Ornamental grasses add an enchanting look to any landscape with slender leaves and parallel veins. They are resilient and low-maintenance plants, making them perfect for beginner gardeners. Once you learn how to prune ornamental grasses in Wilmington NC you will be all set.

What You Need to Prune Ornamental Grasses

• Pruning shears or power hedge trimmers get the job done quickly.
• Lawn rake to gather the bundles easily in one place.
• Biodegradable paper tape or other eco-friendly material to bundle the grasses.
• Leather gloves and long sleeves protect you from scrapes and abrasions caused by the texture of the grass.

When to Prune Ornamental Grasses in Wilmington NC

There are three types of ornamental grasses you may find in Wilmington NC: Warm-season grasses, cool-season grasses, and evergreens. Each type of grass is unique and need to be pruned at different times of the year.

Pruning Warm-Season Grasses

Warm-season grasses thrive in the summer sun, so it is best to prune them in late spring or fall. By winter, these ornamental grasses will turn brown.

Pruning Cool-Season Grasses

Cool-season grasses grow primarily in spring and autumn when temperatures are dropping. It is best to cut these ornamental grasses down during early spring, as soon as the snow melts away.

Pruning Evergreens

Evergreen grasses aren’t technically ornamental grasses. Generally speaking, they do not need any pruning. However, they can grow rather large and become a bit out of hand. If that is the case, divide the evergreens by uprooting the plant and simply splitting it in two with a spade.

How to Prune Ornamental Grasses

First, be sure you are wearing long sleeves and decent gloves. You do not want to leave any skin showing because the textured grass blades can be sharp and prick your skin. Prepare for pruning by bundling the stalks of grass to a preferable size and tying them off with your biodegradable paper tape.

Now, with the grass neatly bundled, you can start cutting. Using the pruning shears or hedge trimmers, begin cutting back your ornamental grass. Take off about ⅔ of the grass so the plant can survive its off-season and grow back larger next year. When everything is done, rake the large grass clippings and dump them in the compost.

Pruning Services in Wilmington NC

Ornamental grasses are fairly low maintenance and only require a few tools for pruning, but they can easily become overwhelming in size. If pruning ornamental grass in Wilmington NC does not sound like a task you would like to embark on, don’t worry. Vinedresser Lawn and Landscape is happy to help. We will provide all the pruning services you need.