Ornamental Grasses – Winter Care and Fertilizing

Most ornamental grasses are left standing in the winter months and are cut down around March before the start of any new growth. They are cut to 3″ above ground with a sharp pruner, hook knife or electric hedge trimmer. The exception is Blue Oat Grass (Helictorichon), it should not be cut back, but rather cleaned up in late Spring.

By fertilizing young ornamental grasses you will increase both the size and the amount of flowers/seedheads on the plant. Granular or liquid fertilizers can be used. Granular types are ether worked into the soil around the plants at a rate of 2 lbs or 2 pints per 100 sq. ft. of planting bed. This is best done in early spring before new growth and only done one time per year. Multi Purpose 10-10-10 Fertilizer works well.

Using liquid fertilizer ( Miracle Gro 20-20-20) is done the same way as watering, but with fertilizer mixed in. It should be done 3 or 4 times per year starting in late April and stopping in mid July. Organic fertilizers, like manure, can also be used with good results. The material should be worked into open soil at a rate of one bushel per 100 sq. ft. of bed area.

Grasses need little or no winter care.