‘Karl Foerster’ is the most popular of the hybrid feather reed grasses sold in commerce today. It is noted for its narrow-vertical growth of bright green leaves to
3′ tall
and 2′ wide and feathery plumes of summer-blooming pink to purple tinged flowers on narrow upright stalks rising well above the foliage to 5′ tall.
Does Karl Foerster grass grow fast?
Size and Growth
Feather reed grass is a
fast growing growth rate perennial
plant, reaching up to a mature height of 5′ – 6′ feet and a spread of 2′ – 3′ feet. With a fast growth habit, the plant produces 2′ – 3′ feet long and shiny green leaf blades along with 5′ feet stems topped with feathery flowers.
How big do Karl Foerster grasses get?
36-60′′ tall x 24-36′′ wide. ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass is one of the most famous and popular Ornamental Grasses worldwide. Rising to
about 5 feet
, Feather Reed Grass is famous for waving in the wind, adding motion to the landscape, even with the slightest breeze.
How far apart should Karl Foerster grass be planted?
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass Spacing
Correct spacing is important to follow to ensure your plant grows and develops properly. It is aiming for a seamless appearance, space twenty-four inches, center on center. Otherwise, spacing should
be thirty-six inches, center on center
.
How do you maintain Karl Foerster grass?
Leave their foliage in place until spring and then as soon as the snow is gone cut them back. Leave about 1/3 of the plant in place. Trimming cool season grasses too harshly can irreparably harm the plant. Divide cool season grasses in spring or
early fall
.
Can I divide Karl Foerster grass?
Cool season grasses such as
blue oat grass
, blue fescue, and “Karl Foerster” and “Overdam” feather reed grass can be divided in late summer and fall. Good fall and winter watering and proper mulching is necessary or the divisions will desiccate and die over the winter.
What happens if you don’t Cut back ornamental grasses?
What Happens If You Don’t Cut Back the Ornamental Grasses? As mentioned above, you will find that
the green is starting to grow through the brown
. One problem that will create is that the brown will start creating seeds. Once grass has created seeds, there is a very good chance that the grass will die out.
Are there different types of Karl Foerster grass?
From ‘Karl Foerster’ came colorful variations, such as white-green variegated C. x acutiflora ‘Avalanche’ and ‘Overdam’, and
the gold-green variegated ‘Eldorado’
. All these selections are cool season grasses, blooming in spring and slowing their growth as temperatures climb in early summer.
Is Karl Foerster grass invasive?
Leaves emerge early in spring and last until early winter. Unlike many common ornamental plants from other continents, the seeds of ‘Karl Foerster’ are sterile. After nearly 40 years in American gardens,
it has never become an invasive pest.
Should Karl Foerster grass be cut back?
Burning cool season grasses may be fatal. Calamagrostis ×acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ begins to grow very early in spring and can be
cut back in March or early April
.
How do you prune Karl Foerster grass?
Simply tie the cord around the base of the Karl Foerster and then trim below it. We recommend trimming
about 6 inches up from the base of the grass
. When you are finished you should be left with a tidy bundle of stalks. Discard these stalks in your composting bin and you are done.
What does Karl Foerster grass look like?
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
This versatile ornamental grass has
slender, upright, deep-green foliage
. A cool season grass, it is upright and clump forming, with purplish-green, feathery plumes that can reach 6 feet in height. It blooms in early summer rather than fall and must have winter chill to bloom.
How far down do you cut ornamental grass?
You should cut the grass
6-10 inches off the
ground. We recommend using gloves, and in some case eye protection. Some grasses can have sharp edges, so some people will also wear long sleeved shirts to protect their arms.
