Each species has their own distinctive form ranging from compact mounds, dense spreading carpets, or tall curtains. The colors of their foliage can include numerous shades of blue, red, and green; there are also variegated versions of white, red, or yellow foliage with yellow or ivory stripes. During fall, spring, and summer the colors will change to shades of red, beige, or brown.
The spikes of flowers can be in different hues of red, pink, maroon, white, silver, yellow, or beige. The looks of these grasses is not the only aspect of their beauty, they also add the elements of sound and motion to your landscape. The soft blowing motion and the gentle sounds that are created make a tranquil atmosphere encompassing your garden. This gentle stirring of the grass changes with the seasons; dry grasses will sound completely different than living grasses along with their appearance. Once your ornamental grasses become established they will require little maintenance. They will add excellence to your landscape in the summer months, and be quite extraordinary in your
winter landscape.
Many of these grasses grow in areas that other plants have difficulty surviving. They will grow in just about any type of garden soil, they seldom need watering once they are established, and very seldom are they bothered by diseases or pests. Most ornamental grasses do prefer the full sun but there are a few that are able to tolerate light shade. They prefer the soil to be well-drained enriched with compost or some type of organic material. There is one thing that you need to know about this outside landscape, rabbits love grasses. If wild rabbits like to visit your yard try inter-planting your grasses with the plants rabbits are not fond of such as geraniums, lantana, nasturtiums, and osteospermum.
Spacing the ornamental grasses is very important because you do not want the outdoor gardening to look like an overgrown jungle. You want to space the new plants so they will be allowed enough room to grow because these grasses may not reach full size until after their third year. Check the tags on the grasses to see the potential height of the plant and plant them as far apart as the potential height; if your plants are going to reach 4 feet tall then plant them 4 feet apart. Many varieties of grass, particularly the drought tolerant, are deep rooting plants. Keeping that in mind, prepare the soil by digging to a depth twice as deep as the plant root ball. You want to add large amounts of organic material to the soil and make sure the root ball is a little deeper than it was in the original container. Once you remove the ornamental grass from the container loosen the compacted roots before placing into the ground.
Your outdoor landscape ornamental grasses are available in a vast array of spread, height, color, and flowering times. I am sure you are familiar with Pampas Grass, but consider Purple Fountain Grass, Zebra Grass, Blue Fescue, Maiden Grass, Zebra Grass, or some of the other varieties. I am sure there are many areas in your
outdoor landscape that you can find to plant these ornamental grasses that dance with the breezes.
