Overview

Fountain grass is a pretty ornamental grass that forms a mound of growth. It is a perennial that can reach up to 3 feet tall, depending on the variety. Once it has been planted and established, it needs very little care and adds a lot of visual interest to a landscaping bed with its attractive plumes. Start your own seeds during the winter and have grass plugs ready for planting in the spring.

Step 1

Collect your fountain grass seeds for planting. Order them from a nursery or simply gather them from the mature fronds of a fountain grass plant. Clip the fuzzy frond head from the plant and place it in a paper envelope to dry. The seeds will fall out from the frond and you can use them for planting.

Step 2

Prepare a tray by poking holes in the bottom for drainage with a sharp knife or an awl. Fill the tray with a couple of inches of potting soil and water it well. Set it aside to drain.

Step 3

Sprinkle the top of the soil with the fountain grass seeds. They should just be rubbed a little to make sure they have good soil contact, and not buried. Cover the tray with a clear plastic cover that has just a couple of slits cut into it for a little air transpiration.

Step 4

Place the tray in a warm area where it can get lots of light, such as near a sunny window or under grow lights. Leave the cover on until the green shoots start sprouting up and then remove it to prevent mildew from setting in. Water when the top of the soil gets dry.

Step 5

Allow the fountain grass to continue growing until all danger of frost has passed. Cut out plugs from the tray and plant them in the same depth of soil as in the tray. Water them frequently and fertilize if you have poor soil.