How to Keep Tall Grasses From Falling Over
Tall ornamental grasses can add gorgeous height, texture, and movement to any garden. But their soaring stems often tend to flop over and collapse, especially after rain or wind storms. This defeated, flattened appearance ruins the beauty of ornamental grasses. Luckily, with some simple techniques, you can keep tall grasses standing upright all season long.
Why Tall Grasses Fall Over
Before you can fix fallen grasses, it helps to understand what causes the problem in the first place Here are the most common reasons tall grasses tend to topple over
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Excessive fertility – Too much nitrogen fertilizer leads to tall but weak, floppy growth that cannot support itself. This is the number one cause of lodging.
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Insufficient sunlight – Inadequate light results in lanky, stretching stems that are prone to falling.
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Overcrowding – When grasses are planted too close together, the interior stems are too crowded to stay upright.
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Excess moisture – Soggy soil leads to compromised root systems, making stems unstable.
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Storm damage – Heavy winds and rains can flatten tender new foliage before it firms up.
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Excessive size – The sheer height and bulk of overgrown clumps leads to collapse.
Stop Grasses From Falling Over
Knowing what makes ornamental grasses flop gives you the power to prevent it. Here are organic tips to keep grasses standing tall:
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Plant in full sun – At least 6 hours of direct sunlight prevents leggy growth.
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Improve drainage – Make sure soil drains well to prevent waterlogging.
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Space plants properly – Allow 1-3 feet between grasses depending on mature size.
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Avoid over-fertilizing – Use only minimal, slow-release organic fertilizer.
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Divide on schedule – Thin clumps every 2-4 years to maintain vigor.
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Cut back old foliage – Removing dead leaves prevents collapse under debris weight.
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Add temporary supports – Stake new plantings until the root system establishes.
Follow these simple best practices and your ornamental grasses will stand tall with no intervention needed.
Fixing Flopped Over Ornamental Grasses
Sometimes even with preventive care, tall grasses will occasionally flop over after inclement weather. Here are techniques to get them standing upright again:
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Place bamboo stakes strategically around the clump and loosely tie the foliage to the stakes using soft twine. Remove in 1-2 weeks once stems recover. Choose green stakes and string.
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Hammer sturdy corner stakes around the perimeter of the grass. Wrap green twine in a loose grid, gently securing it to the corner stakes for support. Allows some natural movement.
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Pound a tall, heavy stake deeply into the center of the clump. Tie foliage stems loosely to the stake at intervals to prop them upright. Remove stake once grass firms up.
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Slide willow hoops or other decorative rings carefully over the clump to provide subtle support. Allows air circulation. Can remain as ornamental feature.
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Build a cylinder enclosure around the grass using hardware cloth on wooden or metal posts. Support collapsed stems until they regain strength, then remove.
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For repeat flopping, loosen and replant the rootball at the same level to encourage new root growth. Water deeply. Keep supports in place until established.
With gentle care and strategic staking, fallen ornamental grasses can quickly regain their upright stature.
Choosing Grasses That Resist Flopping
While most grasses will flop without proper growing conditions, some varieties are naturally more rigid and upright than others. To minimize staking needs, look for these resilient grass types:
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Maiden grass (Miscanthus) – Forms stiff leafy stems. Try ‘Morning Light’ or ‘Adagio’.
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Fountain grass (Pennisetum) – Dense arching leaves add strength. ‘Hameln’ and ‘Little Bunny’ are great compact choices.
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Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia) – Fine but sturdy mounding stems resist flopping. ‘Goldtau’ is a favorite.
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Moor grass (Molinia) – Narrow stems stand independently in tidy clumps. ‘Skyracer’ and ‘Transparent’ are excellent.
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Blue lyme grass (Leymus) – Spiky foliage keeps this grass upright. ‘Findhorn’ is a top pick.
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Little bluestem (Schizachyrium) – A tough prairie native, resists wind well. Try ‘The Blues’.
