![]() ![]() Soil preparation depends on the type of grass. If plants are pot-bound, loosen the roots around the bottom and sides of the root ball. Ornamental grasses are usually available grown in containers. Plant grasses as far apart as they will grow in height at maturity. Cool season grasses can be planted in fall. While many perennials prefer fall planting in South Carolina, the warm season ornamental grasses will do best if planted in spring. A few examples of shade tolerant grasses are northern sea oat grass, Japanese forest grass, and sedges. Some grass-like sedges and rushes will thrive in moist or even wet soil.Ī small of number of grasses and grass-like plants will grow in part to full shade. Ordinary garden soil is adequate for most grasses. Planting them in raised beds will help to ensure good drainage. Well-established sun loving grasses are drought tolerant. Most ornamental grasses must have well-drained soil and full sun. Grasses are a large group, with varying needs, but nearly all share some growing preferences. In mass, some grasses can stabilize hillside soils for erosion control. They may be substituted in place of smaller shrubs, in perennial borders, and used in container plantings. Grasses with a striking-growth habit, foliage color, or flowers can be used as accent plants. Landscape Useīecause grasses are such a varied group, they can be incorporated for many different landscape purposes. Their rapid growth and changing appearance throughout the year add seasonal interest. They sway easily in the wind, adding the appeal of movements and rustling sounds to the landscape. ![]() Grasses also give interest to the garden in ways that few other plants can. Many grasses have good fall color, changing to golden yellow, orange, red, or purple before fading to tan or straw hues in the winter. Flowers and seed heads last for weeks or months, and many varieties provide interest throughout the winter.įoliage provides additional interest with a range of fine to coarse textured leaf blades, softly arching or upright forms, and deep green, blue, red or purple, yellow, or variegated leaf colors. Flowers vary in size, color, and texture. The flower heads of many grasses are very showy. Grass forms vary from low mounds to fountains and tall verticals. Ornamental grasses vary in height from those that reach-up to 15 feet tall to lower growing grasses that are used as ground covers. They grow rapidly during spring and summer, bloom in late summer or fall, and are dormant through the winter. Most ornamental grasses for the South are warm season growers. They will go dormant or decline in appearance during the summer heat. Most ornamental grasses planted in the South are classified as cool or warm season plants.Ĭool season grasses begin new growth in fall or winter and bloom in spring or early summer. Clumping or bunch grasses grow in a clump that gradually increase in diameter. Care must be taken in planting spreading grasses as they may as they may overtake desirable plantings. Spreading grasses expand rapidly by aboveground or underground stems. Grasses have growth habits that are either clumping or spreading. Annual grasses live for only one growing season because of their natural growth habit or they are not hardy in our climate. ![]() ![]() Most ornamental grasses are perennials, living for two or more years. Ornamental grasses refers to both true grasses and plants that have a grass-like appearance, such as sedges, that are used for similar purposes in gardens. Smith, ©2017 HGIC, Clemson Extension Types of Grasses Ornamental grasses are valued additions in landscape designs.īarbara H. ![]()
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