Center of perennials dead

last year

I’ve had 2 large perennial clumps die in the center.

The first is a large blue oat grass clump. It is growing all around the edge and looks stupid. I’m wondering if this is just a normal progression. Did the clump just get too big and choke out the center?

I’m not relishing the thought of digging out the grass, but I don’t think there’s any other way to restore it.

The second one is my cushion spurge. It was picture perfect last spring. This year only a piece is alive.

I’m worried about digging up the cushion spurge though. My research says they don’t like to be disturbed. What do you experienced gardeners suggest?

Here’s a picture of it last year, and now.

Featured Answer

mlobaito_nnyzn4

last year

last modified: last year

I do not know if it is the same but if I do not cut the dead leaves off low on my Little Zebra grass which is a Miscanthus sinensis it will only grow around the edges and leave the center looking dead. I have to make sure when I cut down in the spring I get all the way to the crown. That spurge looks like you might not have cut enough of the old wood out.

FYI if you do decide to divide it invest in a shovel called "root slayer" it makes dealing with the tough roots of grassess, hostas, daylillies ect so much easier to deal with. I use this to take pieces off around my Miscanthus sinensis when it gets so wide its outgrowing the space.

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Comments (7)

Jay 6a Chicago
last year
Blue Oat Grass dies in the center on older plants. It's normal. Are you growing the Cusion Spurge in loose sandy or gravelly soil? They need good drainage, and I don't think the mulch is necessary, because they grow in dry, gravelly ground in the wild. You could cut out the dead parts and see if the middle rejuvinates.
north53 Z2b MB thanked Jay 6a Chicago
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Clump forming ornamental grasses grow outwardly. Eventually the center will die off and that just means it's time to divide. The same thing applies with lots of clumping perennials.

I'm not sure what to suggest about the euphorbia as ALL hardy euphorbs grow like weeds here....and some are even classified as weeds. I tend to remove any dead wood or dead portions of any plant as necessary.
north53 Z2b MB thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
gdinieontarioz5
last year
As others have said, the dying out of the centre of the grass is normal, time to divide. I think the euphorbia almost died on you, and only a few pieces survived. Maybe wait till next year spring, to be sure the good parts are well rooted, then take off the dead part in the back. If possible, I would not move it, just let it regrow where it is.

I second, third and fourth the advice to get a Root Slayer. I dug up, in pieces, a huge clump of zebra grass in 15 minutes! With a regular, good quality spade, I simply couldn't get down into the root mass. I also dug up an 8' ninebark by myself. Brilliant tool!
north53 Z2b MB thanked gdinieontarioz5
LaLennoxa 6a/b Hamilton ON
last year
I was like you, with my Karl Foerster grass - it had grown so well for years in a clump, and I noticed it was not growing in the centre and I thought it was impossible that it was dying in the centre, even though everyone said it was. Guess what, they were right LOL. I finally got around to dividing it last fall and it’s back better than ever this year.
north53 Z2b MB thanked LaLennoxa 6a/b Hamilton ON
mazerolm_3a
last year
I had a euphorbia for 8-9 years. Two years ago it was like yours. This year, it was completely dead. Maybe try to propagate it this year, in case it’s on its last legs?
north53 Z2b MB thanked mazerolm_3a
north53 Z2b MB
Original Author
last year
Thanks everyone for the advice. I guess I was making a mountain out of a mole hill. I do have a Root Slayer shovel and I love it. I think I expected the roots to be deep but it only took a few minutes to dig up the clump of the blue oat grass. I divided off a chunk using the 2 garden fork method. All the work involved digging up the pile of rocks I found beneath the clump.

I'm sure it was the recommendations I'd read on this site that encouraged me to purchase the root slayer. I had a gift card at Lee Valley so took the plunge. My husband is seriously impressed with that tool!

I'm still considering about how the tackle the euphorbia. It does have very good drainage and I don't mulch that bed.

Mazerolm, I see you are in a similar zone to me. It might be the winter was too hard on mine. We had virtually no snow cover, which I don't ever remember happening before.