low maintenance ornamental grass

Known botanically as Helictotrichon sempervirens,deer tend to leave this plant alone. Replacing lawn grass with a combination of mulch and ornamental grass can reduce yard maintenance requirements. In stock. Pennsylvanica grows to about 8" and then flops over, making for an elegant mass in the landscape. Be sure to analyze which parts of your lawn get how much sun and shade throughout the year for optimum or less maintenance. $33.98. The plant resembles a pincushion bristling with blue pins. ): This 4 to 6 inch (10-15 cm.) Carex Spark Plug is another impostor (it's a type of sedge) that nonetheless plays the "shorty" role well, reaching only about a foot in height. Justin West, CEO of Thrive Lot, recommends starting with a tree and layering smaller shrubs and herbaceous plants around it. Feather Reed Grass produces feathery spikes that last into winter making it quite eye-catching. The warm-season variety can resist drought conditions and a good percentage of their growth happens in the summer heat. The UC Verde is a drought-tolerant warm-season grass that survives well in the heated and dry conditions of the US South. Low-Care Landscaping With Ornamental Grass and Mulch Whether you mix ornamental grass with shrubs, trees, and flowers or let it stand alone, you'll want to apply mulch around ornamental grass. On the other hand, warm-season grasses are quite heat tolerant and grow most in full sun exposure, during the hottest summer days of June, July and August, and go dormant in the cold winters. Maiden Grass has a lovely texture with silvery plumes that appears in the fall and winter. In recent years, these decorative plants are used a lot by gardeners. 1. There are many varieties of ornamental grasses. Golden Variegated Hakone Grass Zones: 4-9. Use as a low-maintenance border. Natural stone is an ideal material for a low maintenance landscaping. Nor are these the only types of Miscanthus sinensis, a species commonly called "silver grass." Tall fescue is a cool-season grass with deep grass roots that make it more drought resistant. Low Maintenance Ornamental Grasses. Generally, ornamental grasses are quite low maintenance. If the common name of "millet" for the species sounds familiar, that's because millet seed is often part of bird-food mixes. Product Link : Electric Hedge Shears. This plant, with its tall, thin shafts and fluffy coiffures, has a delicate structure that lends a touch of charm to the harsh winter landscape. Rejuvenate your landscape adding low maintenance ornamental grasses that will reward you with color, texture, and the benefit of year long interest. Purple Millet is an annual grass that attracts birds with its unique shape and gorgeous deep, purple color. Low ornamental grass can work as a ground cover to fill up space and add texture without requiring too much upkeep. Lilyturf likes water but also prefers well-drained soil. Lawn care and maintenance of ornamental grass types such as St. Augustine grass or Bermuda grass, which is often used for golf courses takes time and effort, but you might not have much of it if you have a family, due to heavy foot traffic caused by pets or children playing on the grass. Clover, for example, restores nitrogen, so you wont need to fertilize as much. Just remember that it doesnt thrive in the shade! They dont go fully dormant in the winter and can turn brown in the summer. Some, like tall fescue, also work well in the transition zone that reaches through the Midwest and across the country. The striking color of this zone-6-to-9 plant combines well with plants that bear golden or chartreuse leaves. Ornamental grasses can grow without supervision, pruning, or maintenance. Select an area with partial shade and soil rich in compost for best results. Purple fountain grass thrives in tropical areas and is drought-tolerant. For areas with heavy rainfall, choose grass seed that can handle the extra moisture. Low Maintenance Grass for Your Landscape Design. Color and texture aren't the only benefits you can reap with ornamental grass. Lomandra Breeze. Keep the ground evenly moist, especially at the beginning of the growing season and during the hottest parts of summer. Scientists at Oregon State University developed this mix, making it suitable for the Northeast weather and good for pollinating insects, such as bees. Well walk you through everything you need to know on low-maintenance grasses, including the best types for every climate. Modern materials blend harmoniously with wilder pockets of perennial planting, sporting the likes of easy-care hydrangeas, ferns, and ornamental grasses. You can use fleur de lawn on your entire lawn, but most people choose it for spots and ground cover where they want to have flowers, not only green grass. No fall or