Cutting of ornamental grasses

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67HEAVEN Northumberland Cty, ON(Zone 5b) Aug 20, 2015

For each of the last several years, my established ornamental grasses (several types) grow well but end up being pushed over by heavy August rains. I'm in Zone 5b (South Central Ontario). They never seem to stand up fully again until they re-grow the following year.

1. Should I cut them back part way through the late spring or early summer to hinder some of the late summer height?
2. If yes, how much should I cut them by?

Any other advice?

Thanks.

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Aug 20, 2015

Show us what you are growing. There are many and varied types of ornamental grasses.

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altagardener Calgary, AB(Zone 3b) Aug 22, 2015

It would be useful to see photos of the plants, but in any case, sure, cutting them down to whatever height you can manage (probably depends how large these clumps are) post-blooming would cause them to regrow.
The only one I have that flops is a very upright grass, Melica altissima 'Atropurpurea'. After blooming, the flowering stems fall over, so I cut it down to a few inches above the ground so that it grows back again.

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67HEAVEN Northumberland Cty, ON(Zone 5b) Aug 26, 2015

I got some photos today. They've come up a bit since the heavy rain, but not nearly back to normal. If I cut them in mid-Spring, what is the resulting effect on summer growth?

Thanks.

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