I planted some little bluestem last fall and had mixed results. A few of them had significant frost heave, but a couple managed to survive anyway. Their growth was pretty slow compared to others that hadn't had the frost heave problem, but they are growing reasonably well now and I think should be in fine shape for next year.

Once I notice frost heave I add a little soil around the exposed roots. I've heard recommendations to apply a layer of mulch after the first hard freeze, but I'd be careful about too much mulch on things like little bluestem that prefer drier soil conditions -- especially late in the winter.

Well you've given me some hope anyway. I guess I'll keep an eye out for any heaving and otherwise just keep my fingers crossed. Thanks!

You want to keep it dry around the plants. Don't mulch up close. Its a very cold hardy grass and here in Oklahoma it does fine planted now because the weather stays warm until November. It won't grow roots at all over winter, not until it warms up good next spring. We don't have soil heaving here so I don't know about that. If thats your situation or if its real soggy there, you might be better off leaving them in pots over winter in a protected dry spot where the soil will stay damp but not soaked. Root rot would be my biggest concern. I dug some out one year and couldn't decide if I was going to keep them or not, I left them unplanted stacked in a big pot with some soil still clinging to the roots and they wintered over just fine. The bottom ones in no light were putting out yellow growth by the time I got to them the next year. Just a couple of the very top ones placed in the pot with the roots exposed to dry air died, they were all just tossed in the pot every which way.

Thanks for the info. Knowing these are supposed to be rather drought tolerant I did plant them in a relatively dry area so hopefully the roots won't rot over the winter.