Proper trimming highlights arcing habits and hides old growth
Wispy , billowy , airy , feathery , wavy — these are just some of the words we apply to discover cosmetic grass . So often , though , grasses are stripped of all these adjective by wrong trimming .
When it comes to snip , I find that grasses are one of the most mistreated plant . So many people do n’t understand the fine fine art of trimming grasses . All too often they are just sheared up the sides and then across the top . Bim , bam , boom , done ! Sometimes more forethought is given , and they are trimmed into little rounded meatball . Grasses should not be trim into a cast . First of all , the amount of time it takes to trim the top , then trim all the four side of meat , then round out all the edges into a ball is much more than you involve to spend . secondly — and this is primarily in the display case of smaller dope — when you trim grasses into balls or square , you are highlighting all the dead blades . It just completely defeats the purpose of have a squeamish , windy locoweed .
In our mood , grasses go completely dormant much less often and for less of the class than in colder mood , and most start pushing out novel growth around this time of year . By trimming back grasses , we can dispatch both dead growth and pot lurking beneath .
The ideal room to trim grass is by gather all the blades and hold them upright , much like gathering hair’s-breadth into a ponytail , then shearing them straight across . If you ’re working with a turgid species of grass , you could tie it up with a forget me drug to have it in place before cutting below the rope . I have also meet this done using a 2 - foot bungee cord . The welfare of this method is that it is easy to enclose the cord around tightly and then quickly sneak it into place .
By cutting grasses this style , you are giving them a nice haircut . Cleanup is much easier this way , and by trimming directly across and then rent the Mary Jane fall over , you let it keep its natural shape . How eminent to shave depends on the locoweed , how much new growth is record , and how high-pitched that new growth is . It could be anywhere from a few inches to a foot . If you are trimming back modest grasses , such as sedges ( Carexspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–10 ) , hand trimmer do the job most in effect . For larger grasses , you could utilise hand trimmer , shear , or a stamp battery - operated trimmer . Trimming time also provides a just chance to divide or transfer any new grass that have sprung up from rhizomes or semen .
One of my favourite grasses is ‘ Canyon Prince ’ wild rye ( Leymus condensatus‘Canyon Prince ’ , Zones 7–10 ) . This weed , like many others , has foliage that can be sharp and tailor . Before tackle it , be make with long sleeves , long pants , and skillful , tough gloves . It is not a big idea to wear refuge glasses as well to keep from getting poked in the eye . ‘ Canyon Prince ’ has a tendency to lie down if it get too much shade or water . cut back it is a good direction to facilitate it keep its upright form and give you the opportunity to draw off the dead ontogeny that like to gather in the midpoint .
— Francesca Corra , APLD , is a nationally certified landscape house decorator and the owner of Dirt Diva Designs in Studio City , California .
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Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris, Zones 6–9), with its stunningly pink flowers, is one of the most colorful grasses for the garden. Like many other grasses, it requires proper trimming to bloom at its best.Photo: Francesca Corra
These grasses have been sheared up the sides, highlighting old, dead growth. In this situation, I would remove the plants that have spread too close to the curb and leave the others with room to shine.Photo: Francesca Corra
Trimming grasses into meatballs does not do them any justice.Photo: Francesca Corra
To trim this foothill sedge (Carex tumulicola, Zones 8–10), gather all the foliage in your hand. Pull out the dead foliage underneath, and then cut straight across.Photo: Francesca Corra
After this foothill sedge was cut, the trimmed foliage fell right back into place in a rounded arc, hiding the dead foliage underneath.Photo: Francesca Corra
If you are handling grasses that have foliage with sharp edges like this ‘Canyon Prince’ wild rye, you may need protective clothes and gloves.Photo: Francesca Corra
