ornamental grass culture

1. Site selection

-most like good sun and fair to good drainage
-larger grasses are generally more tolerant of poorly drained soils

2. Planting

   -spring is the best time to plant
   -If container grown, can be planted in fall with good winter protection
   -general rule of thumb is to space plants equal to the mature height.

3. Watering

-established plants rarely need supplemental watering; only in extreme drought
-leaf edges roll inward in response to drought stress; use as a drought indicator

4. Fertilizing

-low nutrient requirements
-high nutrient levels may cause an abundance of soft growth and stems to flop over.

5. Staking

-larger grasses may need staking due to excess moisture, excess fertilizer or too much shade

6. Cutting Back

-early spring before new growth starts

7. Transplanting/Dividing

   -spring is the best time to transplant or divide
   -some open in the center with age; divide
   -each division should have at least 5 stems

8. Insects & Diseases

-very few problems
-leaf diseases can be a problem in wet seasons; space further apart to allow for more air movement.