Why Does Ornamental Grass Fall Over?
Ornamental grasses are a really cost-effective way to add a little oomph to your garden. They are super easy to take care of, and finding some that are indigenous to your area is usually a snap. The only downside is that they occasional fall over. Why, you might ask? Why does ornamental grass fall over? {Or maybe you didn’t ask, but I am going to tell you anyway.}
Grasses typically fall over for two reasons. The first is over-fertilization. Yep, you just might be taking too good care of your plants. When ornamental grasses get too much nitrogen in their system, they start to fall over. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing in this case.
The second reason they might fall is sheer weight overload. Most ornamental grasses benefit from being divided every 3-4 years. It keeps them from getting too heavy and falling over.
So what do you do if yours have already fallen over?
The answer is pretty simple: you wear a badge of shame for the rest of the gardening season. Kidding! You can try putting a piece of rebar or a stake in the center of the grass, pounding it in, and then tying the grass up around the support. The fix will make your eyes happier and allow your plant to muster a little strength of its own.
Go forth and grow something,
~Mavis
Find more gardening tips HERE.
Margaret Thele says
Too much shade and water for most of them will make them fall over as well. I like them for bold textural statements, especially in the fall garden and I love the way most of them look in winter.
RobertC says
Withholding water may not always be an option if the grasses are planted among other perennials. I’ve found the best solution is to surround my grass with a cylinder of wire fence at the beginning of the growing season. This works on the same principle as a tomato cage, but contains the grass more effectively due to less open areas for the grass to slip through. I make the diameter of the cylinder slightly larger than the base of the grass so as not to bunch it up too tightly. The height of the fencing should be at least 2-3 feet, or more depending on the ultimate height of the particular grass being contained. The fencing can be secured with a couple of stakes placed to the back where they won’t be visible. As the grass grows, it quickly hides the fencing and looks completely natural. I’ve used this technique with pennisetum as well as miscanthus, and both have remained attractive all season.