A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Ornamental Grasses Trimming Roots

I have an unidentified variegated ornamental grass that produces little flower spikes with light blue ball like flowers in the late summer.

I plan to take it to the new garden apartment with me for my new shade garden. But I have a problem with it's roots. It puts out runners to produce babies and these can be quite long. I don't have enough large pots to put them in so can I trim the roots without hurting the plant?

Yes, you can trim the roots...it will actually stimulate the plant to grow more, but be careful not to trim too much. BTW, your description sounds like variegated liriope.

I'm going to check it out immediately...

Yes you nailed it! Are you a master gardener? It's the one called Liriope s. 'Silver Dragon'.

Thankyou for the information. That's going to make it much easier for me.

Yeah! I thought that's what it was, and yes, I've been a MG for 7 years.

Well you are wonderful. I'm definitely a member of your fan club. About the root trimming would about a quarter of the length of the roots be to much to take? And can I take the runner root back all the way to the plant or do I have to limit how much of that I take also? I know I have so many questions.

Sounds about right on both questions. The more root you give the runner the better. It's a very tough plant...hard to kill, so I think you'll do just fine.

Thanks Alan. I was afraid I would lose it because I didn't have pots large enough to put them all in if I couldn't trim the roots.