Cool season Grasses – Cool season grasses start into growth and flower while the weather is still cool, in spring and early summer, and tend to go into summer dormancy as temperatures rise. They are best planted, not at the front of a bed or border, but a little further back where other plants and grasses can grow up and hide them while they are dormant.
Usually look better in the summer if grown woodland or a cool, shaded part of the garden. Cool season grasses can be planted, transplanted and divided at almost any time, except when dormant in the heat of summer.
Recommended time to plant: S = SPRING, LS = LATE SPRING AFTER FROST, F = FALL
The various grasses are fast becoming the most wonderful way to add texture to your landscape. The taller ones like the Miscanthus varieties and fountain grasses add background and texture to your smaller shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals, as well as acting as borders and hedges to mark property boundaries.
In the spring you’ll have the wistful grace of the grasses swaying with the slightest breeze visually drawing your eyes to the landscape. The early summer show of decorative flowering seed heads on grasses add surprise and beauty from morning sun and early dews to late evening sunsets and the reflection of the fading light. Fall brings interesting color tones as the green begins to fade with early frosts, and the true colors of nature expose themselves before the stark barreness of winter. Winter is welcomed by the grasses with the approach of snow and frost. Wispy strands at times ice over, and create a visual contrast with the snow, but also remind us of the approach of the next glorious spring.
So, whether using grasses as accents to supply texture and form, or using in a rock garden or border, when you’re coming home with Greenwood you’ll find the grasses to be the crowning touch to the palettes that we call our four season landscapes.
Drying Ornamental Grass Plumes
One of the great benefits of ornamental grasses is their plumes. You can dry the plumes and bring these beauties right inside you home! The plumes will last for years.
Grasses are extremely easy to dry. Cut the plumes to the desired length just as the plumes are fresh and the foliage has not yet started to turn brown for the winter. Bundle together the stalks. You can use 'quick-ties' to secure the bundles. Hang upside down in the garage to dry. Most will even maintain a lot of their foliage color. For example, Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus' will continue to sport the color of its horizontal bands.
If you’re into flower arranging, grass plumes are a great addition! You can have your own abundant supply of these beauties by planning ahead now and planting grasses with the plumes that you like.
Coming home with Greenwood gets better and better.
