How to Dig Out the Middle of Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are clump-forming plants that die out in the center as they grow larger. Removing the plant from the garden allows you to cut out the center area without damaging the plant’s healthy areas. Cutting the plant into smaller sections is a propagation method, so you can add this grass variety to other parts of the garden or replant it in the same area. Dig out the middle area of ornamental grasses every 3 to 5 years, or as needed keeps the plant productive and healthy.

Things You'll Need

Pruning clipper
Shovel

Tarp
Sharp knife

Instructions

- 1
  Prune the ornamental grass to 3 inches tall once it begins wilting and drying after the hard fall frost. Compost or discard the cut blades instead of leaving them in the garden space.
- 2
  Remove the entire ornamental grass plant from the ground by digging 4 to 6 inches from the base and a minimum of 12 inches deep removing the majority of the root mass. Set the plant on a clean tarp for removing the middle area.
- 3
  Shaking the root mass gently removes some of the soil around it, so that you can identify the plant’s dead center area.
- 4
  Cut the root mass in half with a clean, sharp knife. Cut out the dead center from both halves discard it.
- 5
  Cut the remaining root mass into 4- to 6-inch diameter clumps, making sure each section has roots and foliage spikes.
- 6
  Dig new planting holes the same depth as where the ornamental grass was growing. Set the root mass into the hole, verifying that the roots’ tops are just under the soil level. Pack the soil around the root mass and water the soil generously compacting the soil.

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