Monthly Archives: January 2025

Pruning Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental Grasses have become enormously popular in recent years.

The current method of winter pruning these ornamental grasses seems to be to wrong. Most people trim the grasses back to a height of six inches. I believe that is too tall.
See the following photo:

Notice that the entire center of the plant is dead. The old grow was too thick for any growth in the following year, so the only new growth was around the edges of the plant. I believe the grasses should be pruned down to a height of only two inches to allow the center of the plant to remain alive.

Ranchers have learned that grasses do better when the cattle or other animals eat the top off the grass. The grass then can come back stronger the following year. Think buffalo who used to eat the grass and then move on so as to not overgraze the grass. Having the grass eaten down near the ground each year makes for healthier grass.

Of course the grass can be cut too low. My yard guy was taking a string trimmer and cutting the edges of the lawn all the way to the ground with each mowing, and it killed the grass. The growing point of the grass is just above the ground and it must be left or the plant dies.

So let’s encourage the landscape maintenance people to cut the ornamental grasses a little lower.

Stef Ringgenberg
Boulder Tree & Landscape Consulting
303-530-0640