winter landscape should be without tall ornamental grass. When it comes to decorative outdoors, most people will think of beautiful plants like climbers or shrubs. Ornamental Grasses for the Garden Proven Winners 18 Top Ornamental Grasses For help incorporating ornamental grasses and other beautiful yet tough plants for Colorado landscapes experiencing dry conditions, call on the plant experts at Lifescape. Pink Muhly Grass reaches about 3 to 4 feet tall making it become an ideal option to grow in borders. Also like liriope, it can be invasive. If you are wondering what to choose for garden grass to decorate in the garden, lets refer to the 11 Low-maintenance Ornamental Grass Types To Grow To Your Garden. If you live in a place with little rainfall in the summer, pick a variety that is highly drought resistant like the UC Verde buffalo grass, which has a deep root system. Large, Medium, and Small Picks for a Low-Care Alternative. 1: Japanese Sedge The Japanese sedge is grass native to Japan's central and southern regions. Let Your Jungle Grow Wild. Add motion, texture and year round interest to your landscape with ornamental grasses. They do most of their growing in the early spring and fall. Blue Fescue is steel-blue grass that tops out around a foot tall and looks great planted in groups of three to five plants. Certain varieties of ornamental grasses act like wind chimes in the breeze, adding a delightfully unexpected element to landscape designs. It's just a question of when. But the "how"is worth considering, too to avoid making a mess when youtrim ornamental grass. These drought-tolerant ornamental grasses are specifically adapted to thrive in desert-like conditions, so once they're established, you can wave goodbye to high water bills and wilting plants and enjoy a gorgeous natural landscape. Perennials Coneflower ( Echinacea) Coneflowers are a classic low maintenance perennial. Name: Schizachyrium scoparium Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 3 feet tall Prairie Dropseed Grass Zones: 3-9. Cool-season grasses have fine blades that are soft under your feet, making them a good option for families that spend a lot of time on the grass. This trailing variety is used as a ground cover to suppress . He was in the nursery business for over a decade, working with a large variety of plants. This item: Dwarf Pampas Grass | 10 Live Plants | Cortaderia Selloana Pumila | Compact Low Maintenance Drought Tolerant Ornamental Grass. Like its taller cousins, small ornamental grass varieties are highly resistant to pests and disease that can overtake other, less hardy plants. Mondo Grass is a low-growing clumping grass that comes in shades ranging from pale green to dark burgundy. Fountain Grass grows up to 3 to 4 feet tall so you can grow it for creating privacy or in mixed borders. Whether you need a low growing variety or one that will aid in privacy, there's an ornamental grass perfect for your landscape. They can be woven through borders, used as a focal point, scattered through gravel gardens and planted in containers. Makes a great native ornamental grass. How Much Will A Lawn Irrigation System Cost? David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Maiden grass bears coppery tassels as seed-heads in early fall, eventually turning silvery and adorning the plant as a "plume." $59.98. What is ornamental grass? They do not like full sun. Easy to grow, low maintenance and available in many beautiful shapes, sizes and . Many grasses can withstand missing a watering or two, but will thrive with a thorough deep watering along with the other plants in your garden. It tolerates some shade, but grow it in full sun (and well-drained soil) if you wish to enjoy the signature blue hues of its foliage to the fullest. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) Pothos Arrowhead Plant Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) 9. Attractive, clump-forming grass with wide leaves and nodding, arching clusters of flat, oat-like seedheads. Standing at 12 to 18 incheshigh at maturity isJapanese blood grass(Imperata cylindricavar. Purple Majesty is so-called for its very dark foliage and cattail-like seed-heads. A popular cultivar is Purple Majesty. Fescues are hardy and they'll naturally crowd out weeds, so you don't have to worry about fertilizer, herbicide, or pesticide. These plants are warm-season grasses that perform best at temperatures between 60 and 75F. Cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue among other grasses thrive in cooler climates and have a high shade tolerance. It is far more drought tolerant than the typical ornamental grass and is very low maintenance. They include a variety of ornamental grasses, herbs, vegetables, and flowers. Dont cut your grass too short. Vibrant green fiber