FAQ: When do I trim back ornamental grasses?

Trim back your ornamental grasses such as Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster', Miscanthus 'Huron Sunrise'  and Panicum 'Heavy Metal' in the spring when you just start to see new green growth emerging. When trimming back ornamental grasses, do not trim back all the way to the ground as this will expose the crown of the plant which can cause winter kill; instead trim back to no shorter than 3 inches. In addition to protecting the crown of the ornamental grass, the grass stubble left will act as a floral frog and help to hold the new grass growth upright and prevent flopping which can sometimes occur especially in younger plants. Dispose of your grass trimming in your compost pile only if you use sustainable, organic gardening practices with no synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides.

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