|
Post by wheelgarden1 on Mar 18, 2018 16:41:29 GMT -5
Three that we love...Zebra Grass, Pampas Grass, and Lemon Grass. The perennial Zebra (our favorite) and Pampas along the pathway. The annual Lemon is at the front vegetable garden like a summer herald. Seriously recommend Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis โZebrinusโ) over Pampas. Less clumpy, and stays contained. Feather-like fronds in fall. Softer, less-slashing foliage. If any of you have the large perennial grasses --- do you do as I do, and burn the last-year's clump of foliage down in late winter?
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Mar 18, 2018 18:35:31 GMT -5
large perennial grasses --- do you do as I do, and burn the last-year's clump of foliage down in late winter? yikes! I've never thought to do that. It sure would be a fast way to clean it up for this years growth. Tell me more how you go about that!! I get hubs to help me. We tie the entire clump, with jute twine, to a reasonable diameter then whack it off below the twine. It's then already tied up and can be carted off.I grow Maiden Hair Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus') which gets about 6 ft tall and cut it back to about 2 ft. I won't be doing that until I see signs of new growth- April sometime. Unless I decide to try burning it!
|
|
|
Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 18, 2018 19:54:42 GMT -5
The only one that matters to me is lemongrass, since it's edible! The seeded lemongrass isn't large enough, so I go get a bunch of lemongrass at the Asian market in mid April, and root them, then stick it in the ground. Doesn't look like much until mid July or so, but it bunches up eventually. I tried overwintering some, but it didn't do well - I think it needs more light than I had indoors. I might still try again, but I'm not sure how much time it will save me in the spring.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Mar 18, 2018 21:17:03 GMT -5
We have this growing southwest of our house...well away from any structures. When it was just a few years old, we did the burn thing also. Stupid us...it had been mulched with wood chips, and even though the grass burned safely, the mulch caught fire and darned near killed the plant. So, apparently it can handle a quick burn, just not extended heat. Now we do like DW does and tie it in bundles before it gets cut. It makes great mulch in the veggie garden and doesn't break down quickly. If we wait too long, hubby takes the tractor mounted brush cutter to it and then it is just shredded mulch. I'd rather have it tied and cut. Our stand of Zebra is about 8 feet across. I think somebody lives inside at the base...maybe the feral cat that hangs around.
|
|
|
Post by wheelgarden1 on Mar 18, 2018 21:22:50 GMT -5
desertwoman , just set the base of the dry clump alight, and it burns like a torch in just a minute. But it must be done late winter/early spring, else you may scorch too much new growth if you do it later. Much easier and tidier. It helps keep the crown from getting thatched up over time. I do it every March. pepperhead212 , in my zone, I can never get useable lemongrass til July, either. Aggravation, but it sure is good when it's in season.
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Mar 20, 2018 4:09:43 GMT -5
I have Zebra grass, Reed Grass, Maiden, Big Bluestem, Switch and several others. None has become invasive. It can't be burned due to it's location. It is left standing all Winter. I just cut it down the other day and put it along the fence line in the mulched areas. Reason being "mud control". The Princess has a path all along the fence back there. When things dry out I will clean it up. Might just pile it in the corner behind the Arborvitae which is her favorite spot for neighborhood watching. It will get tromped down in no time.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Mar 22, 2018 19:54:31 GMT -5
just set the base of the dry clump alight, wheelgarden1 , we did it...torched it. I figured it would really go up in flames, but we had a short sprinkle in the morning, so it didn't burn so hot. We did have the garden hose ready, and the Red Oak to the right got a hosing before the flame was lit. That is granddaughter's tree...can't burn that.
|
|
|
Post by wheelgarden1 on Mar 24, 2018 17:56:21 GMT -5
binnylou --- I forgot to mention, and I'm sure you've noticed by now, the scorched-black results. Don't worry, the new shoots will come back very soon, happier than ever.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Mar 24, 2018 18:03:48 GMT -5
wheelgarden1, the next day, I raked the debris off the scorched area and hubby drove the mower around it and dispersed it. I'm going to sprinkle some corn gluten over the area to see if I can stop the weed growth. We've had some weeds trying to take hold in the outer edges of the grass stand.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Mar 24, 2018 19:43:05 GMT -5
Hubby and I were just talking about this today and maybe giving it a try. If we do, we plan to have the hose running My only real concern is that it is very close to other perennials and a tree. And the house. (put that way it all doesn't sound so good, does it?! ) So binnylou, it looks like you torched it at ground level. Did the dried flowers at top burn quickly? or shoot up very high?
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Mar 24, 2018 20:25:48 GMT -5
It burned from the bottom, and then the stalks mostly fell outward, burning some of the nearby grass. I expected it to burn much faster than it did.
Search for video clips of burning ORNAMENTAL grass. There is one that has a squash nearby, and the plant looks a tad stressed. But, if the squash plant is half grown, they are doing the burn much too late. IMO.
Also, we had received a sprinkle of rain prior to the burn, so that's probably why it burned slowly. If you really want to burn the grass to clean out the thatch, could you cut the grass off at knee to waist high, so you have more control of the burn?
|
|
|
Post by wheelgarden1 on Mar 24, 2018 22:50:44 GMT -5
desertwoman and all: I hope I haven't stirred up a problem here...my grasses that I burn off are in fairly open places. There are only a very few high over-reaching branches from a maple several feet away. Had the hose ready nearby. For goodness sake, if your grass is close to a structure or delicate plants, you may not want to burn it off. A large dry clump like mine can roar like a furnace.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Mar 24, 2018 23:06:13 GMT -5
Not a problem wheelgarden1, just a musing on possibilities. Reading binnylou, 's description has convinced me this is not something to do in my garden. But I am fascinated with the idea of burning it. Oh well- another yard. We always cut it back by 2/3 to about 2 ft tall and then with gloved hands I pull out a bunch of the dead stalks every year. That has worked very well over the years.
|
|
|
Post by lilolpeapicker on Mar 25, 2018 5:36:53 GMT -5
I could never do this....way to close to my house... but these grasses have piqued my interest and will start using some in my landscape. Thanks for this thread wheelgarden1 and ideas from all. There are some I cannot have here like the Pampas in my zone.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Mar 25, 2018 9:31:35 GMT -5
Here's my maiden hair grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'). This is a mid June shot from several years ago. It hasn't quite yet reached full height
|
|