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The Ornamental Grass Thread
As requested, a sticky grass thread 
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WPC F Hobbit, Shire police
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As I asked for this, I'd better post something .....
living down here you see loads of different type of ornamental grasses, bamboos, ferns and there are nurseries specialising in the bamboos - though I'm having to hire a mini-digger to rip out the bamboo stand that the previous owner left us.
So as part of our two-year major refurb, we're buying seeds or plants (very large numbers) to make banks more solid, line out the new paths and as spot plants for height and texture.
Have just ordered several packets of seeds from Knoll Gardens and some bulk order seeds from Nicky's Seeds in Dover, the Knoll Gardens seeds have arrived and the others should be here any day soon.
In the mean time, I'm buying and splitting decent sized plants when I see them and have started to grow some on from French plant and seed suppliers.
And it's only 5 March
TonyF, Dordogne 24220 -
I have a lovely patch of ophipogon - black grass - not technically a grass at all but it looks great most of the year round and sends up a pink flower cluster in summer. Very striking at the front of a border.Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?Comment
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I love grasses but they are not very popular in the countryside, and seeing as we are surrounded by grassland that makes sense. However I grow a few bamboos. I hope I will not need a mini-digger but there is one on it way to taking over the whole field. I grow the dwarf form of Sasa Veitchii,( nana), beautiful groundcover, give it space however. A Fargesia somthing and reciently some cuttings of the black bamboo,.
qbComment
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Can anyone advise me when is the best time to prune/divide ornamental grasses, and how I should go about it?
I started off with a few grasses dotted about my gravel garden, but now the grasses have taken over and it is like a jungle. They have seeded themselves all over the place - even in my next door neighbour's garden
I want to get it all under control but don't know where to start - any suggestions gratefully received!Comment
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If the grasses have self seeded I'd be inclined to simply dig out the original/older individuals and compost/plant elsewhere.
Grasses such as Miscanthus can be divided now before they put on too much new growth (if you haven't cut the old growth right down do that before dividing)Comment
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Yes now is a very good time to divide and take cuttings of Bamboo and grasses. You can cut most grasses to the scut, if they have lost their shape and they will regrow. Then split them. Keep the best bits and dump the rest. pot some up and bring them along to a plant sale?
Present for a friend? You could take out most of them and replant and top dress with gravel or create a new prarie border with grasses and herbacious perennials and just mow everything a couple of times a year. qbComment
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That's great - thanks guysx
Comment
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Anyone have any idea what type of grass this is ? It has sprung up in an unused part of the garden.
Not sure how clear this is but the tips of the grass has a Purple hue otherwise quite soft and feathery.
Might have to move a clump to a proper part of the garden.
DaveComment
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Ive bought some pampas grass, not sure where Im gonna put it though but really want some in the garden. Has anyone else got this where and what time of the year did you grow it. How hard was it to grow?If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it.Comment
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Grows like a weed Jen. Gets enormous and is very hard to get rid of. Be careful of the leaves, they have very sharp edges. Good luck with it.Comment
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I'm gradually converting my front lawn to ophiopogon. V. gothOriginally posted by Jeanied View Post
Well, you can't kill it.Originally posted by 4390evans View Post
House opposite me has a patch, not large, just the normal 5ft diameter clump, and 8ft high. They chainsaw it every few months, and it comes back just as strong.
Even burning doesn't always get rid of itAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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We lived with a pampas grass for a few years before we got around to removing it, it took 3 days to dig it all out, and luckily we found a home for most of it on Freecycle. As for burning does pampas grass good it sort of revitalises the plant.Location....East Midlands.Comment
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It was on a recent programme about the 70's on the BBC that I learnt that having a clump of pampas grass in the front garden was a signal that the owners of the house were "swingers", available for wifeswapping parties.
Educational, the BBC.
I wonder if it's still true?Comment
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