Have you also noticed how these ornamental grasses have been dominating the scene lately? There is almost no wedding where at least one pampas grass arrangement didn’t appear. There are many reasons why gardeners choose to grow them, and the top three include the fact that they are extremely hardy, drought tolerant, and can provide visual appeal from summer to winter.
Therefore, stay here to find out how to grow ornamental grasses. P.S. they are so easy to grow and yet have the power to add excitement to any planting scheme.
Let’s get into details!
When & Where to Plant
Spring is the best time of year for this, and it's up to you to decide whether you want to start from seed or with already-grown seedlings. Just make sure you choose a sunny spot that can have some shade, but not too much.
Do you know what we especially like? Ornamental grasses aren’t demanding when it comes to soil, they will thrive even in the poorest ones. Just be sure to plant them 1 to 3 feet apart depending on the variety because they grow and spread quite quickly.
Habits, Care & Maintenance
As for growing habits, these types of grass are quite diverse, so you can choose from short clumping to those that grow 7 or more feet tall. Furthermore, as we said before, the amount of sunlight plays a big role. Those grasses that grow in full sun will have much stronger stems than those that grow in partial shade, so you may need to stake them accordingly.
You may need to give them a dose of fertilizer from time to time, but this is optional, a thick layer of compost every spring will do the job nicely.
When it comes to trimming and pruning, as you can probably guess, it's not complicated either. You can leave the flowers for the whole winter or cut a few of the most beautiful ones and bring them indoors and enjoy beautiful arrangements and decorations.
In addition, whether and when to trim them depends on whether the grasses are cool or warm season. Cool-season ones should be pruned in early spring before new growth begins, while, unlike the latter, warm-season ones should be pruned in the fall if you don't want to preserve their beautiful heads, or in mid-spring before new growth begins, simple as that. Finally, feel free to add a layer of mulch each spring to help them retain moisture better, trust us, they will thank you.
To Conclude
When you think about it, occasional watering and adding a layer of compost and mulch isn't that demanding, is it? Now that you know how to grow ornamental grasses, nothing stops you from venturing into this adventure.
If you are still unsure and need help visualizing the finished landscape project, be sure to download our iScape app. This more than simple tool will allow your project to come to life in no time.
Have questions? Let us know below!
Author's bio
Tony Manhart is the founder and editor in chief at Gardening Slash. Tony’s enthusiasm and rich experience in all things related to growing plants have led him to share his knowledge with gardening aficionados all over the world. When he is not working around his garden, Tony spends his time writing tips and tricks on various subjects related to plant cultivation and soil maintenance.
