Preventing wind damage to grasses

How do I prevent wind damage to 'Karl Forester' grasses?

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##FULL QUESTION## Dear *Gardening Life*, I have a hedge of 'Karl Foerster' grasses which look beautiful but, since we live right on the Atlantic Coast, the flowers bend and break during the wind and end up looking a mess. Is there anything I can do about that or do I just have the wrong grass planted? Any advice would be very helpful. *—Deborah Pye*

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##FULL ANSWER## A 'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass (*Calamagrostis acutiflora*) is one of the grasses that stand up the best during winter, unfortunately. Fine-textured grasses fare the best. Others you might try are the maiden grasses (*Miscanthus sinensis*) - cultivars include 'Gracillimus', 'Morning Light' and one that I had very good luck with in my Toronto garden, 'Autumn Light' - its plumes bounced back even after being practically flattened by snow, so they might weather wind ok. 'Yaku Jima' and 'Silberfeder' are also good sturdy Miscanthus. The switch grasses (*Panicum virgatum*) are pretty tough, too ; 'Heavy Metal' has lovely blue-green foliage. Otherwise, I'd suggest that, once the wind starts destroying the hedge, you cut the inflorescences off so at least it won't look horrible, and then do your regular cutting back in late winter/early spring. You might also consider putting in some sort of shrubby windbreak to prevent such severe damage to the hedge, if you have the space. Even a few shrubs could make a difference. Hope that helps! *—Karen York, Botanical Editor* Other questions recently answered by the GL team: Using black walnut leaves for mulch Stopping powdery mildew on maples Planting trees near a swale Growing on a septic field How to battle weeds between flagstone and alternative options Mysterious orange powder on the lawn What to do with end-of-season potatoes on the vine How to control Japanese knotweed What to grow in a dry area The proper way to plant astrantia What is the star flower and how do I manage it? How do I eliminate my ant problem? Preventing red beetles from attacking lilies Vine types to grow on a new pergola Maintaining purple fountain grass Keeping bougainvilllea healthy throughout the winer How to rid invasive green goutweed Good garden uses for fireplace ashes Growing grape hyacinth indoors The best way to convert a lawn into a meadow The proper way to grow rhododendrons Eliminating beetle damage to spruce trees Annual resembling Japanese maple Planting ivy near cedar trees In search of the 'Sundance Kid' sunflower Caring for canna bulbs A supplier for barren strawberry ground cover Winter care for roses Cutting back mauna loa The best time to harvest curly-leaf lettuce Eliminating invasive trumpet Caring for double-flowering hibiscus trees Eliminating white aphids from honeysuckle vine Where to purchase Japanese blood grass An alternative to rhododendrons Growing a vegetable garden over a septic field Dividing and replanting daylilies Proper care for oakleaf hydrangea The best care for shrub roses 'The Fairy' Pest eating purple leaf sand cherry Preventing lawn brown spots Keeping plants sturdy Preventing suckers from a cut-down serviceberry tree Best tomato seeds to sow

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