Self admitted landscape/exterior beginner here. Just moved into a new (to us) home, wasn't sure exactly what type of ornamental grass this is, or how to properly tend to it. Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

That looks like Pampas grass. The one I had in fla just needed trimming to keep it off of the house. Had some here in tenn but they died.

almost forgot welcome to the forums!

 

thanks! I forgot to note--I'm in southern Indiana, if that helps any.

 

I'm in Michigan, and any ornamental grasses that I have seen and/or heard of need to get cut back in the fall or in the spring, before new growth starts. We have a dozen or more patches of them, and cut the majority in the fall, but leave a couple out front until spring, simply for aesthetics. Even two winters ago, when we had the most cold and snowfall that I remember for a good many years, those grasses stayed upright and looked fine. I tried the weed whacker one year, and it did okay, but the best thing I know of is pruning shears. I've heard some say that they use a machete, but that's one thing I don't have, so haven't tried it. As far as particular type of grass, maybe someone here can help you, but you might want to drop by your local independent nursery or greenhouse with a picture.

 

Same here except I left most uncut until this past weekend. They add character to the yard during the winter.

I have 7 plants along the back side of the pool against the fence that have grown into monsters. We just cut each one in half and replanted them in a new area.

I use a dedicated pair of hedge trimmers to cut them. The blades must be perfect and sharp or the trimmer shreds the grass and it gets wrapped around the blades.

 

Thanks PJ. I said pruning shears, but yes, hedge trimmers is what I meant. (Getting old, I guess.) And he's right Steve, I usually sharpen all of our garden tools every winter anyway, but those grasses are pretty sturdy, so am sure that you want to keep the shears in good working order and sharp.

 

Tie a small rope tightly around the outside and cut dried grass with a chain saw.