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| Showy warm season grasses flower in late summer and fall. Molinia 'Cordoba' in left foreground; Miscanthus in back center; Cool season ribbon grass in right foreground has no flowers and growth has slowed. Photos: Mary Meyer, Extension Horticulturist |
Here's why you shouldn't cut them back!
Grasses should not be cut back in the fall. Leave the
flowering stems up to enjoy through the winter. Fall cutback may increase the
chance of winter injury on grasses and is not recommended for Minnesota
gardeners. Birds, bees and other wildlife appreciate the cover of grasses in
the winter.
My grasses don't look healthy
If you have a grass with few flowers, or shorter plants with dead sections, these are indications that the plant should be divided, a good project for next spring. |
| Yellow stems showing mice damage on purple moregrass, Molinia. Photo: Mary Meyer, Extension Horticulturist |
If you notice dead or yellow stem on some of your grasses,
check closely for mice or rodent damage. Mice love to live under the protection
of thick bunch grasses, like prairie dropseed. Mice bait or repellents may be
necessary if you see significant damage.
Grasses that are floppy and falling over may need to be
moved to full sun locations or have reduced water or fertilizer. Once
established most grasses need little supplemental water and actually grow
better with no additional fertilizer.
Planting tip: Add variety of grasses to your garden
For the most variety and longest season of bloom, plant both
cool and warm season grasses. Cool season grasses like Karl Forester feather
reedgrass and tufted hairgrass, bloom in late spring and early summer and their
tops are brown by the fall. Warm season grasses like miscanthus and little
bluestem flower in late summer and do not turn brown until frost.
Author: Mary Meyer, Extension Horticulturist
Author: Mary Meyer, Extension Horticulturist
