Planting tall grasses
Planting Ornamental Grasses | Bioadvanced
Looking for plants that stage a strong, multi-season show with minimal input? Consider adding easy-growing ornamental grasses to your yard. Hearty perennials, many withstand bitter winter cold and sizzling summer temperatures. Learn more about summer-proof ornamental grasses.
Review these basics of growing ornamental grass to decide if these low-maintenance plants belong in your landscape.
What does an ornamental grass bring to the garden party?
These perennials are unequaled for introducing texture to garden plantings. Many also provide outstanding winter interest. Grasses offer two things to the garden that many plants cannot: movement and sound. A gentle breeze rustles stems against one another and creates a ripple of motion that steals the show. Grasses also offer an array of colors, including vibrant gold, fiery red, dusky black tones and variegated patterns.
Do grasses need full sun to grow?
Most grow best in direct sun and tend to become floppy in lower light. Full sun (6 to 8 hours) is ideal, but you can always try in 4-5 hours and see what happens. Some grasses thrive in low light, such as Japanese forest grass or inland sea oats.
What kind of soil do grasses require?
You can find a grass to suit any soil type. Many grasses prefer well-drained soil, but some thrive in moist soil or heavy clay. Some demand fertile soil; others grow gangbusters in poor, rocky soil. Do your homework, and choose the right grass for your conditions — or amend your soil to suit the grass you want.
When is the best time to plant?
In mild climates, you can plant grasses year-round, whenever they're available for sale. In zones where the ground freezes, spring and early fall offer ideal planting windows. Avoid planting within four weeks of the first fall frost.
When do I fertilize?
Feed established grasses in spring and late summer. Scratch a granular slow-release fertilizer into soil around plants.
Do grasses have pests?
Rarely. You may occasionally have an Aphid or Mite attack. Squirting the grass with a strong spray of water dislodges insects. Rabbits and deer tend to leave ornamental grasses alone.
How often do ornamental grasses need division?
Most grasses can grow for many years without division. That's part of their low-maintenance charm. Divide when the clump dies in the center. The best time to divide is in early spring, before new growth begins. Some grasses develop thick root masses that may require a chainsaw to separate.
Do I need to prune?
For most grasses, cut them back before new growth appears at the start of the growing season. In warmer zones, some grasses are evergreen and don't really require pruning, unless dead leaves collect around the base of the clump. Remove those.
Are there any tricks to make pruning easy?
For small clumps, use hand pruners or shears.
Electric hedge trimmers offer a quick pruning option, especially with large clumps. For easy clean-up, wrap a bungee cord around large clumps and cut beneath the cord. Wear gloves for protection, particularly when working with grasses that have razor-sharp edges.
Are ornamental grasses invasive?
Some species are in certain regions. Miscanthus has become a large problem in the Northeast. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum) has invaded parts of the West. You can limit the invasive potential of some grasses by removing seedheads before seeds mature. Cut just beneath the seedhead, and you'll still have tall stems to linger through winter. There may also be seedless varieties available.
To determine if a grass is invasive in your region, check with your local native plant society or state Department of Natural Resources, or consult the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
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How to grow ornamental grasses: Easy-to-grow grasses
(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)
If you're wondering how to grow ornamental grasses in your garden, they are an easy way to add excitement to any planting scheme.
They are the ideal solution to early-fall doldrums: as summer flowers fade, their subtly colored foliage and sprays of tiny flowers will take centre stage.
An environmentally friendly garden idea, they need no staking, dead-heading or spraying, so footfall levels throughout the borders are kept low and new wildlife habitats can develop safety, while the seeds feed the birds.
And whatever the conditions in your garden, you can find a species that thrives. Anemanthele lessoniana, for instance, will flourish in dry shade and never needs watering. Bothriochloa Bladji likes well-drained soil in full sun, while Deschampsia can cope with heavy clay.
