Well Fall approaches, and I'd like to trim back a pair (well, it once was a
pair, now it's one hugh clump) of ornamental grass behind my pond. They started
out as 1' diameter clumps of grass, 6' tall, - now it's one clump averaging
about 6' around. I would like to cut out sections and plant 8-10 individual
clumps in different places.

Is it simply a matter of using a spade and x-planting? Should I do this now, as
Fall begins or wait until spring?

TIA!

All you need is a strong back and a weak mind g. Huge clumps of grasses
can be a lot of work to dig out and split--forget about teasing the roots
apart, just use a knife or machete to cut it into chunks once you muscle it
out. Don't know where you live, but around here it's best to wait until
spring, when the clumps are just waking up. The dead leaves provide winter
protection, and grasses don't establish well in the fall.

cheers,
Sue

--

Zone 6, South-central PA

"HA HA Budys Here" wrote in message
...
Well Fall approaches, and I'd like to trim back a pair (well, it once was
a
pair, now it's one hugh clump) of ornamental grass behind my pond. They
started
out as 1' diameter clumps of grass, 6' tall, - now it's one clump
averaging
about 6' around. I would like to cut out sections and plant 8-10
individual
clumps in different places.

Is it simply a matter of using a spade and x-planting? Should I do this
now, as
Fall begins or wait until spring?

TIA!

On 01 Sep 2004 16:43:59 GMT, (HA HA Budys Here)
wrote:

Well Fall approaches, and I'd like to trim back a pair (well, it once was a
pair, now it's one hugh clump) of ornamental grass behind my pond. They started
out as 1' diameter clumps of grass, 6' tall, - now it's one clump averaging
about 6' around. I would like to cut out sections and plant 8-10 individual
clumps in different places.

Is it simply a matter of using a spade and x-planting? Should I do this now, as
Fall begins or wait until spring?

TIA!


I've seen this done using two garden forks, back-to-back, to split the
plant apart, after removing it from the ground. The best time to
divide the plant depends on your location and conditions.

(HA HA Budys Here) wrote in message ...
Well Fall approaches, and I'd like to trim back a pair (well, it once was a
pair, now it's one hugh clump) of ornamental grass behind my pond. They started
out as 1' diameter clumps of grass, 6' tall, - now it's one clump averaging
about 6' around. I would like to cut out sections and plant 8-10 individual
clumps in different places.

Is it simply a matter of using a spade and x-planting? Should I do this now, as
Fall begins or wait until spring?

TIA!

Most ornamental grasses are going to be axe and hatchet jobs as the
mass of rhizomes can be quite tough, sometimes you can drive a machete
through the clump with a hammer once you have pried it from the
ground. The two fork method is better suited for daylily and easy to
seperate plants otherwise you will be buying replacements.

If you get enough winter to need snow tires do your divisions in early
spring.
There are still 2 months of good weather before the soil cools where I
am (CT Zone 6) and you could still get away with dividing now, it's
just not optimum.