Blue Dune Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarius Blue Dune) With its gorgeous silver-gray foliage, this one is ideal for borders and ground covers when combined with maroon-leafed plants like ninebark or vivid flowers like bush rose, and Crane s-bill. Not only is it easy to do, cutting back in the winter lets you get a head start before the onslaught of spring landscaping and garden chores hit hard. Cordless trimmers make the chore a simple breeze! Key Feature: Dramatic Color and Texture The plants are dipped in a moisture retaining polymer, but, must not be allowed to dry out severely. Rainy winters make everything in the garden grow, and ornamental grasses are no exception. Cut back or mow the foliage to the ground in the fall. As an alternative method, ornamental grasses can also be burnt back. Mature plants sometimes require a bit of extra maintenance to keep them looking good. Gather dead or dry-looking canes in your hand and cut down toward the base. They look equally beautiful planted poolside, blowing in the breeze, in containers on patios, and as accent plants in other areas of the landscape. Although it does harm the plant, this is rarely an option in neighborhoods and communities. Division Just always be sure to read the labels to be sure they are good for your growing zone. These grasses keep their color throughout summer without much growth during its heat. Only utilize sections of the newer, outer growth area for replanting. Listen To This Weeks New Garden Podcast Episode, See : 4 Great Ornamental Grass Varieties For Your Landscape, Product Link : 40 Volt Cordless Hedge Trimmers. Using a shovel, slice off portions of the outer rings and replant. You may end up with a good-sized pile of the dead stuff, which you should pitch into a portable container as you go along. If you are compelled to cut ornamental grass very short, do not trim it any lower than 4 inches from the ground. In some cases, the centers of the grass clumps will have died out and need to be removed. How can you tell? *Do not over water the Blue Lyme grass due to its sensitivity to water. Periodic grooming can turn your Pennisetum into a perennial. Call us for information from erosion trouble spots to a complete landscape design including Olde Paths DUNE GRASS! Produces brown or straw-colored flower spikes in And for over-sized plants nothing works like a well sharpened chain saw! Ornamental grasses are fairly new to the landscape scenethey've increased in popularity in the past couple decades. Diseases. Comb through the entire grass, and shake it occasionally to get out more dried plant material. Divide congested clumps in spring. Nearly all ornamental grasses can be cut back anytime from early fall to late Spring. Ken, thank you so much for your kind words! Most ornamentals are easy to grow, requiring little water and fertilizer and no pesticides. Observe up close, if possible. Stronger vegetation and root systems helps to hold the sand in the dunes and helps protect the beach from erosion. When this happens,it is time to dig your plant up to prune the dead portions out. General care Pruning. Ornamental grasses are also an excellent choice for filling in large expanses of open space. We live in Canada so our season is short, but the lawn and grasses still need attention. Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum', commonly known as fountain grass or purple fountain grass, has been increasingly popular as both an accent plant and focal point in many landscape designs. Repeat throughout. N.J. State certified - Cape American Beachgrass [Ammophila breviligulata] also call Dunegrass. Cool season grasses should be cut back in very early spring. planting dune grass, small plants and making sure that they have access to enough water, keeps the dunes in place. Lyme grass tolerates a wide range of soils from wet to dry. Due to the clustering nature of the some grasses, dunes that are dominated by grass may have gaps or overwash passes. A sturdy pair of handheld shears work well for pruning smaller grasses. One of the many advantages of ornamental grasses are they extremely hardy and tolerant. Unlike rose bushes or boxwood hedges, there's not really a tried-and-true method for pruning or grooming ornamental grasses. If you don't cut or groom ornamental grasses in the fall, they can become shaggy messes by spring. Above: Use any old type of brush, even your worn-out hair brushes. Beachgrass is the most important plant on a sand dune. The Facebook group Crimes Against Horticulture offers eyewitness reports of bad plant-haircuts, including the one in this photo that members thought looked like haystacks, While a hard, ground-level cut works well with some species, others just need regular light pruning and shaping. The larger the slice, the larger the first year plant will be. Weed and pest control is a vital part of dune restoration projects. After a few years, you may notice the middle area beginning to die off. Nice, healthy and how it's supposed to look ornamental. Measure 2 ounces of glyphosate herbicide in a measuring cup and add to the water in the tank. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along on Facebook. That means new growth is always be on the outside ring of the plant. Make sure youre growing the right grass for the right spot. As the dune vegetation grows stronger and healthier, the health of the entire beach/dune ecosystem becomes better. Manygardeners hack ornamental grasses like Pennisetum setaceum into all sorts of curious configurations so that they resemble tumbleweeds. Check out your neighborhood or cruise nearby areas where similar-looking ornamental grasses grow. Wear gloves and safety glasses for protection. Take pictures of specimens that are beautiful and thriving. Start by gathering the grass together with your gloved hands and securing it with string, rope, or a bungee. Some, like this Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima), are simplejust use a trowel to dig up a portion of the grass, roots and all. This makes it much easier to cut it all at one time and get it more even. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. In mild climates, moderate, frost-free temperatures allow fountain grass to grow throughout the year. Repeat throughout. In regions experiencing drought, native and ornamental grasses are a smart and show-stopping part of the landscape. For larger clumps that might have deeper roots, use a spade and some muscle to divide. We offer Dune Grass for sale at both RETAIL and WHOLESALE. The first step when you trim fountain grass back is to tie up the dead stems. They can also serve as a bit of a wind and snow break. Ornamental Grass Care Creating New Plants. Many dune grasses spread extremely quickly, so keeping space between the dune grass and your other plants is essential, such as with an underground plant barrier, like you might use with bamboo. Dead grass blades should come out easily and in complete sections if it is full dead.