At the colder end of its range, you can apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the grass to protect the crown from hard freezes during the winter. Most bluestem grasses are cold hardy to zone 3 and will not need any special winter care. Water whenever the top two inches of soil feel dry, and apply a well-balanced fertilizer at half strength in the spring. Pot the grass only as deep as it was originally planted, and leave a couple inches at the top of the container for watering. Use an all-purpose potting soil that is for formulated for container plants. Bluestem grasses have large root systems, so choose a container several inches larger than the rootball. If you are planning to leave the container outdoors all year, choose a weather-resistant container, and make sure the drainage holes allow for fast drainage. Little bluestem cultivars are particularly well-suited to growing in containers because of their small size and attractive color. Use a pair of sharp, sterilized pruning shears to cut the stems to a few inches above the ground. In early spring, cut this grass back hard before new growth starts. Leave the seedheads and spent foliage in place to feed and shelter wildlife over the winter. Pruning Plant Bluestem Grassīoth big and little bluestems will die back and go dormant over the winter. Alternatively, try topdressing the root zone with organic compost each spring to improve your soil content.
Use a light application as too much nitrogen can cause grasses to flop. Choose a formula with a 10-10-10 balanced N-P-K ratio. If a soil test shows that your soil is deficient in nitrogen, you can apply a slow-release, general-purpose fertilizer in the spring. Fertilizing Bluestem Grassīluestem grasses grow well in poor soils and do not need to be fertilized.
This is usually once or twice a week in the summer. Grasses grown in pots dry out more frequently than those in the ground and should be watered when the soil feels dry to the touch. Even established plants should be watered weekly during hot, dry spells to keep these grasses looking fresh. During the first two growing seasons, water this grass regularly to establish a strong root system.
Once established, it will only need occasional supplemental water in the summer. It tends to go dormant without moisture, so the best appearance is preserved with weekly watering, especially those plants in containers.įountain grass is considered drought tolerant. The plant needs supplemental water in early establishment stages, but thereafter is quite self-sufficient except in severe drought. Water new plants regularly over the summer to establish drought tolerance. Add a layer of organic compost around the root zone to conserve moisture. Backfill the hole with native soil and water thoroughly to fill in any air gaps around the roots. Set the crowns slightly above the soil surface to prevent crown rot. Find a sunny location with well-draining soil, and dig a hole just wide enough for the root ball. They do not tolerate standing water or very alkaline soils. They adapt to various soil conditions, including dry, poor, clay, gritty, sandy, and average soils.
#Big blue stem grass care full
These grasses create beautiful waves of color and movement when planted in drifts for a meadow or prairie garden.īluestem grasses perform best in full sun, with at least 6 – 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, although big bluestem can tolerate partial shade. Various cultivars with outstanding color and hardiness qualities are now commonly available in garden centers. These are warm-season grasses that do most of their growing during the warm summer months and go dormant in late fall to winter. They form arching, upright clumps that flower in the summer. Otherwise, the two species have very similar cultural requirements and are easy to grow.īluestem grasses are native prairie grasses that are often used for erosion control and restoration plantings. Big bluestem varieties can reach 8 feet high and spread by rhizomes. As the name implies, little bluestem is much smaller than big bluestem and only reaches between 1 and 3 feet high. In the nursery trade, bluestem grasses consist mostly of little bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium ) and big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardii ).
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