My ornamental grasses are still in place in my yard. They looked nice all winter. Walker, Nashville, Ind. A. Ornamental grasses can be cut back any time from fall to spring, but I like to leave them in place over the winter. By late winter, heavy snows and ice start to break the grasses though, and that can create quite a mess in the yard. In February or March, I head outside with pruners or electric hedge shears and start cutting the larger grasses back 4 inches from the ground.
Some gardeners tie the tops in a bundle with twine or duct tape to make clean up easier.
Smaller grasses, like fountain grass, can be cut even closer to the ground, leaving 1 inch of stubble. Fine-textured grass like fescue can actually be sorted through with your fingers. Divide the grasses when growth begins. When the grass has grown a few inches, lift the clump from the ground and divide it into several sections with your shovel, knife or saw. Reset the divisions at the same depth in their new locations.