optic grass, which is technically a sedge, adds a unique element to landscapes with its tiny flowers. This verdant space is full of intriguing yet low maintenance features. For more on these plants, check out this article on Growing Ornament Grasses which we came across on the Garden Guides website. Yeah, sure Bermuda grass or St. Augustine grass is nice, but is it worth it? People love these narrow ornamental grasses that are on the smaller side for their versatility and unique textures as companion plants. SHOP FOR LOW MAINTENANCE PLANTS What Makes These Types of Grasses "Ornamental"? They're also naturally disease- and pest-resistant, so you can say goodbye to chemical pesticides. Some ornamental grasses, like plumegrass and maiden grass, can get rather tall and provide a lovely, year-round focal point. It is perennial and evergreen. Warm season lawns benefit most from fertilization in summer when theyre actively growing. As a general rule, chop about a third of the blades when you mow and aim to always leave them at a minimum length of 3 to 4 inches. Sandy soil is the fastest draining soil type, whereas clay soils have the ability to retain water. Otherwise, you'll be worried about mistakenly trimming the new shoots, since they'll be right in your way as you attempt to remove dead stalks. Fine Fescue grass doesnt require a lot of fertilizer or sunshine, making it excellent for a low-maintenance lawn that can survive in shaded backyards. Instead, if you want a low-maintenance lawn, youll do best with the grass seed type that goes well with your local climate and backyard. Look carefully at the different varieties in your planning. For a shorter deer-resistant plant, try lilyturf (Liriope spicata). 1976-2022 Lifescape Colorado, all rights reserved, We use cookies to optimize our website and, Low-Maintenance Ornamental Grasses Great for Colorado Landscapes. Blue Fescue These easy-to-care-for plants can add incredible texture and color to landscapes while not requiring much in return. While most homeowners dream about lush gardens, flowering plants, mature trees, and year-round color, not many are looking for the hard work, cost, and time required to achieve these results. When composing such beds, it's best to layer the plants, placing the tallest in the back, the shortest in the front, and the rest in the middle. Benefits of planting Easy maintenance. Black mondo reaches 6 inches in height. Height and spread: 1 - 2 ft. (0.3 - 0.6 m) tall and 5 to 6 ft. (1.5 - 1.8) ft. wide. This reliable grass is valued for its low-maintenance, tolerance of a wide range of growing conditions, and hardiness. Heirloom 50+ Ornamental Perennial Grass Seed - Pampas Grass - "Pink" Tall Feathery Blooms. Ornamental Grass can bring texture and variety to offset your flowers. Even after its leaves have dried and died, it provides visual interest to the winter landscape. Kentucky bluegrass is a common cool-season grass in the Northeast and on the West Coast. Ornamental grass is very different from the "grass" that many of us have reluctantly been mowing since our childhoods. Abundant, showy, single, bright orange flowers, 1 in. Ravennagrass makes a stunning statement with itsdramaticheight and big, feathery plumes. Here, browse 16 low-maintenance landscaping ideasfrom ornamental grasses to container gardensto gather inspiration. These plants also respond beautifully to the wind and create sound with their rustling leaves. The retention of water can be improved by simply adding some coconut coir, peat moss or vermiculite. Another type of Pennisetum treated in the North as an annual isPennisetum glaucum. Its green summer foliage becomes reddish in fall. rubra), which can be grown in zones5 to 9. Once established, ornamental grass will grow between 4 to 8 inches per year, depending on the soil conditions and the variety planted. For this reason, we need to categorize ornamental grasses in terms of their height, as follows (all should be grown in full sun unless otherwise stated). It makes awonderfulfocal point or can be used to hide unsightly objects. Fleur de lawn is a flowering grass mix thats great for its low maintenance and eco-friendliness. Light exposure: Partial to full shade. Lilyturf (not a true ornamental grass, but a perennial) can be grown in zones 4 to 10 and reaches only about a foot in height. You get the best of both worlds. #3) Fountain Grass - The 5 Best Ornamental Grass Varieties Fountain grass is one of the most popular grasses of all among homeowners, and for good reason. The species plant is highly invasive, but varieties such as rubra are tamer, although you still must watch out that they don't revert to the tendencies of their species. When youve applied your low-maintenance grass seed, be smart about your lawn care. @ 2020 - AnimalsViral. Cutting