Yes, hedge trimmers are fine to cut back warm or cool season grasses, this only refers to when they get started again. You may want to tape the clump together with duct tape, keeps it from flopping around, and it's easier to handle.

Thanks for the info.
Tie Up Grasses was good (I didn't get any audio) but from what I saw the grasses were only being stabilized. Are most of the tall OG's needing tie ups to keep them from flopping? I guess being tied like that would allow me to sweep the stand with a hedge trimmer in the Spring. Where do ya put all the cuttings? Burn compost or hay for farmers?

Don't cut them too close to the ground when you do so....leave at least 6 inches....8 is better.

Rory,
RE: what to do with the trimmings.
Yes, you could burn but ...
First, check your local ordenances - burning my not be allowed.
Second, you will find that many of the larger grasses such as the Miscanthus loose most of their leaves over the winter AND the stalks really don't burn very easily. I used a torch one year & still couln't get them to burn satisfactorily. On the other hand Pennisetums burn FAST - almost scary fast!
So .. as I hate to send anything compostable to the dump I have have been composting my OG clippings. I keep them in a separate round from the other compost because they take twice as long to break down. Chopped up as small as you can manage using a woodchipper or whatever you can manage, OG clippings will provide you with straw like mulch in year one & lovely compost in year 2.

A.
btw, I use a bale chopper but then I have a lot of grasses to chop up in the spring :o)

Bluestem has a nice little article on cutting back grasses

Here is a link that might be useful: Bluestem Nursery - cutting back

A~
Thanks for the link and the composting/burn info.
Any Winter pics of the berms? I looked at your photobucket again and didn't see anything new. I know you got lots of snow and I was just wondering how your grasses have held up with the wind and snow. We had two feet and winds over 60 km. Then a big melt last week to be covered again with another foot of powder before Christmas.
Looking fwd to planting the grasses this spring.
Rory

Rory,
We haven't had nearly as much snow as you BUT we have had incredibly high winds (gusts up to 90km).
Although it has been a hard winter for the grasses, the wet snow has knocked them down and the winds have 'de-fluffed' them, some of them just keep on looking good!

two images of the berm taken today, January 2, 2008.

A:
Thanks for the pics. Pic 2. Miscanthus 'Malepartus' in winter?
Rory

Thanks for starting the other thread for photos.

yes - pic 2 is mostly 'Malepartus' in the winter

portlandhigh, I wish I had seen your post before. Next year I am going to tie ours up.

Now that they are flat, I guess I can cut them back. That's what the video said.