Screening Grasses

Growing ornamental grasses

Grasses are the ultimate architectural plant, adding see-through effects, gentle rustling, autumn colour and winter shapes. They also tolerate a range of conditions, from gravel gardens to solid lumpy clay.

Where to use ornamental grasses

Ornamental Grasses form clumps of relatively long, finely textured leaves. Grasses are very hardy and wonderfully versatile creating an accent point near water features or around patios to edging around walkways or just as an interesting low maintenance ground cover. Grasses can be used in borders as individual eye-catchers, large or small, or repeated in drifts to create a natural look, with paths ambling through and between. Some can even be grown in containers, to help soften formal designs.

Conditions for Ornamental Grasses

Most grasses are easy to grow and once established require little maintenance. For most the main requirement is full sun, most tolerate a wide range of soils. Grasses are rarely affected by pests or diseases.

Feeding

Grasses are very undemanding but do benefit from 2 to 3 applications of liquid feed throughout the growing season, a well-fed grass will grow greener, bigger and faster. But even without additional feeding grasses will put on a first-rate show.

Cutting back

Ornamental grasses fall into two groups, evergreen and deciduous. Deciduous grasses need cutting back annually so that they will look their best. Generally deciduous grasses should be trimmed to ground level before growth starts in early spring. Evergreens pretty well just require a tidy-up in spring removing untidy growth.