Grasses are a lovely choice if you're looking for flower bed ideas with a difference, as they create a variety of wonderful effects. From the tall, arching Calamagrostis, which evokes the atmosphere of a cornfield, to the smart, ground-hugging Hakonechloa, which is ideal for shade, pots and formal schemes.
For transparency, choose Molinia or, for a small patch of ornamental lawn or even a roof, look at the unassuming, Sesleria ‘Greenlee’, which is a new hybrid of S. caerulea and S. autumnalis.
(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)
How to grow ornamental grasses
Spring is the season to sow grasses from seed. They can be sown directly in open ground where they are to flower. They will perform best in an open, sunny position.
In order to rejuvenate grasses it’s a good idea to divide them, but it’s important to do this at the right time of year.
If you’re buying plants directly from garden nurseries, try getting them around spring so they can be planted directly into the ground. Fall is also a good time to plant ornamental grasses. This will allow the seeds time to adapt to the conditions before the worst of the winter weather arrives.
Why choose ornamental grasses?
(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)
The grass isn't always greener, particularly when you look at the amazing ornamental varieties that are available.
They come in vibrant colors and sumptuous textures that delight throughout the year. Many develop into ground-hugging hummocks, making them great weed suppressants.
Consider adding them to a rock garden, or replacing a tired lawn in a small backyard, for example, with a no-mow carpet of shorter ornamental grass.
Evergreen varieties give year-round cover and little room for the unwanted plant invaders to squeeze through. Ornamental grasses not only add movement but also bring a pleasing musical note to the garden as they rustle and gently sway in the breeze.
Are ornamental grasses easy to grow?
Ornamental grasses are surprisingly easy to grow, no matter the condition of your garden.
The unfussy form of ornamental grasses has made them a stalwart of the contemporary garden designer’s plant palette. They provide a seemingly endless variety of color and texture. Plus they have see-through, wispy growth and swaying flowers that take on a magical quality when gilded with spider’s webs and frost.
(Image credit: Future)
In the depths of winter, ornamental grasses like Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, Molinia caerulea ‘Transparent’ and evergreen Stipa gigantea also become eye-catching ice sculptures when covered in a foggy mist, or ice and snow.
You’ll find perennials, such as verbascum or mulleins, poppies, day lilies and red hot pokers work best when planted in among a river of swaying grasses, just as you’d see in the American prairies. This ‘natural’ style is a brilliant solution for linking formal parts of the garden to the surrounding countryside.
Traditional gardeners like ornamental grasses too, mainly using them to stretch the interest in their cottage-style borders into fall and beyond.
For the best effect, and to update your flower beds, simply weave them alongside sedums, asters and heleniums, so that their spiky flowers contrast with the flat heads and daisy blooms of these late-flowering perennials.
Make sure you use the best-behaved clump-forming ornamental grasses, such as fountain grass or Pennisetum. Another good choice is Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’, producing blood-red spikes that fade to bright green at the base and become translucent by late summer.
Plant it alongside the white-edged Hosta ‘Francee’ for good effect. Always be wary of vigorous spreaders, such as ribbon grass, which can take over.
Do ornamental grasses like sun or shade?
Ornamental grasses are split into two main groups. Firstly, taller deciduous varieties, which thrive in the sun and have lovely seedbeds.
Secondly, shorter evergreens, including carex varieties, grow well in damp, shaded conditions, and Hakonechloa macra, cope in dry shade, making them a great choice if you're looking for garden shade ideas.
The other group includes tall grasses such as Molinia, Miscanthus, Stipa and Panicum, which flourish in sunny, open spaces, looking their best from late summer, when they erupt into a haze of burnished spikelets.
What are the different types of ornamental grasses?
(Image credit: Unsplash)
Coming in different shades or blue, gray, buff and gold, there’s an ornamental grass for every situation.
Taller varieties are ideal for fall borders, adding body, highlights and rhythm. Place them in the middle of a border if the grass is untidy, like the elegant Calamagrostis brachytricha. Shorter ones will spill casually over the edges of containers, making them a great choice if you're looking for raised garden bed ideas.
