Grasses liven the winter garden, so back away from the pruners
Ornamental grasses are touted for their fall beauty, but they add a lot of interest in winter too. The leaves of this variegated miscanthus may be yellowed and raspy, but they still support fluffy clouds of seeds on long stems, which I admire daily.
They remind me of cotton candy…
…and they’re magical in the light of late afternoon.
Sparkle
Grass foliage will usually hold up all winter in Central Texas, giving birds and other creatures a place to shelter and adding movement and a whispery sigh to the garden. They shouldn’t be cut back until early to mid-February, just before new growth begins. And yet all over town, especially on commercial properties maintained by mow-and-blow crews, I see this: grasses cut back to nubbins prematurely. Tragic!
These miscanthus looked like this only a month and a half ago. Which look do you prefer?
Please, put away (or tell your crew to put away) the pruners until February. Grasses will beautify your winter garden if you let them.
All material © 2006-2012 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
The only ornamental grass I have is northern sea oats which I ordinarily leave for the winter but the storms that hit Massachusetts at the end of the summer laid them flat. I am thinking about adding one or two other grasses in the spring. So many choices.
Yes! There are so many beautiful ornamental grasses to choose from. How exciting to add a few to the garden. I wish I knew what to recommend to you in MA, but I do find it delightful that you and I can both grow northern sea oats, which we call inland sea oats in Central Texas (Chasmanthium latifolium). As you mull your choices, check out Rhone Street Gardens blog from Portland, OR. He grows a stunning array of grasses—very inspiring. —Pam
I see that all the time–ornamental grasses cut back way too soon. They are beautiful throughout the winter–so many variants of color and sound (when the wind rustles them). Glad you posted about this–I hope gardeners will follow your advice.
Home gardeners usually do it right, don’t you think? It’s those mow-and-blow crews who seem to commit the worst crimes against horticulture: volcano mulching tree trunks, committing crepe murder, blowing away all the mulch and topsoil, and whacking things back too early. I don’t think many of them are reading garden blogs either! How to get the word out? —Pam
Great advice, just yesterday I noted a nice bed of dried Gulf muhly and was glad for the winter interest.
Yes, even when it’s faded to buff tones, Gulf muhly can be pretty all winter. —Pam
I love the grasses. The commercial places who leave them for the winter, are a joy to see.
I agree…leave them alone.
The worst early-trim job I saw was at my eye doctor’s office. His beautiful fall-blooming grasses were cut back in October, in full bloom! —Pam
Here in Seattle if we cut back grasses too soon (especially Miscanthus) we could easily lose them. Winter rains and harsh cold can reach those crowns all too easily when the stalks are cut back.
Good point, Karen. Another reason to enjoy their beauty a while longer. —Pam
I’ve always thought the same thing Pam… Karen mentions that in Seattle, early cut back can lead to early demise, but in Portland, OR about 3-4 South, the weather isn’t nearly as harsh. Because of the more temperate weather, some people NEVER cut back and old/new growth co-exist into a rats nest.
Yeahhh, that’s not a good look either. Pruners are necessary…at the right time. —Pam
Ha! Step away from the pruners…that’s funny! You’re so right. I just posted about the beautiful color palette of fall. Grasses play a huge role in the beauty of this season. It’s a shame when they are chopped down to nothing!
We love our grasses in Austin, don’t we? When you live at the edge of a prairie, you’d better! —Pam
I couldn’t agree more. I also found out recently that the pruning of some of these grasses, such as Mexican Feather grass, is optional. I didn’t realize that. I had been pruning everything on or around February 14th (rose pruning day). This year I’m going to evaluate the feather grass before pruning. Maybe I’ll let it go au naturale. Any thoughts?
I never cut Mexican feathergrass, Ally, instead preferring to “strip” it, like a fox terrier’s coat. In late winter I gently tug at the grasses and remove the old, brown sections that are loose. It neatens them up well enough for me.
I know Philip at East Side Patch opts to cut his back, and that seems to work for him.As for when I prune, yes, Valentine’s Day is my target too. —PamPam, I agree with your assessment. However, after associating with landscape contractors over the years, I can understand their point of view somewhat. Usually it’s difficult to keep employees on during the winter, so many owners do maintenance such as pruning to keep their best employees busy during the ‘off’ season. Now the company that pruned in October…..that’s just wrong (as Al Gore would say).
