SolveYourProblem
Article Series: Gardening
Everyday
Gardening Tips & Advice
What
Are The Best Ornamental Grasses For Me?
Before choosing ornamental grasses, it is
important to understand the different species that are available
and the best climate they in which they will flourish. There
are cool season grasses and warm season grasses. Ornamental
grasses also have growth habits. Understanding the growth pattern
of different species of grasses will help you determine the
best grasses for your landscaping project.
Grasses that prefer the cool season will begin to grow early
in the spring and remain semi-green during the winter months.
These types of grasses need sufficient hydration especially
during times of drought and may not be the most appropriate
choice for desert climates. If cool season grasses do not receive
sufficient water, they will go dormant and their foliage will
turn brown. There are several popular cool season grasses here
are a few:
- Fescues
- Blue Oat Grass
- Tufted hair Grass
- Autumn Moor Grass
As their name implies, the warm season grasses flourish during
warmer climates. They will retain their beauty during high
temperatures with little to no moisture. These grasses will
begin to show growth once the ground temperature becomes stable
and warm. Warm season grasses do not require the type of division
that cool season grasses do. Several popular warm season grasses
include:
- Northern Sea Oats
- Japanese Silver Grass
- Hardy Pampas Grass
- Perennial Fountain Grass
- Switch Grass
- Prairie Cord Grass
Whether you choose cool or warm season grasses, remember to
look for their growth habits. Certain species of grasses are
great clumped together forming a running grass. This type of
grass grows excellent in neat mounds. They accent other perennials
and are not invasive. Understanding how the different species
of grasses grow is very important in choosing the best ornamental
grasses to accent your landscaping project. You may prefer
the look of one grass and plant it only to find out later that
it has overtaken your landscaping requiring a great deal of
work to cut back on your part.
Once you have selected your grasses make sure that the soil
is prepared correctly before planting. Fall
is the best time to prepare for planting. Till the soil deeply and make sure
you have a good drainage system. You will need a minimal amount
of fertilizer for ornamental grasses. If you are unable to
till the soil in the fall, you can also do so in the spring
as ornamental grasses can be planted in both the spring and
fall seasons. When you plant the grasses in the spring this
gives them extra time to develop a good root system before
winter descends. If you are going to plant in the fall, take
some extra precautions to assure the success of your ornamental
grasses. Try to complete the planting in the months of August
and September. As the first winter approaches, you should provide
a light cover of straw or hay that will yield better results.
Once you have experienced several hard frosts, apply the mulch.
Be careful not to plant the grasses too deep. If you do, there
is a chance that they develop root diseases or even rot in
the ground.
Caring
for your grasses is relatively simple. Watch the color
of the leaves and their vigor to determine when they need fertilizer.
It is best to apply the fertilizer in the spring and water
it thoroughly. The first season you have the grasses it is
important to water them well so that they can develop a good
root system. Once the grasses are established, they do not
require regular watering. During periods of drought, you will
need to provide supplemental watering. One of the advantages
to ornamental grasses is that they do not need to be cut back
during winter months. As the foliage browns it helps to insulate
the crown of the plant. You may consider cutting the grasses
back approximately six inches as spring approaches and before
growth resuming. If you remove the foliage, expect spring growth
to begin early. Leaving the foliage on the plant will delay
the growth by up to three weeks. Other types of ornamental
grasses that are available for landscaping projects include:
feather reed grass, plume grass, switch grass, ribbon grass,
prairie dropseed, annual quaking grass, rabbit’s tail grass
among many others. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
> Home
> Gardening
Articles: Main Page
|
