i have seen nursery folk take an axe to a large planting to split it. grasses can be pretty hard to divide. i managed to split off a small piece with a shove early in the season this year, and it is growing now.

Grasses are very easy to propagate. Take it from someone who worked part time propagating thousands and thousands of different grasses. Large clumps of grasses would be thrown on the propagating benches, and I would split them up into individual plants by hooking the large clump on a nail-like tool and making the clump smaller and smaller by pulling individual plants off. For the home gardener, though, just remember that the outside of the clump is the youngest and hardiest part to get your divisions from.

I just divided two large zebras. Great muddy fun. I tried first to split it apart with a shovel rather vigorously (no witnesses to that indecorious act). The plant clearly won that round. Then I got out the reciprocating saw (Sawz-all?) and dominated the brutish beast. I highly recommend having a saw on hand, just in case. :-)

Happy Trails,
Michelle