Muhly Grass, Muhlenbergia caprillaris ‘Lenca’

Common Name: Muhly Grass

Type: ornamental grass

Family: Gramineae

Zone: 6 to 9     Find Your Zone

Height: 4 feet

Width: 3 to 4 feet

Bloom Time: late summer

Bloom Color: pinkish red

Sun exposure: full sun

Soil: well drained to dry

Leaves: deciduous

This soft looking airy grass puts on an amazing show in late summer, almost appearing to smoke with its pink blooms. Plant them in mass plantings for an incredible display. Full sun is preferable and plant in well drained, moist soil although they have good drought tolerance. Muhly can grow to 4 feet tall and are hardy in zones 6 to 9. Muhly is deer resistant.Take a look at our 12 Ornamental Grasses for Landscaping. This plant also made its way onto our list of Drought tolerant plants that are not cactus.

PLANTING GUIDE

STEP 1: Digging the hole

• Find a location that has suitable sun exposure for your particular type of plant.
• Dig your hole an inch or two shallower than the rootball of the plant.
• Dig the hole twice the diameter of the rootball.
• Scuff up the sides of the hole with a shovel to help roots break through the native soil.
  

STEP 2: Putting plant in hole

• When removing the plant from the pot, check to see if the roots were circling the pot.
• If the plant is rootbound, gently break up the roots with your hands until loosened up.
• Set plant level, in the center of the hole.
• Make sure the top of the rootball is just above soil level.

STEP 3: Amending the soil and filling in the hole

• Amend the soil with proper amendments for your soil type. 
  
• Incorporate 50% native soil with 50% amendment soils like garden soil, composted manure or soil conditioner.
• Make sure dirt clods are broken up or removed from hole along with rocks.
• Fill the hole with soils to the soil level and pack down. Do not cover top of rootball with dirt.
  
• Water in thoroughly to remove air pockets.

STEP 4: Mulching and fertilizing

• Cover the planting site with at least 2 inches of the mulch of your choice (pinestraw, cupress mulch,etc.)
• High Phosphorus root stimulator fertilizers like Quick Start from Miracle Gro are great to use at time of planting.

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