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gwl-g - Re: [gwl-g] moving miscanthus

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  • From: "Lorraine Ballato" <ladygardener@msn.com>
  • To: "gardenwriters-on-gardening" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] moving miscanthus
  • Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 11:28:39 -0700

After breaking many shovels and bending the tines of many pitchforks, I think I've found the one sure way to get these monsters out.
 
I have had great success using my Japanese pruning saw.  Both the fold up one as well as one the one that remains full sized have worked well.  I decide how many pieces I want the grass to become and then use the saw to cut through it while it's still planted.  Sometimes I've gotten 6 pieces, minimally 3.  The saw slices through the ground making separate pieces.  Then using a FRESHLY SHARPENED SHOVEL with a WELL OILED HANDLE, I slip the shovel under each piece and gently lift. This isn't easy by any means, but it does work.  Assuming you remove all but one piece of the plant, then you need to backfill with dirt since much of it comes out with the grass.  The last thing I do is water and use a high nitrogen fertilizer to help the grass recover.  I also fertilize each new transplant as it gets installed in its new home.
 
This technique has worked for me for ravenna grasses, miscanthus, and moudry grass  (so far).  But I must admit that I'm a bit of a slacker.  As I write this, I have about 10 tubs under my decks with transplants ready to be installed.  Oh, for 36 hour days in spring!
 
Lorraine Ballato
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Donna
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 6:39 PM
To: 'gardenwriters-on-gardening'
Subject: RE: [gwl-g] moving miscanthus
 

Any chance you can get a tow truck near it?  If you can dig the hooks into the root system and wrap the bands around the plant, you can take out anything with a flip of the lever. An experienced tow truck driver can have this done in 10 minutes or less. Definitely worth the usage fee if you don’t have access to one.

 

 

Other than getting a small backhoe, are there any techniques or tips someone can offer on how to get this monster out? I already have to go to the hardware store for a new shovel, so if there is a reasonable purchase involved, I'm open to it.

 

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