Just like in making other garden choices, the old adage “the right plant in the right spot” applies to ornamental grasses too. While many thrive in full sun and dry soil, some prefer a little shade and consistent moisture. Some are towering, structural specimens perfect as a focal point, others are diminutive varieties, better suited to edging a border. Some are cool season, some warm.
A cool season grass will begin to show growth early in the spring, when both air and soil temperatures are still a bit chilly. In some situations, a cool season grass may not even go completely dormant, staying semi-evergreen throughout the winter months. Cool season grasses grow quickly throughout the spring and begin flowering as early as June. Most cool season grasses tend to be shorter at maturity than most warm season grasses, so they are excellent choices for companion plantings. Interspersing them with spring bulbs, for example, gives cover to the dying foliage when the bulbs are done blooming.
Warm season grasses, on the other hand, don’t show signs of growth until the air and soil temperatures warm up. They tend to remain dormant – almost dead looking – until late spring. It isn’t until temperatures begin to climb, mid to late summer, that they begin to put on a show with their flowerheads. Warm season grasses are often tall and are great for backdrops, focal points and even privacy screens. Positioned so they are backlit by the setting sun, they can give a rich, golden glow to the garden.
Growth habits are another consideration. Most grasses form individual clumps with deep roots. They tend to be non-invasive and perfect for either specimen plants or in groups. A few however, are spreading, or running, in nature spreading through their aboveground structures called stolons or below ground structures called rhizomes. They can quickly and easily become invasive. Untended, they can choke out nearby desirable plants, but are also excellent as ground covers and erosion control.
Knowing the typical characteristics of the ornamental grasses you are considering before you plant can help you choose just the right one for your space. To make your research just a little easier, the team at Embassy Landscape Group has pulled together a list of their favorites with a short description of what they like best about each species of grass. Just click here to access the printable list and find your perfect plant.
