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Division of Porcupine grass...

Posted by katsu z5IL (My Page) on
Mon, Oct 3, 05 at 20:20

Need some advice, please! I have a huge 6 yr. old clump of porcupine grass and a friend wanted a division for her new garden. Two weeks ago I managed to dig a chunk from the edge that (hopefully) had enough roots and a few new shoots, too. Potted it in a 3 gallon black nursery pot, cut back the tallest top heavy growth and the little shoots have actually grown a couple of inches.

Problem: Now she tells me she hasn't even started her landscape project and wants me to overwinter the whole pot. Can it overwinter sitting outside? Does it have a better chance of surviving if I bury the pot in the ground? Or leave it in the unheated garage? I would really appreciate any suggestions or experience you can offer!


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Division of Porcupine grass...

  • Posted by Donn_ Z7, GSB, LI, NY (My Page) on
    Tue, Oct 4, 05 at 5:55

Bury it in the ground, in the pot.


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RE: Division of Porcupine grass...

  • Posted by Jake z4b-5 NE (My Page) on
    Tue, Oct 4, 05 at 9:15

Donn has offered about the best advice regarding your situation. I learned this as I tried both avenues of over wintering grasses.

If you were to over winter in an unheated garage you will need to water the plant periodically. Without going into a long diatribe a plant being outside will get moisture from winter snows and or rains.

If anyone lives in an area that gets winter temps below freezing they need to water their plants in the winter when there is a winter thaw cycle.

Not many realize this and make the statement in the spring they lost plants due to the hard winter freeze. DUH !!! In most cases it called lack of moisture.

I must admit it does look rather goofy to see someone watering their lawn, tees, shrubs and grasses in the middle of winter but plants don't really "die", they go dormant.

That's what happens to ornamental grasses that are "cool" season and "warm" season grasses. Cool season grasses will turn shades of green brown in the heat of summer but green up in the fall when temps get cooler.

Jake


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RE: Division of Porcupine grass...

Perhaps this will not be well received but another option is to simply compost the removed chunk and try the whole deal again in late spring. Why sweat it really if the parent clump is that massive -- unless of course it was a royal pain in the ass to get that division...which it undoubtedly was. Sounds like the parent clump is due for some more division/reduction in size anyway this coming spring. Is there any dieout or decline in vigor in the center yet?


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