Skip to main content

Featured

Upcoming Plant Sales

There will be FOUR events in the next few weeks, so mark your calendars and be sure to stop by one (or all!) of them. All proceeds help benefit our local schools. Each of the sales will offer native plants (note that some are not on the Portland Plant List). Please see below for more details about each sale! Fort Vancouver High School Plant Sale: Wednesday, April 24, 8am-6pm, Thursday, April 25, 8am-5pm and Friday, April 26, 8am-4pm Native plants available: Trees:  Cascara, Oregon White Oak, Vine Maple, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar;  Shrubs:  Mock Orange, Flowering Red Currant, Red Twig Dogwood, Cascade Oregon Grape, Baldhip Rose, Nootka Rose, Douglas Spirea, Thimbleberry , Serviceberry, Red Elderberry, Blue Elderberry, Black Hawthorn, Salmonberry, Golden Currant, Smooth Sumac, Salal;  Groundcovers : Western Yarrow, Wild Ginger, Sword Fern, Goldenrod, Blue-Eyed Grass, Soft Fruited Bulrush, Tufted Hair Grass, Oregon Sunshine, Maidenhair Fern, Checkermallow, Sedum Spat
Post a Comment
Read more
Labels

Cutting Back Ornamental Grasses

I am taking advantage of a sunny, off-day from work to trim back our ornamental grasses. If you didn't do this in the fall, this is a good time - you want to cut them back before new growth starts in the spring. I always wait until late winter because I think the grass add lots of character to the winter garden.

This is a simple enough job but clean-up can be a hassle. Here is a tip to make the job go faster and less messier.

Use a thick string or whatever you have to tie the grass together before you cut it (bungee cords are great for this too). Then, after you cut the grass, it will fall in a bundle instead of going all over the place! I use my hedge trimmers for this job and it works great.



 






Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Email Post
Labels:

Comments

  1. SkeeterFebruary 21, 2014 at 10:51 AM

    I always leave the grass in place for winter interest and for wildlife to enjoy.... This is a great tip and time for me to get out the clippers...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lisa at GreenbowFebruary 22, 2014 at 3:46 AM

    I do the string trick too. Makes it so much easier. Love this warmer weather.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SwimrayFebruary 22, 2014 at 4:56 PM

    And do you use the cut grass? In compost? Or as a mulch?
    -Ray

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jane ScorerFebruary 23, 2014 at 10:22 AM

    Now that is an excellent tip! It takes me longer to pick up all the stems than it does to cut them !! I will do the string thing next time ! Like you I always leave grasses until late winter/ early Spring before I cut them back as I think they add so much interest to the gloomy winter garden.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2014 at 4:04 PM

    Thanks for the great tip!

    ReplyDelete
  6. ProfessorRoushFebruary 24, 2014 at 7:16 AM

    Yes, I "bundle". And I bought a cordless hedge trimmer specifically to use on the ornamental grasses. Makes it a snap!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AaronFebruary 24, 2014 at 8:46 AM

    Which ornamental grasses do you have Phillip and do you cut them all back the same (same time, same height)?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Phillip OliverFebruary 26, 2014 at 7:17 AM

    Aaron, I cut all of them back to the ground. I have "Morning Light", "Adagio", "Northwind" and a few that I don't know the names of. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousMarch 3, 2014 at 1:13 PM

    Good one Phillip!~~Dee

    ReplyDelete
  10. Edith KentMarch 5, 2014 at 4:29 PM

    Never tried doing this but sure going to in a few days. I leave mine thru the winter too. Thanks for tip.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts