Little Bluestem Care Tips For Growing Little Bluestem Grass

Little bluestem is prone to lodging on rich soils. This grass grows best in full sun. The plant will be taller (and therefore more prone to flopping late in the season) on rich soils and shorter on dry, infertile sites. Do not fertilize heavily and not at all on richer soils.

When should Bluestems be cut back?
How do you prune little bluestem grass?
Can you mow little bluestem?
How do you grow bluestem grass?
What animals eat little bluestem?
What does bluestem grass look like?
How tall does little bluestem grow?
How do you germinate little bluestem?
What animal eats big bluestem grass?
How can you tell if you have a big bluestem?
Does Little bluestem need cold stratification?

When should Bluestems be cut back?

The dried foliage and flower stalks of little bluestem grass should be cut back to make way for the new spring foliage—but not until late March because the seeds provide winter food for song birds.

How do you prune little bluestem grass?

In early spring use hedge shears to cut it back to about three inches above the soil. Be patient; little bluestem won't send up new foliage until late spring. Plant more of our top ornamental grasses in your garden.

Can you mow little bluestem?

Little bluestem begins growth later in the spring after the cool-season species have already developed. It tolerates glyphosate when dormant, and other herbicides as labeled for grasses. Weed control can be accomplished by mowing, especially the first year when the planted grass is short.

How do you grow bluestem grass?

Planting big bluestem grass may be done in late winter to early spring or when soils are workable. Sow big bluestem seed at ¼ to ½ inch (6.4 to 12.7 mm.) deep. The sprouts will emerge in about four weeks if you irrigate consistently.

What animals eat little bluestem?

Pasture/range/hayland: Little bluestem is a fair forage species and is readily grazed by livestock, deer, and elk.

What does bluestem grass look like?

The rhizomes are short and scaly and the color of the leaves varies from light yellow-green to burgundy. The seed head is coarse and not fluffy as in other bluestems. Individual seed heads often have three spikelets that look like a turkey foot. “Big blue” as it is commonly called is a climax prairie species.

How tall does little bluestem grow?

It grows from 1 to 3 feet tall with culms slightly flattened. The blades are folded, sometimes rolled inward, and smooth to hairy. They are 2 to 12 inches long, 1.5-6 mm wide, pointed with sheaths keeled and usually smooth.

How do you germinate little bluestem?

Instructions: Prepare a seedbed by making sure there are no weeds and that the seed bed is firm. Plant the seed 1/4 inch into the soil during the spring or the fall (dormant seeding). Little Blue Stem seedlings are incredibly resilient, so you'll have plenty of newly established plantings in no time!

What animal eats big bluestem grass?

The foliage is readily eaten by hoofed mammalian herbivores, including bison, cattle, and other livestock. The Meadow Vole and Prairie Vole eat the foliage as well.

How can you tell if you have a big bluestem?

On young leaves, big bluestem can be identified by the long hairs near the leaf base. Indiangrass is 4-7' tall warm season bunch grass with a graceful, fountain-like habit. A distinguishing trait for this grass is the "rifle- sight" where the leaf blade connects with the stem.

Does Little bluestem need cold stratification?

The cost of seeding a large area is affordable given the low sowing rates of little bluestem. Rate of establishment: Germination in the field appears to be low (Steinberg 2002) and requires stratification as well as daytime temperatures between 20-30oC (68-86oF).