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Growing Ornamental Grass: Seeds, Planting Grass, Containers And Outdoors
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Published: December 26, 2007
An un-manicured and boring lawn can actually work against the appeal of a house. Spruce up the lawn easily and inexpensively with a new twist on the familiar—ornamental grass. With its many types, textures and colors, ornamental grass makes beautifying the outdoors simpler than its name may express. In fact, after the initial prep, ornamental grass requires little to no maintenance.
All it takes is an understanding of the ornamental grass of choice, of the climate lived in, and the desire to decorate the outdoors.
Ornamental grass is generally divided into two types: cool season and warm season. As its name suggests, cool season grasses thrive in a colder environment, specifically during the winter and early spring. They're a bit more high maintenance than their warmer counterpart, requiring regular watering (especially during droughts) and separation from other grasses. A few of the most popular cool season grasses include Fescues, Blue Oat Grass, Tufted Hair Grass, and Autumn Moor Grass.
Alternately, warm season grasses can survive in an extremely hot environment—even during droughts or dry heat. Unlike cool season grass, warm season does not require division or regular watering. However, they do require more stable temperatures. The warm season favorites include Northern Sea Oats, Japanese Silver Grass, and Hardy Pampas Grass.
Once the seasonal category of ornamental grass is chosen, it's important to understand the specific preparations for the plant chosen. Decide whether growing ornamental grass in containers is preferred over planting right into the lawn. Also, before planting ornamental grass seeds, ask a salesperson at a gardening store about how the grass will grow.
There are two general formations that ornamental grass grows in: clump forming and rhizome forming. Clump forming refers to ornamental grass that grows in neat circles, sprouts slowly, and is capable of being planted next to other types of grass. Rhizome grass is a bit more difficult to tame—its roots spread quickly underground and are not easily contained. The type of grass chosen should depend on what type of lawn design is desired. If going for a cleaner look, rhizome grass can get a bit messy. However, a wild and natural appearance for the yard is desired, rhizome grass may be the best bet. It is imperative to know which category is desired before beginning planting.
There's one important step to remember before planting—make sure to tend the soil well. Before planting, spreading about one pound of general fertilizer into the soil should do the trick. Don't plant the grass too deep; if it's placed lower than the initial grass' roots, the ornamental grass may rot. About 36 inches underground is deep enough. Most experts recommend planting in the spring, regardless of the seasonal category or formation of grass chosen. This way, the grass has time to grow roots before its prime growing time. It is also extremely important to space each section of grass at least 2 feet away from other sections, and to give the grass a trimming every season or so.
While growing ornamental grass may sound complicated, in truth, it just takes a bit of concentration and maintenance. Choose the season, the preferred look, and the level of maintenance desired in order to narrow down the options for the various types of grasses available. Once all the decisions are made, head over to any gardening store to choose a more specific plant and to buy the seeds. By planting ornamental grass, natural beauty will abound in the once boring, mundane yard.
Sources:
Stack, Greg. "Types of Ornamental Grasses." University of Illinois Extension: Ornamental Grasses. University of Illinois. 11 Nov. 2007. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/grasses/types.html.
Cunningham, Yvonne. "Ornamental Grasses: Easy to Grow and Care For." Flower Gardening Made Easy. 2007. 19 Nov. 2007 . http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Ornament al-grasses.html.
Thompson, Ed. "Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Horticulture and Crop Science." The Ohio State University Fact Sheet Extension. Ohio State University. 19 Nov. 2007. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1238.html.
Ornamental grass is generally divided into two types: cool season and warm season. As its name suggests, cool season grasses thrive in a colder environment, specifically during the winter and early spring. They're a bit more high maintenance than their warmer counterpart, requiring regular watering (especially during droughts) and separation from other grasses. A few of the most popular cool season grasses include Fescues, Blue Oat Grass, Tufted Hair Grass, and Autumn Moor Grass.
Alternately, warm season grasses can survive in an extremely hot environment—even during droughts or dry heat. Unlike cool season grass, warm season does not require division or regular watering. However, they do require more stable temperatures. The warm season favorites include Northern Sea Oats, Japanese Silver Grass, and Hardy Pampas Grass.
Once the seasonal category of ornamental grass is chosen, it's important to understand the specific preparations for the plant chosen. Decide whether growing ornamental grass in containers is preferred over planting right into the lawn. Also, before planting ornamental grass seeds, ask a salesperson at a gardening store about how the grass will grow.
There are two general formations that ornamental grass grows in: clump forming and rhizome forming. Clump forming refers to ornamental grass that grows in neat circles, sprouts slowly, and is capable of being planted next to other types of grass. Rhizome grass is a bit more difficult to tame—its roots spread quickly underground and are not easily contained. The type of grass chosen should depend on what type of lawn design is desired. If going for a cleaner look, rhizome grass can get a bit messy. However, a wild and natural appearance for the yard is desired, rhizome grass may be the best bet. It is imperative to know which category is desired before beginning planting.
There's one important step to remember before planting—make sure to tend the soil well. Before planting, spreading about one pound of general fertilizer into the soil should do the trick. Don't plant the grass too deep; if it's placed lower than the initial grass' roots, the ornamental grass may rot. About 36 inches underground is deep enough. Most experts recommend planting in the spring, regardless of the seasonal category or formation of grass chosen. This way, the grass has time to grow roots before its prime growing time. It is also extremely important to space each section of grass at least 2 feet away from other sections, and to give the grass a trimming every season or so.
While growing ornamental grass may sound complicated, in truth, it just takes a bit of concentration and maintenance. Choose the season, the preferred look, and the level of maintenance desired in order to narrow down the options for the various types of grasses available. Once all the decisions are made, head over to any gardening store to choose a more specific plant and to buy the seeds. By planting ornamental grass, natural beauty will abound in the once boring, mundane yard.
Sources:
Stack, Greg. "Types of Ornamental Grasses." University of Illinois Extension: Ornamental Grasses. University of Illinois. 11 Nov. 2007. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/grasses/types.html.
Cunningham, Yvonne. "Ornamental Grasses: Easy to Grow and Care For." Flower Gardening Made Easy. 2007. 19 Nov. 2007 . http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/Ornament al-grasses.html.
Thompson, Ed. "Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Horticulture and Crop Science." The Ohio State University Fact Sheet Extension. Ohio State University. 19 Nov. 2007. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1238.html.
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