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Ornamental Grass

Karl Foerster's foliage

18 years ago

The Karl Foersters I planted about a year ago produced an enormous amount of foliage this summer and only few stems. We've had a fairly cool wet summer in Holland this year but I'm not sure that may have caused it. All the other grasses in my garden seemed to do just fine. Does it take a few years before a Karl Foerster produces enough stems to become attractive, should I plant more Karl Foersters closer together (how close?), or might something be wrong with the microclimate in my garden?

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Comments (2)

jake
18 years ago
Here in zone 4b-5 we have had on ocassion several grasses not do well in the first year. Karl has been one such grass and we, like you, tried to determine if it was micro-climate, weather - too cool,sunlight - not enough .. we were lost.

Year two proved to be better and Karl made a statement that looked more normal. Finally the third year Karl looked like Karl.

Patience is a virtue when gardening.

Jake
sage_lover
18 years ago
A lack of sun has made Karl less impressive where I grow it.
It looks exceptional in some areas which get 6 hours of sun or more. With only 4 hours of sun I have seen it produce NO seedheads. This is only my experience with it, where I plant it.
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