I get your point, Greggo, but still believe pruning should occur at the right time. Otherwise, what’s the point of having these plants in our landscapes? Especially here in Central Texas, where our grasses are not in danger of being flattened by snow. —Pam
In regards to Stipa or whatever Genus they call it now. I’ve pruned it three different ways, combed it, burned it, and wacked it. I was satisfied either way. And I’ve grown it all the way in to Wyoming. It is suppose to be a zone 7 plant, go figure.
It’s a toughie! I love it. Good to know it responds well, however you groom it. —Pam
Hear, hear and Amen to that! I had to start using a crew on pruning jobs last year, so I am teaching them proper pruning. One crew at a time maybe we can reach them. I have as much gripe with waiting too long to prune and cutting off all of the new growth of shrubs and just hedging them. Good pruning makes all the difference. I am going to be working with a new crew for pruning at my church, so I will teach them, as well. Now there will be two crews that know the correct techniques 🙂 If we all tell one or two crews, just imagine the difference we can make! I am a huge ornamental grass fan, so the longer we can see them in their glory, the better. Cutting them in February means maybe one month of down time. That’s a pretty good bang for the buck, I’d say!
One crew at a time—that’s a great way to think about it, Toni. Thanks for sharing your experience. —Pam
Sometimes we just need to let things be…great point!
Thanks, NH. —Pam
Not sure how I missed this post…a relevant one I’ll pass on. Trouble is, I would have to close my business to spend the time needed to get ahead of all the counterproductive maintenance *owners* demand, change the world, etc. There is plenty of work to properly maintain all year on even my uber-low maint landscapes, that the mower-blowers would be able to leave every grass alone “until it’s time”. I maintain (I like that word) that pop-culture figureheads need to teach the public such things, since money may not, and logic sure doesn’t. More than once, I have heard directly or indirectly the most uppity, ignorant project owners demand grasses be pruned like mushrooms at the close of every summer or by mid-fall.
Argh, really, David? Clearly there is a need for more education about the beauty of a winter garden and plants that die gracefully and all that. —Pam
Hi Pam.
It really is a shame on the premature “cut them as soon as they are brown” front, they really are one of the best landscape plants that carry on giving, well into the winter months. I am with you…why bother having them if you are not going to take advantage of their “smoldering” good winter looks…a few of mine were smoldering a little more than I would have liked recently 🙂
I actually do not prune feather grass, I believe I did once and I think killed some, no I am strictly a comber (with a bit of teasing thrown in to pop out the dead sections naturally). I also replace quite a few every year, for me the older plants tend to go into decline after a few years, some just pop right out of the ground on grooming!
ESP.
Sorry, ESP. For some reason I thought that you cut back your feathergrass every year. Combing is my favorite grooming method too. We need to develop the perfect feathergrass comb. We’ll make millions! It seeds out so much, you know. —Pam
Perhaps I should consult my resident “Patch” hair stylist for some implement design suggestions. I already utilize one of her capes when I do my bi-annual teasing…it really is like mass hair cutting! I may even end up brushing the base of them on completion with baby powder / Diatomaceous earth next, just to complete the combing feather grass fiasco 🙂
ESP.
It’ll be the new style among the blond beauties, ESP! —Pam
Pam,
I have been one to trim back my unruly grasses in late autumn. I took a serious second look at that this year, when I let the grass go longer than usual when the yellow strands on several of my taller grasses began to curl into slim yellow curliques. I Love this. Needless to say, they are still there. Next year, I will cut none of them until late winter (except for the one that falls over and blocks the pathway despite staking and tying it up).
You mentioned Rhone Street Garden’s post on grasses. I had seen one of Scott’s post in fall, realized that the nursery he was writing about is in my town and immediately went there. Wonderful grass nursery.
Yael
Yay for letting your grasses beautify your winter garden, Yael! And I can’t tell you how envious I am that you got to visit that stunning grass nursery, Wind Dancer Garden, in Salem, Oregon, that Scott wrote about. Lucky you! —Pam
I really love the idea of turning the old into new. This is a hassle for small gardens though. And I wonder, how difficult is it to relocate decor if you change your mind?
Kallie, did you mean to leave this comment on my review of Handmade Garden Projects? —Pam