Grow Your Own Ornamental Grass

Ornamental grasses are highly versatile ranging from groundcovers to tall screen plants and have a variety of uses in between. Many varieties also suit unique planting situations such as sandy soil and moist-to-wet soil. In addition to their unique beauty, ornamental grasses do not require special care and are not susceptible to pests and diseases. It is no wonder, then, that there has been a growing demand for ornamental grasses as landscape and garden plants. Growing ornamental grasses from seed is easy and offers the greatest variety selection and design possibilities.

Plantation Products, Inc. is pleased to introduce an Ornamental Grasses seed collection to the retail market for the 2003 gardening season. The collection includes 40 different varieties of annual and perennial ornamental grasses which afford home gardeners with a number of exciting new seed starting options. Annual ornamental grass varieties grow quickly and are ideal accent and filler plants. They bloom the first year only. Perennial varieties provide interest throughout the seasons and return to bloom year after year. Many perennial varieties, such as Little Bluestem, offer brilliant fall colors and striking winter silhouettes in addition to summer and fall flowers.

Perennial grasses are divided in two basic groups based on their growth cycles—cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses. Cool season grasses begin to grow in late-Winter or very early in Spring and reach peak size and beauty before the onset of high Summer temperatures. They resume active growth again in Fall. Cutting back cool-season grasses in mid-Summer will encourage fresh, new Fall growth. Cool-season grasses include: Blue Hairgrass, Fescues, Tufted and Crinkled Hairgrass, Pearl Grass, Perennial Quaking grass, Prairie Dropseed, Sedges, Sweet Vernal, and Woodrushes. Warm-season grasses begin active growth when temperatures warm in Spring and achieve peak growth in late summer and fall. Many warm-season grasses are noted for showy flower plumes and colorful foliage that often lasts into Winter. Warm-season grasses include: Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Blue Gramma, Fountain Grasses, Moor Grass, Northern Sea Oats, Pampas, Ravenna and Switch Grasses.

Ornamental grasses serve all kinds of landscaping situations. Add grasses to beds, borders, mass plantings, rock gardens, and to container gardens. Some varieties are adapted to specific growing conditions; Palm Leaf Sedge and Weeping Sedge, for example, tolerate moist to wet soil and are ideal for planting at the water’s edge. Woodrush species tolerate dry shade. Use tall grasses, such as white or pink-flowered Pampas Grass and Ravenna Grass, as screens or windbreaks. Include grass varieties in cutting gardens and harvest the foliage and flowers for fresh and dried arrangements. Varieties such as Black Tip Wheat, Durum Wheat, Green Cat Grass and Foxtail Millets are ideal for harvesting for arrangements. Plant an entire garden area exclusively with ornamental grasses, or blend grasses with other types of plants such as perennial and annual flowers. Native North American ornamental grasses such as Big Bluestem blend beautifully with perennial wildflowers such as Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, purple coneflowers and Gaillardias.

When incorporating ornamental grasses into your planting schemes, follow basic garden design principles to obtain the best results. Consider the mature height and spread of the plants and contrast shapes, sizes, textures and colors for the most interesting effect. Also take into account seasonal highlights and growth cycles for each variety. For example, pairing warm-season grasses with early-blooming perennials and cool-season grasses with summer-blooming perennials and annuals maximizes garden interest throughout the seasons. To make it easy to get started with grasses, Plantation Products’ retail seed displays offer tear-off sheets with pre-planned ornamental grass gardens. The sheets are free with the purchase of Plantation Products’ Ornamental Grass seed packets.

Starting From Seeds Indoors
Starting ornamental grasses from seed indoors gives you a jumpstart on the garden season ahead as plants started early indoors will mature and flower earlier in the garden. Starting ornamental grasses from seed is easy with the proper equipment. We recommend Plantation Products Seed Starter Mix as a seed starting medium. This product contains fine sphagnum peat, horticultural vermiculite and perlite, a wetting agent so it will absorb water, trace elements and a starter fertilizer. Plantation Products’ seed starting trays provide a most convenient way to start seeds. A watertight tray, separated plant cells with drainage and a clear greenhouse cover is available with many trays. After sowing seeds in trays do not allow seeds to dry out until seedlings emerge. Plenty of fresh air flow over the seed trays prevents problems. Temperature range of 65 ºF to 70ºF is ideal for starting seeds. Plants that were started indoors may be planted outdoors anytime after the last frost date until the early fall. You may also sow seeds directly outdoors. Sowing outdoors in spring is ideal. Keep in mind that perennials require several seasons to reach full potential, so patiently enjoy your garden as it matures.

Growing Tips:
▪Most ornamental grasses prefer full sun or light shade and well-drained, fertile soil (see seed packets for specifics)
▪Keep planting areas weed-free as ornamental grasses become established
▪Many ornamental grasses are drought-tolerant once established, but new transplants require evenly moist soil for the first few weeks after transplanting
▪Mulching helps to prevent weeds and to retain soil moisture
▪Cut back perennial grasses annually to encourage fresh, new growth (see seed packets for details) ▪For fresh arrangements, harvest flowers as soon as they emerge from the foliage; set in water immediately. For dried arrangements, hang stems upside down in a cool, dark place until dry.
 

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