Spring clean up in the garden!

Time to cut back grasses. Most ornamental grasses will be cut approximately four to six inches above the ground. Siberian iris will be the same, and in both cases, watch for dead spots appearing in the center of the clump, as that is a sure sign that the plant would appreciate division into smaller units. Also important is removal of matting leaves that accumulated in the garden in the fall. While leaves provide a nice insulating layer, they can also become barriers to your plants that are beginning to reach for the light.

The more full and beautiful an ornamental grass is, the messier it is when cut down. To lessen the mess of long grass blades spilling throughout your garden, use this quick and easy technique for cutting back ornamental grasses.Wrap tape around the circumference of the grass. Any wide tape will do, as long as it's sticky enough to keep a hold on the grass blades. A strong masking tape is preferable if you plan to compost the grass. Hedging shears will be the tool of choice.