Tom and Kathy Carrigan, Owners

Tom and Kathy Carrigan, Owners
a grass roots company

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I want to make a hedge of Miscanthus Giganteus. How close do I space the plants?

A: Spacing plants 1 1/2' apart should result in a fairly full hedge in 1-2 years. Planting 3' apart should take 3-4 years to become fairly full. You may also choose to plant several rows of depth to your hedge for fullness. You could stagger the plants in the rows so that plants are not directly behind each other. This type of planting will result in a deeper, thicker hedge and will have the appearance of fullness quicker. How close you plant depends on your budget. Figure out the length you wish to plant, then factor in how quickly the hedge will grow full and how much you are willing to invest.

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Q: How quickly does Miscanthus Giganteus reach 12-14 feet?

A: It can take up to 3 years after planting field divisions for the plant to reach full height. When grass is divided it takes some of the vigor from the plant. Much like any perennial it takes time to re-establish. You can expect 6-8' of growth the first year (when planting in spring). Moisture and warmth are the two factors that greatly effect the height of the plant. In favorable conditions you may have larger plants the first year, in unfavorable conditions your plants could be shorter. By the third year after planting you should have full height.

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Q: How and where do I plant Miscanthus Giganteus?

A: Miscanthus Giganteus can be planted in most soils and sites, with the exception of wet, swampy areas. While this grass likes lots of moisture, it must also have some drainage or the woody roots can rot. It should also have at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. To plant a 1/2 gallon field division, dig a hole about 1' across and about 4-6" deep, chopping up the soil ball you remove. Put some of the loosened soil back in the hole leaving a depth of 5-6” open. Place your root, facing any which way, in the hole. It should have about 2" of soil covering the top of the root.d cover with soil. Tamp the soil down lightly. Mulch if possible to keep moisture in. Water the your new planting and then water again every few days if no rain is received. Keep this up for several months after planting for best results.

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Q: There are several suppliers of Miscanthus Giganteus, why should I buy from Lacy Creek Growers?

A: There are 3 main types of starter plants of Miscanthus Giganteus. We sell what we believe to be the best form (See below). We harvest our roots and hand inspect and pack them. We do our best to give you the service and knowledge you need to succeed.

  • 1 Rhizomes: These are thick, fleshy, woody looking roots, about as thick as a finger and ranging from a few inches to a foot or more. Rhizomes are similar to bulbs in that they store nutrient needed for growth and can be stored for a time period at correct conditions and will still remain alive. While we will sell single rhizomes, we recommend them only for instances where planting can be monitored easily. At best these starts can be potted up and kept well watered for planting out in a few months time.If you are interested in single rhizomes contact us.

  • 2 Field Divisions: These are clumps of rhizomes which may contain some smaller feeder root as well. Each plant will be different in size, but for reference it will be about the size of the palm of your hand. It has been shown that this size of plant has a much greater success rate. Dividing the plant down to a single rhizome makes the plant more vulnerable to needing the right conditions for success.

    We sell 1/2 gallon field divisions because it is considered a good size for planting in fields where supplemental watering may not be available. It also works well in the landscape where a clump of grass is desired in short time. You may wish to plant several together if desiring a larger clump. For the very best results, supplemental watering should be available wherever you plant, but if it's not the survival rate of this size plant is still good.

  • 3 Plugs: These are small potted plants. We have experimented with these and do not choose them over field divisions. Small pots require very small pieces of rhizome to start with. Much of what grows in the pots is small feeder root, there is not enough room for big rhizome to establish. There is also little soil to hold the big moisture amount the plant needs. Most plugs are also grown in greenhouses and are not acclimated to outdoor conditions. It can take longer for plugs to establish as they have lots of adjustments to make when planted. It also approximately doubles the shipping costs of this plant.

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Q: Do you give discounts on large orders?

A: We do give discounts on larger orders. Prices start at $2.79 for 5 miscanthus plants.

  • $2.69 for 10 plants
  • $2.45 for 100-499 plants
  • $1.95 for 500-999 plants
  • $1.55 for 100-2499 plants
  • $1.35 for 2500-5000 plants

If more than 5000 plants are desired please call for availability and further discount.

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Q: How much is shipping?

A: We charge a flat rate of $8.00 for your first order of 5 bare root miscanthus plants or 1 peony plant (minimum order). Each peony, or order of 5 miscanthus plants thereafter, is $2.00 extra. For orders of 10 bare root miscanthus plants the charge is $10.00. For each order of 10 miscanthus thereafter, a charge of $4.00 is applied. Charges for 100 bare root miscanthus giganteus is $40.00.

After the 100 plant level, we charge actual shipping. We will not know the true cost until we pack your order and weigh it. Plants differ in size and weight and shipping to different locations is variable. However we can estimate that it will cost roughly .25-.30 cents ea to ship for larger orders. We will charge you an estimated shipping cost when payment is made. If the estimated cost is greater than actual cost, a prompt refund will be made. If the estimated cost is less than actual cost you will be billed for the amount due.

