Ornamental Grass is a very attractive class of landscape plants. They are colorful, resistant, show off all season interest, and are very easy to maintain. The texture, form, and colors available with ornamental grass are complicated to duplicate with any other plant. Ornamental grasses are generally classified into two categories, namely warm and cool season grass. Warm season grasses start growing rapidly in late spring and in the beginning of summer whereas cool season grasses start greening up in beginning of spring. Suitable cool season grasses are fescues, blue oat grass, and autumn moor grass. Suitable warm season grasses are northern sea oats, hardy pampas grass, fountain grass and switch grass.
Ornamental grasses can be easily maintained and they are almost disease and pest free. Dead growth of the previous season should be cut down during early spring. Large bundles of grass nearly 6 inches should be cut above the ground. Smaller grasses should be cut about 2 inches above the ground.
Ornamental Grass Types:
- Fescue: It is a cool season, clump-forming grass and needs shelter from the hot afternoon sun. Blue foliage forms are the very popular. Separation in the early spring is generally needed to restore vitality. Regular fertilization should be done.
- Miscanthus: It is considered as the luxurious group of warm season, clump-forming grasses. It has very classy flowers. Large group of grasses are available with significant differences in height, blade width, etc. They should be carefully selected to insure proper hardiness and adjustment to site.
- Switchgrass: It is a native, warm-season, clump-forming group. Cultivars which has red fall color and blue foliaged upright cultivars are more popular.
- Fountaingrass: They are mostly warm season, clump forming grasses. Both annual and perennial cultivars are useful in the landscape. Flowers are very showy.
