Leave your grasses standing through winter, then cut them back in spring before the new growth gets going.
That way you could have a fourth season of enjoyment from your grasses.
Leaving up the seed headsmay also attract hungry birdsin winter.
Fountain grass lives up to its name with sprays of soft seed heads appearing in summer.Credit: Marty Baldwin
Use electric hedge trimmers for larger grasses or where the clumps have grown very dense.
Cut off the dead foliage from last season 3-5 inches from the ground.
Plus, then you’ll have additional plants to spread around the garden or give to neighbors.
Hedge trimmers can make short work of cutting back ornamental grasses.Credit: Courtesy of Rachel Haugo
Divide grasses in early springbefore the plant has put on much new growth.
Start by shearing off last year’s growth, if you haven’t already.
Using your spade, slice into the soil about an inch or so away from the clump.
Then make a slice straight down through the clump to portion off a piece.
Lift out this portion of the clump, roots and all.
