After digging up as much of the mature grass's root ball as possible, use a machete or other large blade to cut the plant into divisions. Carol Ottesen appreciates native plants.
Ornamental grasses are beautiful, inexpensive, easy to find and easy to grow in all types of soil.
Paul James, host of HGTV's Gardening by the Yard , explains the basics of their planting and care. Ornamental grasses have been around for decades, but in the last few years they've caught the eye of both landscape designers and gardeners. A wide variety of ornamental grasses is available from nurseries and mail-order companies, as are grass lookalikes such as irises, daylilies, mondo grass, liriope and even yucca. In spring you'll find the best selection at local nurseries, and mail-order sources often ship grasses only in spring. Most ornamental grasses require 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.