and grooming ornamental grass makes it healthier. Andropogon gerardii Indian Warrior is a cultivar of big bluestem grass suitable for zones 3 to 9. Warm-season grasses or Southern lawns like zoysia grass, usually have great heat tolerance and have some drought resistance; they thrive best in warm climates, which is why theyre common in the South. Purple silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis Purpurascens) measures 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide and is suited to zones 4 to 9. One way Denver homeowners can create an interesting landscape that is also drought-friendly is by incorporating ornamental grasses. Height: 3 to 6 feet Color: Burgundy red Cool or Warm Season Grass: Warm Zebra iStock Miscanthus sinensis is a good choice for a hardiness zone of five to nine. Looks great in mass plantings and in containers. Some hardy ornamental grasses are suitable for the coldest climates, while others tolerate intense summer heat or salty air and windy coastal conditions. Its leaves may be solid green or variegated with gold. You shouldnt fertilize them too early in the spring but rather wait for the grass to actively grow. That way, after the cutting is done, you mainly have just one object to pick up and move, rather than all of the individual stalks. Color and texture arent the only benefits you can reap with ornamental grass. . Ships from and sold by Florida Foliage. A single ornamental grass plant can be quite pretty to look at. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Certain varieties of ornamental grasses act like wind chimes in the breeze, adding a delightfully unexpected element to landscape designs. Most properties have at least a few low-light areas. Dwarf Pampas Grass | 20 Live Plants | Cortaderia Selloana Pumila | Compact Low Maintenance Drought Tolerant Ornamental Grass Brand: Florida Foliage $9899 Size: 20 Plants 3 Plant 10 Plants 20 Plants 30 Plants 40 Plants See more About this item Grown, packaged and shipped exclusively by Florida Foliage. Ornamental grasses are very different from traditional turf. Another short ornamental grass (around 1 foot by 1 foot) grown in zones 4 to 8 is blue fescue (Festuca glauca Elijah Blue). Sign up for our newsletter. Low-effort plants will grow in the ground or a pot both inside and outside your home, depending on your preferences. 7 Reasons Of Using Bone Meal Fertilizer In Your Garden, 7 Edible Houseplants That You Will Fall In Love, 23 Creative DIY Succulent Planter Ideas To Place On Desk And Tabletop, 8 Great Natural Pesticides You Can Apply To The Garden, 10 Summer Culinary Herbs That You Can Dry To Use For A Long Time, 8 Amazing Leftover Milk Uses For Your Garden, 9 Houseplants That Look Like A Banana Tree To Bring Tropical Space, 15 DIY Recycled Trellis Ideas For Your Garden, Beautiful Flowers That Resemble Fireworks, Easy DIY Backyard Bike Rack Ideas You Can Build Right Now. Switch Grass grows about 3 feet tall and has arching leaves that turn red in late summer to fall making it becomes an attractive addition to garden beds. Don't cut the clump's stems back until after the bleakness of winter passes, since the graceful stems and puffy plumes provide visual interest on an otherwise barren December-February landscape. 11 Low-maintenance Ornamental Grass Types To Grow To Your Garden by Carolyn Mullet When it comes to decorative outdoors, most people will think of beautiful plants like climbers or shrubs. Its spiky foliage is also burgundy. The flower heads are reddish. Sedge displays arching leaves that are available in pretty gold, green, or variegated types. Shop ornamental and pampas grass with American Meadows today! It grows clump-forming when planted in groups. But learn about the features of each type before deciding what you want to buy. What Is Monkey Grass: Caring For Monkey Grass In Lawns And Gardens, Types Of Dwarf Ornamental Grass - Tips For Growing Short Ornamental Grasses, Ornamental Grasses - Learn About Blue Fescue Growing Tips, How To Grow Tillandsia Cyanea Or Pink Quill Plant, Begonia Botrytis Treatment How To Control Botrytis Of Begonia, What Is Begonia Pythium Rot Managing Begonia Stem And Root Rot, Creeping Succulent Plants Do Succulents Make Good Groundcover, Lawn Plug Aeration: When To Plug Aerate A Lawn, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. Because of its height, a plant such as plumegrass can be used as a focal point. At the first sign of crowding, separate the plants. Bahiagrass is most common in the Gulf Coast region and across the South. In autumn it bears a dark berry. This ornamental grass usually grows 2 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide when it's fully grown. Also called periwinkle, vinca minor is one of the most low maintenance flowering plants you