• Ornamental grasses are low maintenance.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  One benefit of ornamental grasses is that they require relatively little maintenance for the impact they create in your yard. Unlike many other plants that have high demands regarding grooming and feeding, ornamental grasses create a flowing, natural landscape that can be planted and left alone to grow. To maintain high-quality plants, you can fertilize them in the spring and apply mulch in the fall once the plants begin to enter dormancy.
  
  

Spring Fertilizing

• In the spring, once the plants begin to show signs of new growth, you will want to apply a slow-release fertilizer. If you are hoping to maintain an organic garden, choose one of the many organic fertilizers that work well for ornamental grasses. The most commonly recommended organic materials to use as a fertilizer included manure and leaf mold.
  
  

Fall Mulch

• If you live in a cooler climate, your plants will be well served by applying mulch in the fall. Before laying the mulch, cut back the grass growth. Next, apply a layer of the mulch material over your plants to provide slow-release nutrients and protection from the cold through the winter months.
  
  

Overfertilizing

• Ornamental grasses can be easily damaged by overfertilizing. While it may be tempting to think that applying more fertilizer will result in a healthier garden, that is not the case with ornamental grasses. The leaves can become susceptible to plant diseases that will cause them to droop when the nutrient levels get too high in the plants.