What is this called & when do I cut it back I live in north alabama?

It's an ornamental grass. I see them everywhere here on Long Island, and people often cut them back to neaten them up at the beginning of winter, though some people leave them over winter (they look pretty with snow on them) and then cut them down in late winter-early spring.

I live in north Georgia in the Atlanta area and these ornamental grasses have a long growing season in the deep south..I had one at the front of my property I thought that would remain somewhat small but it grew rapidly and was quickly out of control..I would cut it down to the ground almost every spring and it would come back just beautiful until it outgrew its boundaries and I sadly had to spray it with Roundup to kill it...but it came back in a smaller version and now it is just fine....you cannot kill these things! So early May would be the perfect time to trim this plant...

It is a ornamental grass called Miscantus. You can wait until next spring to cut it down half way,or in the fall if you don not want the winter interest it offers

it is best to "mow" it. Cut it back harshly for a better show come spring!

My neighbor has one of these and he calls it Pompas Grass. It is very large and pretty. He sets his on fire in the spring and it comes back bigger than ever. Not sure if burning the old one has any positive effect on the new one?

I believe it is Miscantus as Ms Pizaro identified. I have several clumps which I allow to grow spring and summer. I wait until they have taken on the dead appearance after hard frost and then burn them. They will come back nice and clean in the spring, Please observe fire regulations and safety in this process as you may have to notify or obtain a permit from local officials to do such after removing all combustible material from the proximity. Have your water hose charged and at hand during the process and don't do so on a day with any wind. Best of luck.

Based on the plume, it's called maiden grass. Miscanthus (or Zebra grass is variegated) and Pampas grass has a white or pink plume and it is much taller (another name for pampas grass is razor grass and it will cut you to pieces!)

Looks like decorative grass. Like everyone has said you can leave it when it browns for winter interest. Or trim it back, almost to the ground. Try to trim before the new spring growth starts to come up. It can be divided, it's not easy but split the mass down the center and replant in two locations. I had one that the center area had started to die out, I believe it was due to moisture. I hacked it apart. I didn't think it would survive but both pieces came back and in two years they were two nice group.

You can also divide it and have two or more plants. In the spring after you cut it back would probably work best.

it is a perennial grass. When it dries out in the fall - cut to about 1-2" above the ground. Next spring it will grow again like a new bush. Some people wait until spring to cut back but it is usually sprouting by then so it is hard to cut the dead and the new even so it looks good when it sprouts.

Papas grass. You really don't have to cut it back until it dies off In winter. It is pretty indestructable.

Jan, too bad you chose to kill it, all you had to do was to dig it out in small clumps & transplant them someplace else.