Roger Higgins holding Blue Fescue Ornamental Grass.
Recently Duston and I traveled to Roger’s Backyard Nursery in Cranesville, Pa, only about a 37 mile drive for us and took a tour of Roger’s Backyard Nursery. Roger is One of Our Members. He showed us why he is successful over winter ornamental grasses when others are not.
In the photo you can see Roger’s Mini Hoop Houses behind him, he covers them with white plastic for the winter. Covering plants with white plastic for the winter really doesn’t keep the from freezing, actually quite the opposite. When they do freeze they stay frozen longer and are not constantly going through the freeze/thaw cycle that they would uncovered in a mild winter.
But as Roger explained when pots are frozen and not covered they hold water on top of the soil because it is frozen and that water will rot the crown of the grass. But covered they stay moist but are never full of water.
And that’s what makes the difference when you cover.
Over Wintering Ornamental Grasses in Containers.
How about a short video with Roger?
Roger’s Backyard Nursery
10393 Crane Street
Cranesville, Pennsylvania
Questions, comments, mean things to say? Post them below and I’ll respond.
I was given two bundles of sweet grass to tend. It is very healthy in my wooden pots. I live in Kansas City, just on the border of the Great Plains. It looks like it’d be best to plant them in the ground over winter, but I’m inexperienced and don’t know much about dividing the roots, heeling, etc. Would they survive winter here in pots/indoors? Or should I get to learning? 🙂
Nate,
Not familiar with them but I would get them out of the pots in November and possibly divide them so not as root bound and at least heel them in the ground for the winter.
I’m looking for ornamental grasses that will overwinter outside in a container – in Anchorage AK.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Mike.
Mark,
That seems like a tall order. Grasses don’t over winter well here in Ohio in containers. That’s especially true for the really desirable one. I’d pull them out at the end of the season and plant them in the garden. Actually that would keep them from getting too dense in the container because then you could only re-plant a portion of the root clump.
Hi. I’m in Toronto and want to overwinter a Feather Reed grass in a pot. Would the white plastic work or is it best to try and plant them in the garden for winter?
Megan,
I’d pull them out of the pot and plant them in the garden until spring. They really do poorly over the winter in a container.
This is helpful for me, since I just bought my first grass ( Karl grass) it’s May right now but I’m in zone 7 ( Boston Massachusetts) so winter will be here one day. My grass is in a planter pot. Rather heavy. Can I cut it back, then cover the pot in plastic wrap? It won’t suffocate? The. I uncover it from time to time to water? Will the condensation gathered on the plastic be enough? Thanks so much. This info is not easy to find on the web for grass in containers!
Vicki,
In zone 7 it might work, but you’d be better off removing it from the container, dividing the clump at the end of the season so it doesn’t become compacted in the container, heeling the clump that you are keeping into your garden until early spring then re-pot. I’m sure the grass would be way happier if you did that and it would look good for years longer.
What zone are we talking about? I’m in a zone 5 Canada . Are you saying I can leave pampass outside under a hoop?
Rolande,
That depends on the variety that you have and what zone it’s rated for.
I have pampas grass planted in patio pots and want to hold over winter here in Maryland. Do I need to cut it back? Stop watering.? I will probably keep the grasses in my shed over winter. Please help!
Betty, yes cut it back. No, don’t stop watering. Plants still need moisture when dormant. It’s going to be cold and dry in that shed.
Can I bring my zebra grass in the house to winter? Should I put it in a sunny location?
Joyce,
It probably needs to go dormant outside to rest.
So if you cover potted grasses in the winter with white plastic they will not die and come back to grow in the spring??? I want to do this but don’t have the room to take them in our duplex and can’t keep in our garage as it is a one car.. so the CONTAINER grasses would have to stay outside all winter.Thank you
Yes,
Outside is where they really need to be and under white plastic is best for them. Or planted in the ground and they’ll be fine.
Can you name this plant for me please? Also, how do I care for it over the winter? Should I have transplanted it in the soil?
Thank you for all your smartness! ) happy gardening my buddy!