Dividing Ornamental Grasses

How to divide Ornamental Grasses

As well documented on this website and others, ornamental grasses are a popular plant species and have a well-deserved home on many gardens up and down the UK and all over the world as a matter of fact.

As a plant group they can bring structure, colour and interest throughout the year.

1. Resistance to pests and diseases.
2. Hardiness to frosts and cold winds.
3. Year-round interest.
4. Speed of growth and strength.
5. Adaptability to a wide range of soil types and garden styles.
6. Their ability to give movement to a garden

Another benefit is that to create more plants, all you need to do is to lift them and divide the ones you’re already got. Grasses are best divided around mid-February through March. Dividing them is carried out just as they come into growth which is great for them.

Here are the steps to go through to divide up a current grass clump.

Dig up the whole root ball, making sure you get all of it (probably worth mentioning that don’t do this if the ground is really soggy).

Have a look at the clump and decide how many plants you think you can realistically get from it. Remember, you are going to replant these somewhere else in the garden so make sure each sub divided group will have enough root ball. If you have some small specimens, then look to pot them up and bring them on in the pot before transplanting or donating to a grateful friend!

Exactly how you divide the root clump will depend on how thick it is, with some you may be able to use strong scissors or secateurs, with other you may be forced to use 2 spades or a garden saw. Whichever way you end up doing it, make sure you give each new plant enough root to take hold and grow well.