Most are tough, provided they don’t become waterlogged, coping well in a sunny spot, in light soil.
Medium-sized varieties like tufted hair grass (Deschampsia ‘Goldtau’) or pheasant’s grass (Anemanthele lessoniana) form fountain-like mounds of golden seedbeds.
Adding body to herbaceous borders, the grassy clumps also support summer’s slender-stemmed plants – verbascum, or astrantias, for example. However, by fall, the fully developed seedbeds add an ethereal haze between bright perennials such as asters, rudbeckias, and sedums, creating cohesion between contrasting elements.
How do you care for ornamental grass?
Ornamental grasses add a light, airy touch to garden borders and, in summer, provide a beautiful foil for more colorful and vivacious plants.
Many can be left alone when winter comes, as their elegant fronds and seedheads give interest when there is little else about, and they also look wonderful when touched by frost on clear, freezing mornings.
However, if they are starting to look a bit bedraggled and battered by winter weather, they will need cutting back in order to grow well and look their best this summer.
Remove the seeded stems with sharp, clean secateurs, taking care not to damage any new growth. Then cut the rest back to a few centimetres from the ground, leaving just a hairy tuft. Weed around the clump, and mulch well to feed the plant as it comes back into growth.
(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)
Some deciduous species, including Deschampsia and Calamagrostis, should be trimmed before new growth emerges, whereas later-shooting Penniselum can be cut back in late April.
Late pruning is also beneficial for Miscanthus, whereas the deciduous Stipa tenuissima can be treated as you would an evergreen grass, and be cut back now.
Evergreen grasses such as blue fescue (Festuca glauca) just need a trim, so snip off brown tips and remove dead leaves from the base.
Larger evergreens, including pampas grass, should be cut back hard in spring. It used to be a common practice to burn pampas grass, but this is no longer recommended as it can damage new, emerging growth.
What not to do with ornamental grasses
The key to success with ornamental grasses is not to move them too much.
This is a common mistake with ornamental grasses that can send them into shock, although some do transplant better than others. Celebrity gardener Monty Don advises not to divide or move any grasses in March. 'They must be growing strongly to have the best chance of surviving, so wait until late May or even early June.'
Some ornamental grasses, especially the larger Stipas, really hate being moved at all, so leave them.
However, as an exception to the rule, pheasant grass doesn't mind being moved, so you can divide it later in spring.
How to use ornamental grasses in your garden
Have you always thought grass was just for the lawn? Let us introduce you to some stunning ornamental grasses that’ll provide great impact in any garden.
1. Use ornamental grass in a small garden
(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )
You might be forgiven for thinking that ornamental grasses are only suitable for large gardens. Piet Oudolf’s much-praised schemes of naturalistic planting would surely not work in a smaller plot?
‘The principles used in this style of planting can be transferred to a tiny garden. The trick is to use just a few types of grasses and perennials,’ says Knoll Gardens grass expert Neil Lucas.
For very small garden ideas, grasses are successful in containers. They’re an instant way of adding height and are so much cheaper than buying large shrubs.
2.
Instil a sense of privacy in your garden with grass(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)
Being overlooked is the daily reality for most people living in built-up areas with houses on either side, or immediately backing onto an outside space.
If this is the case for you, then consider investing in containers of wavy, tall grasses, for garden privacy ideas that will allow you to create a more secluded feel.
Add a ‘boundary’ by arranging a row of tall containers and plant with densely tufted blue-grey Festuca glauca and Cortaderia selloana to add height, interest and drama.
Planters can be moved around to change the mood (especially if you choose ones on wheels) or put where you most need them to add to a sense of privacy.
3. Zone areas of a garden with ornamental grasses
(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )
As well as being perfect for garden privacy and small gardens, ornamental grass is also a wonderful choice for zoning your garden.
To differentiate between the contrasting areas or levels in your garden, create a layered effect using ornamental grasses. We recommend the Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima) for this particular task.
This ornamental grass is a great deciduous option for a sunny border, combining easily with many perennials and adding movement with its swaying flowerhead that appear from June right through to September.
