Both are warm season grasses and really do not put on much new growth until the weather (and soil) warms up sufficiently. In my area, that can be as late as June :-) And the Pennisetum (bunny grass) is even slower to develop than the maiden grass.

I wouldn't be overly concerned. If you like, you can give them some lawn fertilizer but I doubt they really need it. And the cutting back of OG's is typically done in late winter - end of February/beginning of March. If you do it in fall, you miss the winter display of the dormant grass, often one of its best features.

Thanks, Gardengal. Normally, I like to prune in the very early spring but thought perhaps pruning this fall would be better. I am going to leave them then as I love seeing the grass in the winter -- it adds such interest.

I am in Michigan and we have not had a good spurt of warm, consistent weather yet. I am beginning to think we are going to have a fairly cool summer (alright by me!).

Thank you for your advice. The slender maidens are doing great. Unfortunately, two of the bunny grasses had to be replaced (we did some moving around of material last year and I don't think they were ready or liked it too much!). Patience helped here!

Just a thought -- I planted some grasses late last summer and thought they would take off this spring like my other ornamental grasses do.. Not. so! I finally figured out that rabbits were grazing on them, keeping them mowed. I got some deer and rabbit repellant and the grasses started growing.