WHEN TO CUT BACK ORNAMENTAL GRASS????

[tomkanpa]

A Google search said to do it in the spring. One source said to leave it intact for a "Winter effect." Can I cut it back now?? I don't want it drying out and have pieces of it blown everywhere.

[Vox Humana]

Leave it until spring. It won't blow everywhere. What have you done in the past?

[tomkanpa]

Leave it until spring. =A0It won't blow everywhere. =A0What have you done in the past?

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I cut it back in the fall, but I was told I shouldn't do this.

[Tom J]

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I cut it back in the fall, but I was told I shouldn't do this.

If it's already dominate, cut away!! If it's still green don't.

Tom J

[Ann]

"tomkanpa" expounded:

The only reason to not cut it back in the fall is so you can enjoy its winter silhouette. I usually cut it back before the snow smashed it.

[Jangchub]

The reason to not cut it back up north is to prevent possible crown damage during the cold temperatures. I have many grasses which are rangy, that I cut back now. There are others which look beautiful through the winter. I live in a warm winter climate, so crown protection is not necessary. However, I don't cut back the pennisetum because it is marginally hardy here and will come back if I don't cut it back.

[David Ross]

I have red fescue. It's cut late in October so that I can rake leaves off it. Otherwise, accumulated leaves smother patches of the grass, leaving dead spots. It's cut again in April since it grows through the winter.

[madgardener]