Start your design with inherently sturdy grasses suited for your growing conditions to minimize flopping issues.
Stylish Landscaping With Ornamental Grasses
Once you have techniques to keep them vertical, it’s time to highlight ornamental grasses in your garden design. Here are some ideas:
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Create living screens and privacy fences using large grasses like Miscanthus. Underplant shorter grasses in front.
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Flank paths and sitting areas with matching vertical grasses to define garden rooms.
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Plant a bold specimen grass like Sacaton as a dramatic focal point. Surround with lower companions.
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Line gravel or paved walkways with a continuous row of low grasses like Hakonechloa ‘All Gold’.
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Contrast fine grasses with flowers, broad leaves, and bold foliage for textural interest.
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Glowing white grasses illuminate shady areas beautifully. Try Miscanthus ‘Cosmopolitan’.
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Replace water-hungry lawns with drought-resistant ornamental grasses.
With the right selection and placement, ornamental grasses bring graceful movement and amazing texture to any garden.
Prevent Lodging With Proper Care
The soaring height that makes ornamental grasses so striking also makes them prone to flopping over under their own weight. But with preventative planting, strategic staking techniques, and choosing naturally rigid varieties, keeping gr
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Useful Tips for Cutting Ornamental Grass
FAQ
How do you keep ornamental grasses upright?
To support them, try using a plant cage, the kind you use for tomato plants. They are dark green and unnoticeable. They will do an adequate job of supporting the grasses through rain and wind, You might also cut the top 8-12 inches off the grass when it is early in the season to reduce the weight load on the base.
Why are my ornamental grasses flopping over?
Yep, you just might be taking too good care of your plants. When ornamental grasses get too much nitrogen in their system, they start to fall over. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing in this case.
How to stop ornamental grasses from spreading?
Either create a barrier around the plant so the rhizomes don’t spread or cut around the root zone of the plant in the summer so the rhizomes are confined and don’t create offshoots. New plants should be checked annually for the presence of seed heads and new individuals.
How do you keep ornamental grass from getting too big?
Here are some tips on how to keep ornamental grasses from getting too big: 1. Cut back the grasses in late fall or early winter, before new growth begins. 2. Use sharp, clean shears or a sharp knife to make clean cuts. 3. Cut the grasses back to about 6 inches above the ground. 4. Remove any dead or dying leaves or stems. 5.
Why is my ornamental grass falling apart?
One is lack of sunlight. Most tall ornamental grasses get “leggy” in the shade and stretch for the light. This makes them more likely to fall apart. Most grasses do best in full sun. A second possibility is soil thats too rich, especially with an over abundance of nitrogen.
How do you keep grass from falling over?
Surround grass with a custom cylinder cage made from hardware cloth, chicken wire, or deer fencing. Use sturdy metal or wooden posts at the corners, wrapping the enclosure material around the clump and securing it to the corner posts. Remove once no longer needed. For grasses that are falling over repeatedly, the issue may be compromised roots.
How do you care for a tall ornamental grass?
Pruning helps prevent the plants from becoming too top-heavy and falling over. Staking and using garden twine is an effective way to support tall ornamental grasses. Bamboo stakes are ideal because they blend well with the plant and can be pushed into the ground slightly inside the perimeter of the clump.
Do ornamental grasses spill over?
Some ornamental grasses spill over like fountains, while others stand straight and tall. If you want an ornamental grass to give height to your garden, choose tall varieties like Miscanthus x giganteus. Shorter ornamental grasses can also add beautiful texture and color to your yard as low maintenance ground covers in perennial beds.
How do you support tall ornamental grass clumps?
Staking and using garden twine is an effective way to support tall ornamental grasses. Bamboo stakes are ideal because they blend well with the plant and can be pushed into the ground slightly inside the perimeter of the clump. Three to four stakes are necessary, depending on the size of the clump.