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The extremely cold weather this winter has caused Liriope, also known as Monkey Grass, to look extremely ragged and unkempt.
Now is the best time to cut it back to the ground in preparation for new growth that will begin as soon as the weather gets a little warmer.
Dwarf Mondo grass also needs to have a haircut. People who wait until the end of March will run the risk of cutting some of the new growth when they do their trimming.
The blunt cut of new growth will not heal and will probably develop a brown edge.
Trimming can be done with a lawn mower at a high setting, with a weed eater, with hedge trimmers, scissors or any other tool that is available to make the cut.
After the trimming is completed, an application of a balanced fertilizer will help these plants develop their new growth.
Ornamental grasses need to be trimmed back to about six or eight inches from the ground.
After trimming them you may want to consider digging the clump and dividing it. Some grasses, particularly Maiden Grass, tend to die in the center with new growth forming on the outer sections of the plant.
Many times three or four new plants can be obtained when dividing a grass clump that is several years old.
After the plants are dug, replant the sections at the same depth they were growing but in a hole that is two to three times wider than the new clump. This will make it easier for new roots to take hold.
Apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage new growth.
After the weather gets warm, place mulch around but not touching the plant to help to hold moisture and control weeds.
Many people have Autumn Sage, salvia greggii, in their gardens.
Now is the time to trim it back by one-third to one-half to make the plant fuller as it puts on new growth.
Powis Castle Artemisia can be cut back by two-thirds. This will promote new growth and the plant will have a better form.
I have found that new plants can be started by leaving some of the outside limbs long, bending them to the ground and holding them down with a rock or brick, then covering a portion of the limb with dirt.
In a few weeks roots will form on the portion under ground so that the limb can be cut off from the host plant and replanted at another location.
Making shallow cuts on the bottom part of the limb buried in the ground will speed the rooting process.
When all that work is completed you will be amazed at how quickly the new growth will appear for your enjoyment the rest of the spring, summer, and fall.
The extremely cold weather this winter has caused Liriope, also known as Monkey Grass, to look extremely ragged and unkempt.
Now is the best time to cut it back to the ground in preparation for new growth that will begin as soon as the weather gets a little warmer.
Dwarf Mondo grass also needs to have a haircut. People who wait until the end of March will run the risk of cutting some of the new growth when they do their trimming.
The blunt cut of new growth will not heal and will probably develop a brown edge.
Trimming can be done with a lawn mower at a high setting, with a weed eater, with hedge trimmers, scissors or any other tool that is available to make the cut.
After the trimming is completed, an application of a balanced fertilizer will help these plants develop their new growth.
Ornamental grasses need to be trimmed back to about six or eight inches from the ground.
After trimming them you may want to consider digging the clump and dividing it. Some grasses, particularly Maiden Grass, tend to die in the center with new growth forming on the outer sections of the plant.
Many times three or four new plants can be obtained when dividing a grass clump that is several years old.
After the plants are dug, replant the sections at the same depth they were growing but in a hole that is two to three times wider than the new clump. This will make it easier for new roots to take hold.
Apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage new growth.
After the weather gets warm, place mulch around but not touching the plant to help to hold moisture and control weeds.
Many people have Autumn Sage, salvia greggii, in their gardens.
Now is the time to trim it back by one-third to one-half to make the plant fuller as it puts on new growth.
Powis Castle Artemisia can be cut back by two-thirds. This will promote new growth and the plant will have a better form.
I have found that new plants can be started by leaving some of the outside limbs long, bending them to the ground and holding them down with a rock or brick, then covering a portion of the limb with dirt.
In a few weeks roots will form on the portion under ground so that the limb can be cut off from the host plant and replanted at another location.
Making shallow cuts on the bottom part of the limb buried in the ground will speed the rooting process.
When all that work is completed you will be amazed at how quickly the new growth will appear for your enjoyment the rest of the spring, summer, and fall.
