The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Posted on by Posted in Ornamental grass .

Look real close at the photo below.

gracillimus-bad

A colossal embarrassment.

This ornamental grass – Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ has begged for division for like three years now. And I’ve done nothing but ignore the request.

Why?

  1. It is a monster and the effort required to attack it has been intimidating.
  2. The effort requires time and time is in short supply these days.
  3. It is easily hidden from view so the pressure to do something about it has been lacking.
  4. Blog fodder – content for another post which you are enjoying right now.

But I am better than this.

It is 80% dead at this point and that is unacceptable for a so-called obsessive and neurotic gardener. Especially one who does nothing but wax poetic about the wonders of the ornamental grass.

So I’m calling myself out and asking you to do the same. Call me out on it from time to time. A nudge here and a nudge there.

Inexcusable John.

Cut back on the photos and maybe do some work John.

You must lack the physical strength to pull it off John.   

Task #1 for next spring has already been determined.

 

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4 Responses

  1. I too have put off a big job like this. I tried to dig one out during the growing season and failed because it was so well rooted. So I tackled it at the end of the season when it was dormant and it was much easier. Real early next spring would probably be a good time too, before it starts to grow.

    • So true Alice. And I’ll most likely just dig out the dead section without having to lift out the entire root ball.

  2. Hi John, have you ever burned your grasses in the spring? In our WI garden where we had some giants, we would cut them down to about 2 ft, then burn them. When they cooled you could pull out all of the dead areas easily. In 11 years we never had to divide them unless we were looking for new plants. The exception to this was Karl Foerster which we did separate because it was too close to the house to burn and friends wanted babies from it.

    • I haven’t Linda but have a nearby friend who does and swears by it. I need to try it … without starting a four-alarm fire. Thanks for the suggestion!

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