses are more popular than ever and for good reason. Here are 10 of the best ornamental grasses and grass like plants for winter.
Aerating is an essential part of pre winter lawn care. They can add texture to the landscape and they are tough plants that are easy to grow in a variety of conditions ornamental grasses can also add beauty to the winter landscape. If grasses provide winter interest in your landscape wait until late winter to cut them back. Ornamental grasses accent a garden any time of year but they might just be at their most imposing in the doldrums of winter.
This is an important step to prepare your lawn for winter. Most ornamental grass plants grow in mounds or provide a fountain effect. If your grass is more than 3 inches tall take it down incrementally over a few mowings no more than a third of the grass blade at a time to avoid stressing the plants. Some of us like to keep the grass as a winter feature in landscapes that would otherwise be bare.
Sparkling in the morning dew with its large arrow like flower heads pointing towards the sky reed grass calamagrostis brachytricha is a majestic and distinct ornamental grass highly valued for its erect feathery silvery gray flower plumes slightly red tinged and turning to gold then light tan as the seeds ripen in the fall and winter.