tufted hair grass

Tufted hair grass should be watered deeply, but infrequently. In hot summer months, it should be watered at least once a week, but more often in extreme heat. In the spring and fall, it should be watered just enough to keep its soil moist but not soggy. In the winter, tufted hair grass should not be watered until the soil is completely dry.

Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa 'Northern Lights') is a shallow-rooted plant, so it needs to receive plenty of sunlight throughout the day to thrive. This species does best with full sun, with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Northern Lights will not tolerate shade well, so try to place it in a south-facing spot that will get more direct sunlight. Furthermore, with direct sunlight, the plant does have the ability to withstand colder temperatures than other grasses and will remain healthy during extremes in winter temperatures.

Tufted Hair Grass is a unique and stunning ornamental grass that is well suited to USDA growing zones 4-8. It is best to prune this plant species in early spring before new growth begins. The goal is to cut back plants to about 2” above the soil level. This will encourage healthy, thick, uniform growth. However, it is important to not over prune and to remove just a few of the older stems at a time. Pruning should be done carefully and in moderation to maintain the graceful appearance of the plant.