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Q: When do you ship Miscanthus Giganteus and why only bare root?

A: We ship in the spring and fall only. Our harvest starts around the middle of March in spring and we can ship to about the first of June. Fall harvest starts around the end of Sept. and we can ship until about the first week in November. All time frames depend on weather conditions. We will contact you before shipping so you are expecting your shipment. If you want a particular shipping date we will do our best to get it to you at that time, but cannot guarantee it.

Bare root plants can only be sent while the plant is dormant, or not growing. If planting in the spring it is best to plant in early to mid season for your area, which differ from state to state. Roots will grow even while the temperatures are cool, so long as the ground is not frozen. The plant will then have a greater feeder root system which takes up the nutrient and water needed and it will be much more acclimated and ready to withstand the rigors of heat and drought which can occur in summer.

Fall planting of miscanthus will not be until mid to late October. Divisions cannot be taken until the plant has gone dormant in mid to late October. As the plant goes dormant it stores the nutrient it has manufactured during the growing season, which is necessary for the plant to have vigor the next year. Plants can be shipped through mid to late November most years. Fall planting allows for some root growth while soil temperatures are above freezing, and plants should be well acclimated and ready to push forth growth the following summer. (You will not see top growth of the plant when planting in fall, until late in the following spring.)

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Q: Once I receive my order how do I care for it?

A: Bare root Miscanthus Giganteus is packed in moistened peat moss and held in plastic bags. This grass is similar to other root grown plants, like bulbs, and peonies. It will survive fine in the environment it is shipped in. Once you receive it you should check the peat moss for moisture. It should be moist but no sopping wet. If you think it needs water, mist it with a hose, or sprinkle lightly with a can. Do no let too much water sit in the bag, as the roots can rot.

It is best to plant your grass as soon as possible. However you can hold your grass roots for a period of time before planting with little detriment to the plant. Simply keep an eye on the moisture every few days. You may poke a few holes in the bags for air movement so the roots do not become moldy. Store the roots in a cool place out of the sun. If you wish to keep them dormant for a period of time, they can be refrigerated. Keep plants from freezing temperatures until planted.

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Q: Can I pick up my order?

A: You may pick your order up at the nursery. Bare root divisions are only available for a window of time in spring and fall, depending on the weather. We also have potted plants of Miscanthus Giganteus available for pick up. These plants come in 1 1/2 gallon pots @ $8.95, and 7 gallon pots @ $42.95. If picking up you may choose to purchase the larger pots and divide into smaller portions for planting. It is very cost effective and these potted plants will be packed with rhizomes and feeder roots. They will establish quickly and can be planted for a longer time window (early, mid and late season of both spring and fall).

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Q: What is your guarantee?

A: We commit to sending only quality plants. If you are not happy with the quality of your plants you may return them within 2 weeks of shipment. Shipping costs to and from the buyer are not reimbersed. The original cost of the plant will be reimbursed. Any guarantee after receiving the plants is limited. We simply cannot offer a blanket replacement plan when we do not know how the buyer will care for the plants, nor g. These are living things and must have the care suggested to survive. If you have questions or issues, please do contact us with them. At times we will replace plants, but only if we feel it may have been an issue on our end. Each case will be handled as the need occurs. In our view we are only successful if we have helped you be successful. It is not a matter of just making money, our goal is to help others succeed and we will do all we can to assure that.

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Q: Do you ship other plants you have available at the nursery?

A: If we are able to ship the plants we have we are happy to do so. Many of our our plants are too big and shipping costs become to high to ship. It also takes much time to keep an inventory of what is available to ship. It is much easier for us if you will contact us for availability of anything you are interested in. We will also do our best to search for any plants you may be looking for and will special order things we can get in for you. Let us know if we can help.

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Top Questions

Q: I want to make a hedge of Miscanthus Giganteus. How close do I space the plants?

Q: How quickly does Miscanthus Giganteus reach 12–14 feet?

Q: How and where do I plant Miscanthus Giganteus?

Q: There are several suppliers of Miscanthus Giganteus, why should I buy from Lacy Creek Growers?

Q: Do you give discounts on large orders?

Q: How much is shipping?

Q: When do you ship Miscanthus Giganteus and why only bare root?

Q: Once I receive my order how do I care for it?

Q: Can I pick up my order?

Q: What is your guarantee?

Q: Do you ship other plants you have available at the nursery?

Shop Online

At this time online ordering is available for Miscanthus Giganteus, Intersectional Peonies and Herbaceous Peonies. For information on any other plants please contact us at kathy@lacycreekgrowers.com, or by phone (517) 726-0026.

Shop at the Nursery

Browse through what is available at our nursery for pickup only. When purschasing items from our nursery in person we only except cash or checks.

Mail Orders

Fill out our mail order form and include a check or money order. Download Printable Order Form >>

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