Ornamental Grasses: Adding Color, Texture & Form to Your Garden

Looking for something that works well in all seasons, is easy to grow and doesn’t require a lot of special attention or fertilizers? If so, then ornamental grasses might be a good option for you. There are so many great varieties to choose from, each offering a unique texture, color and growth habit. Smaller, mound-forming varieties work well as ground covers or attractive edgings, medium-sized varieties for perennial borders and larger varieties usually command enough space that would host a shrub or small tree.

Sun & Soil Requirements
No matter how much space you have to work with, there is an ornamental grass that will fit perfectly into your landscaping plans. Most importantly, ornamental grasses are easy to grow. Most grasses perform best in full sun to part sun areas and they adapt to a wide range of soil types. While most are drought tolerant, there are a few varieties that prefer damp ground (which is great if you have a soggy area that needs low-maintenance landscaping). In general, these plants don’t need coddling, constant fertilizing or fussy grooming. Furthermore, grasses are virtually pest and disease-free and deer seem to leave them alone. Aside from all of these wonderful attributes, you will also enjoy all of the visiting butterflies and migrating birds that feed on the seed heads in the fall.

A Little About Planting
Ornamental grasses can be planted in late spring, along with perennials and annuals. As always, wait until the danger of frost has passed and the ground is warm and workable (This is also a good time to fertilize and mulch.)

Fall is also a great time to plant ornamental grasses, which inspires more root growth than top growth, giving them a head start the following spring. These grasses can be treated like other perennials and cut back in the fall (to a few inches tall, removing all growth, blades as well as flower stalks) to make way for a new show in the spring. Although it is okay to cut back in the fall, most gardeners prefer to leave their grasses untouched until the following spring, as they add much interest to the winter garden. In reality, grasses perform dual-duty in the winter: they look spectacular with a coating of snow, ice or frost, in addition they provide food and shelter for the birds, thus increasing their hardiness for winter survival.

Growth Habit
Ornamental grasses make a statement all their own and stand out in any garden. They offer dramatic form, texture and color in all seasons. Many varieties will produce a kaleidoscope of colors and textures during the spring and summer months, followed by feathery plumes (flower heads) that rise above their foliage, adding more contrast throughout the fall. Many gardeners enjoy clipping the plumes to use in fresh or dried floral arrangements (most plumes come in shades of white, tan, pale pink, wine-purple or bronze).

Fairview Garden Center has a good selection of ornamental grasses. Some of the more popular varieties are pampas grass, fountain grass, maiden grass, monkey grass, zebra grass and of course the ever-popular, muhly grass. If you haven’t already done so, discover the versatile beauty and carefree nature of these dramatic plants by incorporating them into your garden this fall for a full show next season... you won’t be disappointed!