could ever plant in your garden. The blades are easy to cut in the fall, winter or spring, and their softer feel won't slice arms like many ornamental grasses can! When it comes to maintenance, grasses are relatively low-maintenance, and can be cut back to different heights depending on the look you're going for. In high heat, this grass variety tends to thatchgathering debris from roots, dried stems and shoots, making your lawn look brown and requiring lots of maintenance to fix the issue. Forget that back breaking work with hand shears - hedge trimmers make quick work of sawing right through the grasses with ease. In contrast to clay soils, sandy soil and silt soils with higher porosity can handle more frequent watering, but you should still avoid doing it every day. Let us start off with the native grasses of cooler areas of the world. Also grown as groundcover in shaded areas. Cool season grasses are not good for the Southern US states extreme summer heat but are better suited for the Northeast and Northwest. Purple fountain (Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum) is a tropical ornamental grass. Long driveway or sidewalk borders can be taxing to maintain. You can water your lawn more often in extremely hot weather or if it receives big amounts of sun exposure, but only if the grass looks dry. General fertilization recommendations include an 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 and should be applied in late spring. USDA Zones: 8 to 11 'LM300' Breeze has fine, bright green foliage. They give you elegant ornamental grasses. within the group of ornamental [] They make great accents in a garden border. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! This zone is where the subtropical and temperate climates mix, so maintaining your lawn can be more challenging. Although all ornamental grass types hold the reputation of low maintenance plants, they require basic growth factors, like water, light, temperature and nutrients. Its also key for keeping clay soils from caking in the upper layers. Elijah Blue Fescue is a very popular low growing ornamental grass as it offers icy blue foliage and pastel yellow flowers. Fine Fescue chewing fescue, creeping red fescue, hard fescue, sheep fescue. Combine with lavender, daylilies, catmint, and sedums for a low-maintenance landscape. Grass: Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) Not only gives add a visual charm at any place in your garden, but these ornamental grasses are also easy to grow with basic care. However, there is another choice to make a stunning look for your landscaping. Award-winning Helianthemum 'Henfield Brilliant' (Rock Rose or Sun Rose) is a vigorous, low-growing evergreen shrub resembling a flower carpet from late spring to midsummer. Most people understand that ornamental grasses need a good haircut, at some point, after they have turned brown. The University of Florida IFAS Extension describes this grass as "virtually maintenance free.". It makes a spectacular groundcover when planted in masses. | Soil Moisture: Average When you apply fertilizer to your lawn, make sure youre doing it at the right moment to take advantage of your turfs primary growth season. Try to space it out and do a thorough watering about once a week. Resembles small sea-oats. Last Updated on April 18, 2022 by Grow with Bovees. Depending on the variety and purpose of your ornamental grass, your watering habits may vary. In stock. Plant grass plugs in loam soil in spring, summer, fall or winter Mowing Need: Once or twice a year Places Fit for its Growth: Verges, slopes, and courtyards 2. Meanwhile, the garden building adds a chic place to relax whatever the weather. As low as $79.94. across (3 cm), adorned with a boss of central yellow stamens literally smother the plant. Fleur de Lawn Fleur de lawn is a flowering grass mix that's great for its low maintenance and eco-friendliness. Use in containers, at the edge of a mixed border, or massed as a groundcover. Next Slide 9 of 12 Miscanthus 'Little Miss' (PlantHaven) Some types of grass, such as Kentucky bluegrass, cant survive in the shady areas. Japanese forest grass enjoys humus-rich, well-draining soil. This makes it look like a bale of hay that has been cut down. They provide visual interest, many grow large and can fill empty spaces, and they return year after year. Too late in the fall can also weaken the roots during the winter, so stick to fertilizing across the hot summer months to maintain a beautiful lawn. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. While tidy folks may prefer to trim ornamental grass at the end of autumnto give the landscape that "clean-cut" look before winter sets in, others prefer to do it in spring. Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) is an ornamental grass that grows 2 to 3 feethigh in loose clumps of green foliage. Ornamental grasses have gained popularity in recent years due to their low maintenance and potential for year-round interest in the garden. Ornamental grasses and grass-like plants are valued in home landscapes for their hardiness, ease of care, dramatic appearance, . Bluestems. Its hardy, low-maintenance growth means you can plant it and almost forget about it. Ornamental grasses are a versatile and low-maintenance addition to any landscape. It will get 2 to 3 feet tall with an arching . It's often mixed with such plants to fill flower beds, creating diversity in terms of form and texture. If you're looking for a dynamic garden without having to bend over backwards to achieve it, ornamental grasses are happy to take the wheel. It also offers wispy seed-heads in fall that add further interest. The heights and hardiness of the following plants vary greatly: These grass varieties are called "ornamental" for two reasons, both of which are good arguments for including them in your landscaping: The term, "ornamental," is used to distinguish this type of grass from "lawn" grass. Ships from and sold by Florida Foliage. That is ornamental grasses. This is because it thrives in full sunshine and heat and doesnt require a lot of water or fertilization. They have attractive daisy-like flowers that draw in bees and butterflies. You can plant zoysia grass in the hot US South, where freezing winters dont exist. Ornamental grasses are drought-resistant and incredibly low-maintenance, thriving in nearly every type of soil with little to no fertilizers. Ornamental Grasses. plant is bright green with blue flowers in the summer. Good grass like Pennisetum alopecuroides ' Little Bunny ' - Dwarf Fountain Grass is drought tolerant along with Stepable Thymus praecox ' Elfin Pink ', a nearly flat Thyme groundcover. Key species and cultivars: Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) Sun: Full Others, like fescue, thrive on completely shady areas. Hardscaping, Xeriscaping, & Other Low Maintenance Landscaping Options for Colorado Yards. When the blades are bigger and longer, the plants have more room for photosynthesis, and they grow stronger roots. Should I Weed and Feed Before or After Mowing? Feather reedgrass has delicate golden leaves that catch sunlight and add a gorgeous glow to landscapes all year long. This item: Pampas Grass Blue Bayou | 3 Live Plants | Cortaderia Selloana | Dwarf Low Maintenance Drought Tolerant Ornamental Grass. Likewise, black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapusNigrescens) isn't a true grass, but it functions in landscaping as if it were. Starting green, the leaves turn purple in the middle of the summer. Some really short grasses form a lawn of continuous grass, others will be in clumps with space between the plants. Low maintenance Gardening with Grasses!Learn about the different grasses for sun or shade gardens that will cut down on maintenance and look good doing it.Yo. Some make great ornamental grass accents, others make a great low maintenance groundcover. This means all of your maintenance efforts to keep a healthy lush lawn, will be for nothing. Here's a list of the top low maintenance plants for your garden divided into sections: perennials, annuals, shrubs, groundcovers, ornamental grasses, and bulbs. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. 7 Low Growing Ornamental Grasses to Freshen-Up Your Landscape Japanese sedge Japanese forest grass Blue fescue grass Tufted hair grass Hameln fountain grass Mondo grass Fountain grass No. 3 /27. Fine fescue is the most popular low-maintenance cool-season grass. Otherwise, your garden will end up looking like a barbershop floor, after a customer has just left. Grass Pad nurseries stock the largest selection of hardy and decorative annual varieties of ornamental grasses. Gently dig the roots up and transplant the grass to a new area of the garden bed with a similar soil composition. These slow-growing, perrenial ornamental grasses form cascading mounds of texture around your garden. A fine blade perennial with a compact habit that offers bright pine green foliage. Rock. The Best Zoysia Grass for Low Maintenance in Florida EMPIRE Zoysia EMPIRE Zoysia is a turfgrass that checks all the boxes. When planted in mass, short ornamental grasses create a groundcover that few weeds can penetrate. Remember, maintaining a lawn goes beyond mowing grass. Grass seed likes to grow in soil that is well-draining but it should also be able to retain some amounts of water. If you're looking for a plant that offers more to look at earlier in the year, tryMiscanthus sinensis Zebrinus (zones 5 to 9). It is thought to be low-maintenance, but that is usually because gardeners and people who take