maintenance Archives - Madrone Landscape

Bunch Grass Cutbacks: How, Why, and When

Dec 11, 2023

Tips for Bunch Grass Cutbacks on California’s Central Coast

Bunch grasses, prevalent in Central Coast California landscapes, offer a striking botanical mix of texture, movement, and vivid color. These perennial grasses, ranging from six inches to eight feet tall, are chosen for their foliage and seed head plumage. In the Central Coast, they typically require a significant annual trim to foster new growth.

Ideal Timing for Bunch Grass Trimming

The primary goal of cutting back bunch grasses is to stimulate fresh, green growth and to remove dead foliage, enhancing plant health. While some varieties don’t necessitate annual trimming, others thrive with biannual or more frequent cutbacks. The general guideline suggests cutting back after the last hard frost, balancing aesthetics with frost protection. In frost-sensitive species, delay trimming until late winter.

In San Luis Obispo County, we adjust our trimming schedule according to three distinct regions: the beach areas (Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Cambria, Los Osos, etc.), the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Edna, Nipomo, etc.), and the North County (Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, Santa Margarita).

Regional Guidelines for Grass Cutbacks

Beach Zones: Start as early as December-January. The mild weather allows for a variety of grasses, like the striking Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum rubrum). Here, the extended growing season offers a more flexible trimming window.
Coastal Valleys: February is optimal, with the window extending from January to March. Purple Fountain Grass may wait until March, but most varieties are safe for a February trim.
North County: The colder climate, influenced by the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, pushes the trimming window to February-April, with March being ideal. The limited grass variety here still offers a breathtaking seasonal display.

The key is to time your grass cutbacks to enhance both plant health and aesthetics, minimizing the dormant period of the trimmed grass.

How to Execute Bunch Grass Cutbacks

Use sharp tools like shears, pruners, hedgers, or bladed weed whackers for trimming. Cut all blades close to the ground without harming the plant crown. Remove loose debris by hand to prevent rot and promote air circulation. Keep mulch and other materials at least 2 inches away from the grass crown.

Recommended Pruning Heights

Low(2-4 inches): Suitable for Festuca spp., Carex spp., and similar species.

Medium (4-8 inches): Ideal for Muhlenbergia rigens and dubia, small to medium Miscanthus spp., and others.

High (8-12 inches): Best for larger varieties like Miscanthus spp., Cortaderia spp.

Carex divulsa (LOW)

Muhlengergia Rigens (MEDIUM)

Seeking Professional Landscape Maintenance?

If you’re interested in landscape maintenance, including bunch grass cutbacks, contact us at Madrone Landscape. We’re currently accepting maintenance projects starting at $400/month. Reach out through our Maintenance Request Form, email us at [email protected], or call (805) 466-6263.

Nine Questions to ask Before Hiring a Landscape Maintenance Contractor

May 30, 2019

Top tips for selecting a landscape maintenance team

From weekly to seasonal maintenance, to event preparation, or landscape enhancements: here are the top questions to ask to ensure you hire a licensed professional who will meet your needs.

1. How long have you been in business?

A company that has been in business ten years or more is likely a reliable, trustworthy contractor. Whether you are a homeowner who needs weekly maintenance or a commercial property owner who needs pest control, check the company’s portfolio to see whether they have expertise on projects like yours.

Madrone Landscape has been in business for over 40 years. We offer weekly gardening services for residential clients in North San Luis Obispo County and estate maintenance for the broader San Luis Obispo County, Northern Santa Barbara County, and Southern Monterey County. We also offer high quality commercial, municipal, and HOA maintenance services for all of San Luis Obispo County.

2. What kind of insurance and licensing do you have?

Your landscaping company should have workers compensation insurance, general liability insurance, bonded workers and appropriate state licensing. For weed, pest, and disease control, your maintenance contractor will need to be spray certified.

Madrone Landscape has workers compensation insurance and general liability insurance. Our landscape maintenance crews are bonded, and we maintain a California state landscape contractor license.

3.Do you have specialists on staff?

Professional landscaping firms will employ experts with degrees in landscape architecture and horticulture. They should have expertise in landscape irrigation, as well as thorough knowledge of the type of plants you have growing in your landscape design.

At Madrone Landscape, our degreed and trained landscape designers and horticulturists establish and maintain our clients’ landscapes in superior condition. Our landscape maintenance teams are led by Taryn Via, Maintenance Manager. With a background in property management, Taryn has over 13 years of experience working directly with homeowners, HOAs, and commercial property owners.

4.What services do you offer?

Homeowners, commercial property owners, and HOAs all require different services for different properties. Ensure the company you hire provides the services you require. Traditionally, maintenance projects may include mowing and editing, irrigation repair, fertilizing, dead-heading, and mulching. Larger projects may need specialized maintenance at different intervals throughout the year. Consider whether you need seasonal maintenance, event preparation, and/or regular landscape enhancement.

5.How do your maintenance crews practice sustainability? Do you offer alternatives to chemicals?

If sustainability is important to you, be sure to ask about alternatives to fertilizer and chemicals. Companies at the forefront of landscaping will employ methods such as compost tea fertilizer, integrated pest management, and organic fertilizers, ensuring your yard is a safe and healthy place for your family.

At Madrone Landscape, we are known for sustainable practices. We focus on plant health and the effective use of water. Our Healthy Gardens program introduces organic methods to fertilizer and weed, pest, and disease control.

6. Can you provide us with an estimate?

A professional landscape contractor will provide you an estimate tailored to your individual needs. After visiting your project, listening to your needs and requirements, they will ask you questions to determine your exact needs.

Madrone Landscape provides a customized written estimate for each project.

7. What does my contract include?

Once you’ve accepted your estimate, your landscape contract will provide you a contract outlining what to expect on each visit, ranging from weekly maintenance to seasonal maintenance, plant replacement, and irrigation repairs.

At Madrone Landscape, each contract is different – just like each project. Once we’ve discussed your estimate, we put together a custom contract specifically for you.

8. How do you communicate with clients?

Will you have an account manager assigned to you? Will they call you to schedule appointments, or simply send notices in your invoice?

Our Maintenance Manager, Coner Boaen, is the one point of contact for our maintenance clients.

9. Will you provide references?

In addition to checking Yelp to see how the company ranks, ask for references, including addresses. Check the properties to see if they are maintained at the level you expect for your own property, whether residential or commercial. Madrone Landscape recently was awarded “Top-rated Local” for ranking in the top-five landscape companies in the state for customer satisfaction.

We are happy to provide a list of references for you to call and testimonials for your review!

Do you have additional questions? Ask for Coner Boaen, Maintenance Manager, at (805) 466-6263.