Division

• Division after early spring pruning is the easiest way to propagate ornamental grass. To divide ornamental grass, dig the entire clump, working carefully to preserve as many roots as possible. Smaller plants can be divided by pulling the clump apart by hand. Divide larger clumps with a sharp spade or knife. If the ornamental grass is too large to dig the entire clump, use your spade to dig up a section on the side of the plant. Ornamental grass establishes easily after planting, as long as each division has healthy roots.
  
  

Seeds

• Plant ornamental grass seeds in late winter. Fill a plastic or cardboard planting container with moist commercial potting soil. Sprinkle ornamental grass seeds over the moist soil, then press the seeds into the soil with your fingers. Cover the tray securely with plastic, then place the container outdoors in a sheltered spot. The seeds will germinate when the weather begins to warm in spring. When the seeds are about an inch tall, enlarge the holes in the plastic slightly. Continue to expand the holes a little every day so the grass becomes acclimated to cooler weather. After three or four weeks, plant the ornamental grass in its permanent location.
  
  

Requirements

• Ornamental grasses vary widely in their requirements for soil and water. While most varieties prefer bright sunlight, some types will grow best in partial shade, while still others are adaptable to sunlight or shade. Although soil requirements range from moist soil to poor, dry soil, nearly all ornamental grasses require well-drained soil and will rot in excessively wet or soggy soil. Give ornamental grass plenty of growing room, as most varieties spread and require a considerable amount of space as they mature. Avoid planting ornamental grass too close to buildings. Ornamental grass should not be planted near sidewalks or children's play areas, as the stiff blades are sharp enough to cut skin.
  
  

General Care

• Ornamental grass is cut to the ground every spring. Large, coarse varieties are cut with a power pruner or chain saw while garden pruners are appropriate for smaller, finer-textured plants. Because the foliage is pruned yearly, a yearly feeding is necessary to replace lost nutrients. As a general rule, apply a balanced fertilizer with a ratio such as 10-10-10 at a rate of 1/2 to 1 pound for every 50 square feet of growing space. Ornamental grass is divided every two to three years, or whenever the plant begins to look old and unproductive.