Ornamental grasses and sedges can accentuate the beauty of any landscape.  They are very diverse and can be used in many ways. You can plant them in flower beds or in vacant patches at the back to enhance the look of your garden. They are true grasses that are easy to grow and their texture complements the other plants and perennials in your garden.

Some of the important things to consider if you are planning to grow ornamental grasses in your garden are—

Choosing the right kind—Ornamental grasses are majorly classified into 2 types- Cool season grasses and Warm season grasses. As the name suggests, cool season ornamental grasses thrive in spring season when the temperature is relatively low and there is plenty of moisture. Feather Reed grass and Blue fescue are cool season grasses.  Warm season grasses have a slow growth and they grow well in warmer climates. Fountain grass, Japanese silver grass, Hardy pampas grass and Maiden grass are best for warmer climates.

Take landscape into consideration—While choosing the right kind of grass, you will have take the landscape into consideration. Try imagining the design and prepare a sketch so that you can plan accordingly. You can grow long and vertical grasses at the back of your perennials to get a contrasting effect. If you are planning to grow them in a corner then choose clump forming variety which is easy to maintain. You can choose spreaders to plant them as groundcovers however; they are not as well- behaved as clump forming ones and they tend to spread vigorously.

Preparing the site and planting—Choose a location that receives good amount of sunlight and has rich soil. You can grow the ornamental grasses from both seeds and divisions. Make sure that there is enough space between plants so that they can sway easily upon maturity adding movement to the garden. Water the plants well during growth season so that they grow rapidly and become strong.

Care and Maintenance—Ornamental grasses are low maintenance plants and they do not require much attention once they have matured. They are generally drought tolerant and disease resistant so they would not bother you much. Proper care and nourishment is required mostly during the growth period. You can slightly prune and trim the established grasses once a year to maintain a clean shape.

You can grow ornamental grasses as border plants, fillers, ground covers and even specimens. Their adaptability to most climates and soils makes them an ideal choice for home gardens. You can find endless varieties of native ornamental grasses and sedges in a nursery. So, the next time you plan to grow plants in your garden to add more color and texture do think about ornamental grasses…