| After a few years of growing, it may become necessary divide your ornamental grass plants. It is generally best to divide grasses in the spring just as they are beginning to break dormancy. |
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New growth may only appear at the sides of the clump, leaving a naked center. |
| This condition indicates that too much woody, old growth has smothered the room for new growth. Even if a new shoot emerges from the woody core, there is little chance for it's survival. |
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Cut off the foliage to about 4-6 inches above the crown. Dig the plant up completely and remove it from the ground. |
| Cut the clump into divisions with a sharp spade, a large knife, or... if necessary, an axe. Begin by using your spade to cut through the core on one side. Use a second spade to cut the opposite side. The two spades should face opposite directions. Pull the spades in each direction to pry the first divisions apart. |
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Begin by cutting the clump into halves, then quarters. The first cut will be the toughest because of the hard texture of the core. As it becomes possible, remove smaller divisions from the clump, by pulling them away from the parent plant by hand. |
| Remove dead or diseased material from each individual division. |
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With this plant, the operation resulted in a large pile of debris, which is destined for the compost pile. |
| As well as a good supply of varying sizes of new plants. Even a single stalk will produce a new plant if it has a few healthy roots. |
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In a few years, each of these divisions will, with luck and care, develop into a healthy, happy specimen plant! |