• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Carol J. Michel

Award winner author of gardening humor books

  • About
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Shop
    • Gardening Humor
    • Children’s Books
    • New – The Halloween Hare
  • Social
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
  • The Gardenangelists Podcast
  • Gardening Humor
  • Children’s
  • All Books

May Dreams Gardens

How I Got My Knees All Dirty: Ribbon Grass Dig Out

March 13, 2008 By Carol Michel 21 Comments

Yesterday, I started digging out all the ribbon grass that I no longer want in my garden.

This is the before picture of the grass.

It’s too invasive. It has zero winter interest. I think voles like it in all that dead grass. It must go.

Tools of choice for this job were a Cape Cod Weeder, a hand rake, and some gloves.
Tip of the garden hat to Annie in Austin for recommending I get a Cape Cod weeder. I have no idea how I gardened all these years without one!

I used the hand rake to rake out as much loose grass and leaves as I could and then I followed up with the Cape Cod weeder to dig out the grass roots a section at a time.

I knelt in the dirt to do this, which is how I got my knees all dirty.

I am thankful that I can still kneel on the soft, cool ground to dig in the dirt, and I’m JUST as thankful that I can stand back up afterwards.

The result after about 50 minutes of raking and digging by hand is that I’ve removed 75 percent of the ribbon grass.
That’s a very good start, if I do say so myself. Another 30 minutes or so of digging and most of that blankety-blank grass will be gone. (I know the grass won’t be completely gone, but it will be gone enough that what remains I can weed out as it sprouts.)

Some tips for others who have some digging to do this spring:

– Work in small sections. No matter how big a digging job looks, if you do it a square foot at a time, a little at a time, you can get it done!

– Always buy the best tools you can afford. The two tools I used are well made and they make the work easier. I can do the work without worry about the tools falling apart.

– Get started.What are you waiting for? Why are you procrastinating? You’ve dreamed all winter of getting back out into the garden, so just go out there and get started. This was literally the second good day to work outside in the garden this year. I went straight home after work, changed in to my gardening jeans and headed out to the garden.

– Don’t over do it the first few times you get back to gardening in the spring. I decided to start with about an hour’s worth of work so I wouldn’t end up with blisters, a sore back, aching knees, sun burn, etc. I just wanted to do enough so I could see some progress and I can definitely see some progress. Remember, a runner doesn’t start out by running a marathon after resting all winter; a gardener shouldn’t start out with an all day gardening marathon on the first nice day of spring.

– Don’t plant ribbon grass. A friend gave me a start of this when I first moved to this new garden. I was desperate to plant something. Too desperate. I was vulnerable because I’m a gardener and I like to plant. I believe this ribbon grass is probably Phalaris arundinacea. Watch for it, avoid it, don’t take a start of it.*

The happy end to all this digging is that I’ll end up with a pretty large area to plant something else in, which is what every gardener wants, right?

(*Okay, you can plant ribbon grass if you have an area where nothing much will grow, or you have a slope or hillside and you need to plant something for erosion control. But do not plant it in a flower bed and think you will contain it. You will not contain it.)

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: gardening, tools

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Frances, says

    March 14, 2008 at 12:43 am

    Good work Carol, and way to not push yourself too hard, so you can still get up. That is the part that seems to be getting harder for me. Working on the hill, just keeping from rolling down to the bottom is a balancing act. ;->
    Frances

    Reply
  2. Lisa at Greenbow says

    March 14, 2008 at 1:23 am

    Way to go Carol. I agree whole heartedly that it is good to be able to stand up after being on your knees for some time.

    Reply
  3. kate says

    March 14, 2008 at 1:46 am

    Good going with the Ribbon Grass – I have never heard of a Cape Cod weeder. I was certain you were going to say it was a hoe.

    Those were great tips … it’s so easy to be over-enthusiastic out in the garden when spring first arrives.

    Reply
  4. Teresa@Much-A-Do says

    March 14, 2008 at 2:10 am

    OK – so I think this gives me the courage I need to just say to heck with my ribbon grass and yank it out. I actually BOUGHT mine – if only I had known! I just thought it was attractive and didn’t ask enough questions. And that Cape Cod weeder looks very interesting – I’ll be checking that out. Of course it’s too late for the good advice about not overdoing. I’ve had a stiff shoulder and neck most of this week from the hour or two I spent shoveling compost and peat last weekend!

    Reply
  5. tina says

    March 14, 2008 at 2:27 am

    i actually had ribbon grass die out in my garden. guess i was lucky. i planted jewelweed in its place and that is so much nicer.

    never heard of a cape cod weeder like kate and luvmygarden. sounds great.

    Reply
  6. Curmudgeon says

    March 14, 2008 at 2:37 am

    I’m embarassed to say that we actually purchased our ribbon grass. We thought it added texture. Two weeks after we put it in it was twice as big as everything around it. Four weeks and it was a monster. It does great in a pot–which is where it went after we dug it up.

    Reply
  7. Melanie Chopay says

    March 14, 2008 at 2:46 am

    It’s nice to know that I managed to avoid at least one thug. Glad you are happy with your progress!

    Reply
  8. Gardenista says

    March 14, 2008 at 2:50 am

    Congrats on all the hard work. Isn’t it terrible how we get these things into our gardens and then need to get rid of them with so much effort? Hopefully the prospect of getting more planting room is exciting for you!