They can grow up to 2ft (60cm), and spread 1ft (30cm) so are the perfect choice for creating privacy and seclusion for each zone.
4. Edge a path with ornamental grasses
(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )
Not only do they add charm and character to your backyard landscaping, ornamental grasses are extremely practical too, separating weeds from flower beds and mulch from lawns. They also provide a clean line for extra-efficient mowing and trimming.
While traditional means of creating a garden border, such as stones, bricks and sleepers, are still hugely popular, ornamental grasses are having something of a moment.
And, for those of us who no longer yearn for the 'tidy' look, we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome these hardy species back into our gardens. This time, we predict, they are here to stay.
Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.
What useful herbs to plant in the country?
Healthy seasonings are the easiest way to add flavor to a dish. They are easy to grow even for novice gardeners, and experienced summer residents know that if you plant herbs among vegetables, their smell will scare away pests.
CONTENTS
Things to remember when growing herbs
Basil
chives nine0004
Mint
cilantro
Dill
Fennel
Tarragon
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Things to remember when growing herbs
Most herbs grow well in neutral or alkaline soils. They do not need a lot of fertilizers and dressings. On the contrary, excessive nutrition reduces the concentration of aromas. Herbs need a lot of sunlight, so they are planted in the most lit, dry areas. Here they grow well in high beds or in pots. nine0004
Basil
A popular seasoning for summer salads and classic Mediterranean dishes. It is grown from seeds or seedlings. Purple varieties are more fragrant than green ones. Before flowering, the bushes begin to smell stronger. The basilica needs as much heat and light as possible, it can die from the cold.
❦ How to grow :
In addition to seeds, it is propagated by cuttings.
It grows well in a greenhouse, where it can be planted from mid-April. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Watering frequency - once every 3 - 5 days. To increase bushiness, pinch the basil as soon as it reaches a height of 10 cm. nine0004
✎ Please note! Before transplanting seedlings into a greenhouse, the culture is hardened, taking it out into the fresh air during the warm time of the day.
Chives
All parts of the plant are used for food: flowers are used as a side dish, bulbs and leaves add aroma and piquant taste to salads, soups and omelets. Chives are a good honey plant. It attracts bees and bumblebees, promotes pollination of horticultural crops.
❦ How to grow :
Hardy perennial that does not require special care. It needs 4-5 hours of sunlight per day and frequent watering to grow. If the soil dries out too much, the taste of the leaves is greatly reduced. In the first two years, a bed with chives needs to be loosened and weeded.
In the future, the plant grows and independently suppresses weeds.
Mint
Fragrant spice, which is loved by cooks, cosmetologists and supporters of alternative medicine. nine0004
❦ How to grow :
A perennial that is very easy to grow. All mint needs is moist, acidified peat-based soil and plenty of sun. The soil on which legumes or carrots and beets used to grow is perfect for her. To increase the yield, regrown stems are cut every three weeks.
✎ Please note! Mint does not like being near flowers.
Cilantro
Many people know this culture as coriander. Despite the different names, this is one seasoning. Cilantro is called spicy greens, and coriander is called seeds. The crop is harvested when the seasoning grows to 20cm.
Since the whole plant is edible, it is very popular in cooking and is often used in Asian cuisine, including curries, Chinese and Thai dishes.
❦ How to grow :
This herb appreciates fertile soil and a sunny location, however partial shade is preferred as it helps prevent premature seed set. The cilantro beds are watered once a week. The leaves are cut off as the green mass grows, the seeds are harvested when they turn brown-brown.
Dill
During one season, dill yields several times. This hardy annual grows easily from seed and retains its fragrance even when dried. It is widely used in cooking and cosmetics. nine0004
❦ How to grow :
It grows well in a polycarbonate greenhouse - here it has enough heat and light. Likes frequent watering. The soil under the dill should be neutral; greens do not sprout well on acidic soil.
