Ornamental Grasses
Bring Movement to Your Garden with Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are more than just green fillers; They add form, color, texture and motion to your garden year-round. From early summer through late winter, these versatile plants provide interest in every season.
Why Ornamental Grasses Stand Out
Form: Grasses come in many shapes including low mounds, dense spreads, tall screens and vase-like forms. Their unique structure can add artistic flair or vertical excitement where other plants may not.
Color: Foliage ranges from bright green to variegated shades with ivory, yellow, blue or red accents. In fall, many grasses turn warm shades of red, beige or brown, lasting through winter. Flowers, also called inflorescences, add pops of maroon, red, pink, silver, white, yellow or beige.
Texture: Some grasses are fine and soft, others coarse or spiky, creating a mix of textures in your garden.
Motion: Grasses move gracefully in the wind, creating waves, shimmer and rustling sounds. Their movement changes with the seasons, offering a dynamic element that’s both visual and auditory.
Benefits of Ornamental Grasses
- Hardy & low-maintenance: Grasses are tough, durable and resistant to pests and diseases.
- Wildlife-friendly: Birds use leaves for nesting and feed on seeds.
- Problem solvers: They tolerate a wide range of soils, including poor or dry soils, making them perfect for many garden challenges.
How to Use Ornamental Grasses
- Border or edging plants
- Background plantings
- Specimen plants
- Living screens
- Groundcovers
- Mass plantings
- Containers and tubs
Choosing the Right Grass
Site Selection: Most grasses prefer full sun. In shade, taller grasses may flop. Grasses are adaptable to soil types but dislike constantly wet soil. Remember: right plant, right place.
Plant Selection: Consider height and climate zone:
- Tall (6–15’): Use at the back of borders for vertical impact. Many stay attractive into winter.
- Medium (2–6’): Great for mass plantings, low-maintenance gardens, or mixed with spring bulbs.
- Low (<2’): Ideal for edging or groundcover; works well with spreading evergreens.
Choose grasses suited to your USDA zone. Even marginally hardy grasses can thrive with winter protection.
Planting & Care Tips
Site Preparation: Double-dig and mix in organic material to encourage deep roots, especially for drought-tolerant varieties.
Planting: Space grasses according to their mature size. Dig a hole for the root ball, break it up if root-bound, plant slightly below soil surface and water thoroughly.
Fertilizing & Watering: Fertilize like a lawn. For the first year, water regularly to establish roots. Mature clumps only need occasional watering based on site conditions.
Weed & Pest Control: Grasses are mostly pest-free, and their dense clumps naturally limit weeds. Hand-remove any that appear and mulch to prevent further growth.
Winter Care: Mulch marginally hardy grasses or those prone to winter damage.
Division & Renovation: Divide grasses in spring as they break dormancy. Remove dead centers in older clumps to encourage fresh growth. Replant divisions to rejuvenate your garden.
Ornamental grasses are a simple way to add color, movement and year-round interest to any garden. With minimal care, they provide beauty and texture from summer to winter while supporting wildlife and enhancing your landscape design.