    Reply
  9. Nancy says

    March 14, 2008 at 3:30 am

    I think I want one of those weeders..

    Reply
  10. Annie in Austin says

    March 14, 2008 at 6:49 am

    That is one horrible looking garden job, Carol…I’m glad the Cape Cod Weeder could help. And glad I don’t have Ribbon Grass!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

    Reply
  11. Sherry at the Zoo says

    March 14, 2008 at 9:52 am

    We were just taking inventory last night of everything that needs to get done in our yard this spring. Beds to redo etc. But, that is as far as we got. The thoughts….

    Reply
  12. Kathy says

    March 14, 2008 at 11:18 am

    Every year I get a start of ribbon grass from my friend, and like Weed Whackin’, I put it in a container. All by itself. And I make sure the container is on concrete, and not dirt. It must not like wintering over in a container, because every year I have to get a new piece. It looks nice grouped with other container plants.

    How deep do the roots on that ribbon grass go? For that job I would have gotten my spading fork and pried it all up and shook the soil out of the roots. That Cape Cod weeder looks like it could rip the “sod” into chunks. I suppose if you don’t have clay soil, that’s all it would take. Is ribbon grass one of those thugs that grows from every bit of root?

    Reply
  13. Sissy says

    March 14, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    If that same friend shows up with a start of some ZEBRA grass, thank her for it and put it in the garbage with the ribbon grass, Carol!

    Reply
  14. WiseAcre says

    March 14, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    Work in small sections – check, one right after another and another and another.

    Always buy the best tools you can afford – Partial check, I buy cheap shovels but everything else is meant to last. I could break a cast iron handle on a shovel. I always have at least 3 on hand. – I don’t want my shovels to last to the point they become 2 pointed either 🙂

    Get started – not a problem. I’m scratching at the door alongside the cats to get outside.

    Don’t over do it the first few times you get back to gardening in the spring – Now I’m in trouble. I start each year by traveling south to start work. Away from home, feeling the warmth and with the ‘client’ paying my expenses I end up working at least 10 hours/day right off the bat. The first 2 weeks of the season leaves me wishing for a spine replacement and a supply of muscle relaxers.

    Don’t plant ribbon grass – Well there must be someone in the neighborhood I don’t like.

    Reply
  15. Kathy says

    March 14, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Mr. WiseAcre, we always get the top-of-the-line shovel from Agway. I forget if it has a twenty-year guarantee or a lifetime guarantee. The first thing we do when we get it home is wrap tape around the handle where it says lifetime guarantee. When it breaks (notice I didn’t say if), we unwrap that protective tape, bring it back to Agway, and get our replacement free of charge.

    Reply
  16. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says

    March 14, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    I also have a problem with the not overdoing it part – Hornet Mode is so hard to resist. I like the last suggestion the best.

    Reply
  17. Gail says

    March 14, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    How have I avoided ribbon grass…I have so many thugs, well really I just have three very aggressive thugs.

    I also have a problem with over doing it…hours pass and I have forgotten to stretch….good advice to start slowly and build up.

    Gail

    Reply
  18. Dave says

    March 14, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    Through it wasn’t ribbon grass, I just put in a new bed yesterday and had to lift the sod. You’re right one step at a time is how you have to do it! I’ll avoid ribbon grass, thanks!

    Reply
  19. Whyite says

    March 15, 2008 at 1:00 am

    A lot of progress made there Carol. As far as tools and alot of things go you get what you pay for, so a good tool is far worth the price. 🙂

    Reply
  20. Meems says

    March 15, 2008 at 2:52 am

    Great job on all your tips.

    I’ve never heard of ribbon grass, likely a variety Florida doesn’t grow. However, I’ve been digging up perfectly good grass to expand beds. Here we take it out in sod squares and of course I have to move what I take up to another spot showing signs of weakness. Not fun. Definitely hard on the back.

    Hurray for you on a new place to plant more garden goodies AND so glad you are getting some gardening days in up your way!
    Meems @HoeandShovel

    Reply
  21. cake says

    March 22, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    i appreciate your advise about tools and not over-doing it. i failed to put on gloves when i first went out to dig, and i had a big blister on the inside of my thumb within minutes of working! i also felt like i did a bit too much all at once, and i am not in good shape at all. it is hard to stop though, when you’ve been waiting so long to get out there!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Updates from Carol Michel

* indicates required
Email Preferences

Categories

  • Blog (3,054)
  • Internal (2)

Blog Tags

annuals Blogging books bulbs dr. hortfreud embrace fairies fall family flowers fruits garden bloggers bloom day garden bloggers book club garden design gardeners gardening gardening geek gardens hoes holidays hortense hoelove houseplants humor indoor gardening insects lawn letters to gardening friends perennials rabbits reviews Secrets seeds shrubs spring tools trees vegetable garden vegetable gardening vegetables weather weeding weeds when a gardener wildflower wednesday winter

The Gardenangelists Podcast with Dee Nash

Gardenangelists Podcast

Footer

Gardenangelists Podcast with Dee Nash

Gardenangelists Podcast

Connect

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • maydreams icon

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Books
  • May Dreams Gardens
  • Podcast

Updates from Carol Michel

* indicates required
Email Preferences

Newsletter Archive

Copyright © 2023 · CarolJMichel.com · Sitemap · Privacy Policy

Book purchase links are affiliate links and Carol earns a small commission if you make a purchase.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT