Can I still plant this: Pink Muhly Grass?

10 years ago

Bought a Pink Muhly Grass from a plant sale a month back while I was just beginning to aerate my lawn.
Seller said I didn't have to plant it until I finished watering the lawn. It's been sitting outside getting sun & some rain.

It's been a month. Can I still plant it or is it too far gone to save?

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Comments (5)

donn_
10 years ago
The answer is the same for each plant in your two threads:

Pull them out of their pots and examine the roots. If they're all dried up, the plants are goners. If they're still alive looking, go ahead and plant them...but do it soon.

The Muhly looks like it has a better chance than the Pampas, but the roots will tell the story.
pbx2_gw
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the input donn.

Question - since I've never examine roots out of a pot before: When you say dried up - do they look yellowish or brownish & shriveled - to be considered dead?

Or is the potted soil crusty sandy brown?

What is the visual indicator of death?
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I still have them indoors. They have more leaves, but still small. I think I will plant them in about two weeks. I'll give them more time to get stronger first. We could still have a frost here and I don't want to chance it.
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Thanks for the feedback. I went ahead and planted 3 pink Muhlys in the spot. I wanted to mound the soil to improve drainage, so added 5 bags of cheap potting soil that had a lot of bark in it. My soil is very heavy clay, so I don't think it will have too much organic matter. It is a very sunny spot. I'll try to post a photo later in the year when they are flowering. It should be a nice show if they grow well. They are planted in my "Japanese" garden, which is a curious mix of ornamental grasses and more traditional Japanese plants such as a J. maple, magnolia and camellia, irises, and azaleas.
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I have about 6 of this and they are very hardy - I even accidentally sprayed one once with round up and it still lived so I doubt yours is dead. They are beautiful in the fall. I have people pull in off the street and ask what the name of the plant is. They also spread by seeds everywhere. I give away lots of them each year. I have one (the largest) that is struggling a bit to come back this year because my neighbors cat has decided to lay in the center of it every nite and use it for his bed......
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That makes sense. Its probably Love Grass because of the consistency in seedlings. It'd be hard to imagine that many seedlings of one type all being weed seeds that got in the packs. By the way, Purple Love Grass reseeds like crazy. If you plant them out, and I definitely would this year after letting them harden off a couple weeks starting in shade, you will laugh to remember babying them like that once you see how many volunteers you end up with the following year. I've done that before too. Karley Rose is a hybrid pennisetum with sterile seeds. Only the species comes true from seed and in some places its considered invasive. Santa Rosa Gardens is a great place to order from. I'm getting ready to place an order on some sale grasses before the fall prices set in. They have a fall sale later on and I've had 100% success planting at that time, its the best time in Oklahoma for that. If you are wanting pink, P. Karley Rose grows REAL REAL fast, you'll have mature looking plants next year.
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donn_
10 years ago
Dead roots will be shriveled up, brown and brittle. Healthy roots will be whitish and pliable.
pbx2_gw
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks again! donn!

In case I was able to salvage them both - is this a good time to prune them back say to 1/3 of their current size?

vs. wait till early March?
donn_
10 years ago
It's probably 6 of one with these two. The Pampas is probably fully dormant, and the Muhly will be in short order. If you expect snow, the foliage collects it and it acts as insulation. Either way, if you plant them, mulch them heavily. Pine boughs filled with fall leaves works well.

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Can I still plant this: Pink Muhly Grass?

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Can I still plant this: Pink Muhly Grass?

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