✎ Please note! Dill grows well next to any vegetable, but when planted in a garden bed, it should not be planted too close to the main crop, otherwise it will take away all the moisture and nutrients.
nine0052
Fennel
It is a perennial relative of celery. The aroma and anise flavor make this herb a great ingredient for both sweet and savory dishes. Young tender leaves are used for garnishes, salads and soups. Fennel is not only a spicy seasoning, but also a medicinal plant that improves the functioning of the digestive system.
❦ How to grow:
Fennel grows well in open sunny places and requires regular and plentiful watering. In the lowlands, the culture will not like it - it prefers light loose fertile soil. The crop is harvested as soon as the tuber grows to 10 cm in diameter. Good precursors for fennel are cucumber, potatoes, and cabbage. nine0004
Tarragon
This spicy-smelling perennial is also known as tarragon. The seasoning has a sweet anise smell and a licorice taste that are perfect for chicken. Tarragon is used to flavor vinegar and oil, and to make various sauces.
❦ How to grow :
Planted in a fertile bed, where the seasoning will receive a lot of heat and sunlight.
In the shade, the plant can lose its taste and aroma, and even become sick with powdery mildew. Tarragon loves soil with a high content of humus and rare plentiful watering. nine0004
Parsley
Along with dill, the most popular plant in summer cottages! This hardy biennial herb contains many beneficial vitamins. It is used in Middle Eastern salads, combined with basil for pesto, stews and fish cakes.
❦ How to grow
It grows well in beds after tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes or cucurbits. The landing site is changed every three to four years. Parsley prefers loose, fertile, light and non-acidic soil. When the first sprouts appear, the top layer must be loosened. Partial shade is allowed, but a sunny place is preferable. nine0004
Rosemary
It is believed that this seasoning is good for the brain and is associated in folk medicine with a good memory. In cooking, weed is best suited for meat dishes. Blooming with white, pink, purple and blue flowers, rosemary is often used as an ornamental plant.
❦ How to grow
Grows best in well-drained soil. It is believed that the more sun the rosemary gets, the more fragrant its leaves will be. Drought and pest resistant. Poorly tolerates waterlogging and cold. nine0004
Sage
Sage is rich in many health-promoting minerals and is high in vitamin C and. Bright bushes are useful not only in the kitchen, but also for decorating flower beds and beds. The aroma of sage intensifies as its leaves grow.
❦ How to grow
Low growing evergreen shrub. Grows best in well-drained sunny sites. The plant is honey-bearing and attracts bees. nine0004
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10 scented herbs to brighten up your garden - Roomble.com
Garden and plot
2021-03-03T07:22:00+00:00 2021-03-03T07:28:09+00:00 What to plant in the country: 10 fragrant herbs that will decorate your garden 2021-03-03T07:22:00+00:00 Still thinking about what to plant in your backyard? Do you want to decorate your garden in an original way? In this article, we will tell you how to do it.
What to plant in the country: 10 fragrant herbs that will decorate your garden nine0004
Still wondering what to plant in your backyard? Do you want to decorate your garden in an original way? In this article, we will tell you how to do it.
Fragrant herbs are one of the most budgetary and pleasing to the eye options for decorating country beds. Moreover, they give a harvest quickly, and their flowers create a feeling of rustic comfort. Even a small piece of land, decorated with herbs, can transform your dacha and remind you of your beloved grandmother's barefoot childhood. We have selected ten types of plants that get along well in our climate and are good for health. nine0004
Peppermint, Japanese, swamp, water or field - whatever variety of mint you choose (and there are about 20 of them), it will always fill your garden with an unforgettable soft and at the same time rich aroma. And what are her pale lilac, turquoise and blue inflorescences worth!
Mint is famous for its healing properties.
Tea from it invigorates, refreshes and strengthens the immune system. Insomnia, migraine, colds, inflammation of various kinds - this is not a complete list of ailments that this plant can suppress. So feel free to plant it in your flower beds! nine0004
There are over 800 varieties of onions. He is unpretentious in care. Its inflorescences have a rich palette of colors. They can be white, pink, purple, lilac, turquoise, soft pink and deep blue.
