Moving Elephant Grass?

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by fumanchu, Jul 15, 2019.

  1. fumanchu

    fumanchu Gardener

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    I have a big clump of this stuff growing in the wrong p;lace. How hard is it to move and when should it be done? TY!
    EDITED: it's this stuff I think:
    Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2019
  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi fumanchu, if what you have is " Napier Grass" then I doubt that many of the GC Gang either grow it or have experience of moving it. However, I think it might not be disimilar to moving clumps of, say, Sunningdale Silver Pampus Grass:dunno: To do that that I dug around the clump and then under it to free it and drag it to a new position. The clump was very heavy when I moved it so I split it to smaller pieces before moving it and replanting them.
     
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    • fumanchu

      fumanchu Gardener

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      I'm sorry I don't know the proper name, it's variegated white and green and very pretty, but it's huge and it's in my way :biggrin: What time of year is best to move it? It currently has feathery seed bits on the ends.
      Just googled and it looks very like this: We just call it the elephant grass!
      Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
       
    • Freddy

      Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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      I’d suggest moving it while it’s dormant.
       
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      • fumanchu

        fumanchu Gardener

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        Blast. :biggrin: That means I need to have patience.. Ok thank you!
         
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        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          Hi fumanchu,

          Well, it does sound like Zebrinus which can get to more than 7ft tall and 5ft wide, So, going on that assumption, Freddy is right...........


          So any mild day in Winter would be the time. Be warned that it is a hard job digging the clump out as well as splitting it. You will need a sharp spade and a fork to split it; you might even need to saw through the tough root mass of the Grass. Cutting the grass in Winter will also reduce the weight of the clump and make it easier to handle and move. If the clump(s) are heavy and difficult to move then try sliding the clump(s) onto a tarpaulin and then dragging it to the new site if nearby.
          The more hands on the job the merrier!:)
           
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            Last edited: Jul 16, 2019
          • Freddy

            Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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            Not the same thing, but I dug this up when it was dormant to reduce the size and to propagate. Picture taken last year...

            A5F73AD7-FD16-4DC1-9B6E-BA684C145AD0.jpeg

            I found the roots to be very fibrous and dense, and was fairly easy to dig up. To divide, I started with a spade and gave up. Decided to use an old saw and it cut through very easily. I have a Miscanthus ‘Zebrinus’ in the garden that I brought with me. From memory, it wasn’t too difficult to dig up, although I did have to try to retain a certain amount of soil as it had already started into growth.
             
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