Monroe Chat

MG,
You stated a few days ago that this is the prime time to start splitting up my super growing ornamental grasses. I dont know what they are but with good nutrients throughout the summer they will peak out between 25 & 30 ft tall. Some china variety I believe.

I simply want to divide them up into clusters of 6" pot size to replant around my yard. They started out in a 6" pot but are about 3' round now.

What is the proper way to do this procedure without damaging everything I touch?

Also, I am looking for another ornamental grass that I saw and have only seen in KY while on our wedding trip.
It had what seemed a sawblade edge but was zebra striped with light and dark green. I am looking for a picture that I got of it now.

John Crist wrote:MG,
You stated a few days ago that this is the prime time to start splitting up my super growing ornamental grasses. I dont know what they are but with good nutrients throughout the summer they will peak out between 25 & 30 ft tall. Some china variety I believe.

I simply want to divide them up into clusters of 6" pot size to replant around my yard. They started out in a 6" pot but are about 3' round now.

What is the proper way to do this procedure without damaging everything I touch?

Also, I am looking for another ornamental grass that I saw and have only seen in KY while on our wedding trip.
It had what seemed a sawblade edge but was zebra striped with light and dark green. I am looking for a picture that I got of it now.

Hoping, reaaaaallllly hoping, you meant inches and not ft! Some types of bamboo can grow that much in a year, but a grass....

Dividing grasses requires NO delicacy (usually).

Dig up a clump of what you'd like to divide. For larger clumps, sometimes a backhoe helps. Really! Lacking one, try hacking divisions off the margins.

Once you have dug up a clump that needs dividing, you have several options for breaking it up into manageable pieces. Which option you choose may depend on the kind of grass you're trying to divide, and how large, or well established, it is.

A) simply chop it into pieces with a sharp spade.
B) cut the clump into smaller chunks with an old ripcut handsaw
C) pry apart chunks with a pair of digging forks. This might be accomplished by driving them both, back to back, into the clump, then pushing the handles apart. I say "might" because some clumps of ornamental grass are quite tough and you'll just bend the forks. Not the best option for the aforementioned large (many types of Miscanthus, and selections of some of our prairie natives) species of ornamental grass. See, I was serious about the backhoe.

As long as you have some growing points in the bits you separate, you're good. Pot 'em up, or transplant them where you want more of the same!

monroegardener wrote:

John Crist wrote:MG,
You stated a few days ago that this is the prime time to start splitting up my super growing ornamental grasses. I dont know what they are but with good nutrients throughout the summer they will peak out between 25 & 30 ft tall. Some china variety I believe.

I simply want to divide them up into clusters of 6" pot size to replant around my yard. They started out in a 6" pot but are about 3' round now.

What is the proper way to do this procedure without damaging everything I touch?

Also, I am looking for another ornamental grass that I saw and have only seen in KY while on our wedding trip.
It had what seemed a sawblade edge but was zebra striped with light and dark green. I am looking for a picture that I got of it now.

Hoping, reaaaaallllly hoping, you meant inches and not ft! Some types of bamboo can grow that much in a year, but a grass....

Dividing grasses requires NO delicacy (usually).

Dig up a clump of what you'd like to divide. For larger clumps, sometimes a backhoe helps. Really! Lacking one, try hacking divisions off the margins.

Once you have dug up a clump that needs dividing, you have several options for breaking it up into manageable pieces. Which option you choose may depend on the kind of grass you're trying to divide, and how large, or well established, it is.

A) simply chop it into pieces with a sharp spade.
B) cut the clump into smaller chunks with an old ripcut handsaw
C) pry apart chunks with a pair of digging forks. This might be accomplished by driving them both, back to back, into the clump, then pushing the handles apart. I say "might" because some clumps of ornamental grass are quite tough and you'll just bend the forks. Not the best option for the aforementioned large (many types of Miscanthus, and selections of some of our prairie natives) species of ornamental grass. See, I was serious about the backhoe.

As long as you have some growing points in the bits you separate, you're good. Pot 'em up, or transplant them where you want more of the same!

No my friend they grow 25-30 ft tall with a good daily watering. You can see them from the front of the house & they are in the backyard.

Yeah i think i am going to have my hands full when I go to do this job. They are well established. Thanks for the advice. If we set a date I may bring some of them to trade.

I would love some tall grasses in my back yard to replace the dying pine trees. If these grasses can thrive in a desert environment, they will love the wet oasis of my back yard!!!

John Crist wrote:

monroegardener wrote:

John Crist wrote:
No my friend they grow 25-30 ft tall with a good daily watering. You can see them from the front of the house & they are in the backyard.

Yeah i think i am going to have my hands full when I go to do this job. They are well established. Thanks for the advice. If we set a date I may bring some of them to trade.

Does the stuff look like corn gone horribly awry?

The only thing I can think that would grow like that is Arundo donax. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundo_donax

You really might want consider the excavator suggestion!