How to Care for Sweetgrass

Find an area that is shaded for young sweetgrass or newly separate sweetgrass so the roots can strengthen. Placing the potted sweetgrass under a tree temporarily is sufficient. After about three weeks, newly established roots support the plant in full or partial sun areas.

Water the sweetgrass everyday while it is potted and under shade for three weeks. Use a pot that has drainage holes at the bottom because sweetgrass needs moist conditions, but may not survive overwatering.

Choose an open area free of other vegetation to replant potted sweetgrass. Plant about three feet from small shrubs and flowers and just a couple feet from trees, which the sweetgrass cannot overrun. Specific soil is not a requirement, but keep in mind that sweetgrass prefers moist conditions. Planting sweetgrass in a mixture of sand and soil gives the sweetgrass an opportunity to absorb water easier than if it was planted in solid dirt.

Water sweetgrass regularly to keep the soil moist. Check the soil for water content by plunging your finger into the soil and feeling for wetness during seasons with consistent rain because you do not need to water sweetgrass if the soil remains moist during rainy conditions.

Hand-pluck weeds around sweetgrass to minimize competition for resources. This process along with pulling sweetgrass that pops up next to planted sweetgrass allows the plant to grow and develop in the confined area you prefer.

Harvest the plant in late summer before harsh winter temperatures arrive by cutting the sweetgrass stems approximately two inches from the ground. This step allows sweetgrass to prepare for the winter and grow back in the spring.

Add granular fertilizer after the first year to maximize sweetgrass growth. Sweetgrass survives well without fertilizer too as long as the soil conditions remain moist.