Since all parts of the onion have a specific and pronounced smell, try not to plant it near the gazebo or your resting place. Plant it in the middle of your garden composition and don't forget to make it easy to approach, because onions are one of the main components of summer salads! nine0004
Since we're talking about summer dishes, we can't help but stop at lettuce leaves. They are easy to plant, and some varieties are able to produce young leaves as early as the second or third day after planting.
These plants love moisture, so try to water them every day.
It is better to arrange the lettuce at the edges of the composition, since its leaves are usually small and will not cover other plants.
This beauty is distinguished by its rich purple color and spicy aroma. It will become a real decoration of your garden! But remember that basil is very fond of light and warmth, so try not to plant plants with large leaves or tall flowers next to it. nine0004
Due to the high content of useful essential oils, basil is valued in folk medicine. It is used for asthma, diseases of the respiratory tract and lungs, as well as for nervous disorders. He must be present at the cottage!
St. John's wort is a bright, attractive, healthy herb that can become one of the centerpieces of your landscape composition. This perennial plant has a pleasant and slightly pungent odor. It reaches 30 cm in height, and its flowers can delight with their beauty throughout the summer. nine0004
Planting St. John's wort on your plot, remember that it can cause serious poisoning of sheep, goats, cows (especially young ones). So plant this herb where they won't find it.
St. John's wort has low toxicity for humans. It is good for oral care as an anti-inflammatory, astringent and tonic, helps with coughs. It is used to prepare decoctions, tinctures and oils.
This green delicacy is added to almost all summer dishes. Dill fills them with a piquant aroma and taste, and gives a person an incredible vitamin charge. In the villages, it grows in every garden. nine0004
This plant can grow from 40 cm to 1.5 m in height, so it can be used as a hedge or planted along a fence.
Dill inflorescences are popularly called umbrellas because of their rounded shape, which resembles an umbrella. And with their cheerful yellow rays, they look like the rays of the sun and will always delight you.
This curly-haired beauty is also often a part of summer culinary masterpieces. She holds the record for the content of ascorbic acid, as well as an excellent decorative element for the garden! nine0004
Another indisputable plus of parsley is its cold resistance. It is planted at -7 degrees, and it can grow calmly at 2-3 degrees of heat. At the same time, parsley loves moisture very much. Keep this in mind and plant it next to those plants that also need frequent watering, such as next to lettuce.
This is the Mediterranean's favorite spice. It is added to meat dishes, as it gives them an unforgettable fragrant aroma and softens the meat itself.
In the Mediterranean, rosemary remains green both in winter and summer, but in our area it has to be brought indoors for the winter. It is not afraid of salty soil, in Greece it grows right on the sea coast, and it is constantly irrigated by spray from the sea. Its blue flowers resemble frozen sea drops. nine0004
Such a bush can be allocated a special place, brought to a dominant position and enjoy its beauty and aroma.
This herb can replace cucumbers in salads and protect potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle. It contains many minerals, organic acids and even essential oil.
And what wonderful honey is obtained from borage pollen! You definitely will not lose if you choose it as a decoration for your personal plot.
Cucumber grass can reach a meter in height. Its flowers are harvested and dried, and then added to confectionery (they are also used in the liquor industry). nine0004
Cucumber grass is so versatile that all its parts are eaten: leaves - for salads, soups, borscht and meat; roots - for cottage cheese, sour cream, tinctures, wines and punch; flowers - for making sweets.
Your garden can become a good source of vitamins if you properly organize it and plant the “right” herbs in it. Take, for example, mustard. Contemplating its yellow flowers, you can cheer yourself up. And its seeds make excellent homemade mustard. This plant is heat tolerant. Its main habitat is Asia. nine0004
- A flower bed with herbs is a source of vitamins and good mood. Moreover, plants can be planted in pots, in containers, and even in cut plastic bottles - it all depends on your capabilities and imagination.
