Ornamental grasses add beauty and elegance to any garden. Like all plants, they also need certain care. After they become established, they should be divided every few years. Below you will learn how to divide grasses. Using our tips for propagating ornamental grasses, you can get more plants and more exotic places in the garden for free.
When should you divide your grasses?
Every few years the plants need to be dug up and divided. How do you know that it is necessary to divide the grasses? Often it is obvious because the grass has a dead spot in the middle or simply does not form a dense canopy of leaves. The best time to divide is in the spring while the plants are still dormant.
How to proceed with propagation by division?
To propagate ornamental grasses, you can simply divide the plants. Undoubtedly, perennial plants benefit from division. How do you proceed? Dig up the plant while it is dormant andcut theminto two or more parts. Use a garden fork or spade carefully so as not to damage the root system. Also make sure that the roots and leaves of the new plants are healthy.
Use clean and sharp tools for the cuts. You can use a bread knife to divide the root ball as the serrated edge cuts through the plant easily. It is not always necessary to cut through the entire root ball. Once you've cut through to a certain point, you can tear the pieces apart with your hands.
Discard any rotten or dead plant parts and roots. Shorten the length of the remaining foliage by half. This reduces transplant shock. Replant the new parts immediately and keep them moist until they become established. Each viable section must have a crown of green leaves attached to the root section.
Experts recommend dividing a plant into larger and fewer pieces, rather than into many and smaller ones. The larger the pieces, the better their chances of survival. Transplant each section so that the crown remains above the soil line.
Care after propagation of ornamental grasses
Care depends on the specific species. Some species prefer dry conditions and others require consistent moisture. In any case, it is important to keep competing weeds out of the root zone andApply a layer of organic mulch, because this way you can protect the roots and rhizomes at low temperatures and preserve moisture.
You can grow the divided plants in containers or in the ground. Avoid stress from sun, insects and fungal infestation.
How do you propagate grasses with seeds?
Many grasses produce flowering stems that are also attractive and full of feathery seeds. Propagating ornamental grasses by seeds is very easy. Collect the seeds when they are dry, usually in the fall. Pay attention to the color of the seeds. If the seed has turned brown, it usually means it either fell on the ground or was eaten by birds. The best time to collect is when the seed heads turn from green to brown.
Take the whole stem and let the flower stalk dry in a cool, dry place. You can save the seeds, but best germination comes from fresh seeds. Consider that it may take several months for the seeds to germinate. The process can be sped up by soaking the seeds in water overnight before sowing them.
Sow the seeds superficially in good potting soil, with a little sand on top.Pour, until the container is evenly moist, and then place it in a plastic bag or cover with a plastic hood. Germination varies depending on the species, but once the seedlings have two sets of true leaves, transplant them into larger pots so they can continue to grow well. Harden them off in the spring and place them in prepared containers or beds.
When propagating with seeds, it is best to use small pots as they allow the roots to develop well. Experts recommend sowing several seeds in each pot as germination can be irregular. After sowing, cover the seeds with a few millimeters of potting soil and keep them moist. When the plants are large enough, you can grow them in the garden.