care of landscapes cut it down to about a foot high when it looks dry in late fall. This type of lawn includes perennial ryegrass, hard fescue, clover and daisy, among other grass types. Are you dealing with an alkaline soil or an acidic soil? Less mowing is always better. In terms of aesthetics, functional grass is mainly negative space. The ideal USDA hardiness zones are between 5 and 9. Ornamental grasses are a surprisingly beautiful and low-maintenance option that come in a shocking variety of colors and shapes, many of which are drought-tolerant. It tends to push roots deep in the ground, helping it take moisture from the ground in dry conditions, meaning youll need to water it less frequently. Twilight Zone Little Bluestem Grass Zones: 3-9. Once established, ornamental grass landscaping is low-maintenance, drought tolerant, and resistant to disease. The plant also produces spiky, dark flowers with a bluish tint in summer that turn harvest gold in autumn. It is a shade plant. Purple Millet puts off pretty flowers that turn into attractive seed heads by fall. A native to the Great Plains and prairies throughout the United States, this tall grass brings texture and even color to a nice design. Grasses should be cut back within 6-8 inches above the . Deer Resistant Perennials There are many deer resistant perennials that can be planted in order to deter these creatures from eating your plants. Avoid varieties such as fescue that suffer from too much moisture. Winter interest is one of the main excuses for growing ornamental grass, and you lose that if you trim in fall. This turf type is generally low-maintenance and grows best when you water it deeply and not too often. It grows to 3 feet by 3 feet in the landscape. But, it also works well as a transition-zone grass in states from the Midwest to the Pacific. Make sure that the soil contains enough vital nutrients for the grass seed to develop beautiful green grass blades, resistance to diseases and strong roots. Ornamental grass is used in landscape design the way you use flowers, shrubs,and trees. The "zebra" markings on its leaves provide plenty of visual interest even before it flowers. Available in a wide array of forms, textures, and colors, short ornamental grasses are a simple to grow and require very little maintenance. Fine fescue also doesnt recover fast if it gets damaged because of high temperatures. Whether you cut your grasses back in the spring or fall, one of the easiest ways to cut back your grass stands is with a good pair of electric hedge trimmers. While this may not be feasible for large areas, it's certainly an option for small plots of land. If it gets too damaged from extreme heat or foot traffic, though, it doesnt bounce back easily. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. It also includes such tasks as: By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Ornamental grasses in the cool season start growing in spring, mellow down in summer, and keep growing during fall. The grass seed adapts well to different soil types, and it doesnt require much fertilizing, thanks to its deep roots. These low-maintenance plants can also make Colorado landscapes more interesting by adding height, movement, and even sound! Perennial ornamental grasses include Miscanthus, Pink Muhly Grass, and Pampas Grass, just to name a few. Plantain lily is one of the best ground cover plants for full shade. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn when youve mowed it. Spacing out watering will save you time and grow your lawn stronger, meaning you wont have to waste time fertilizing constantly. Large clumps of ornamental grass are impressive, but dont disregard the value of low growing ornamental grasses. This makes it ideal for those looking for a low-maintenance lawn option for warm weather. play their roles. Since they are great in formal, informal and natural settings you're sure to find one or more suited to your landscape design. This ornamental grass, too, has a spiky flower, ranging in color from white to lavender. Blue Grama Grass Plugs Zones: 3-10. This tough plant is great for drought-prone areas. Below are some popular types of ornamental grass that stay small and make great additions to the landscape: Read more articles about Ornamental Grass. It can be tricky to achieve the best coloration with this plant, but it will often turn a wonderfully warm golden color when grown in shade. This ornamental grass attains a height of 2 to 3 feet tall, with a similar spread. (See: Why To Cut Back Ornamental Grasses In The Winter) So if you are looking for the ultimate low-maintenance ornamental grass - give feather reed grass a try, and enjoy years and years of low-maintenance beauty! 8. You can find low-maintenance lawn grass seed for all climates. Wood oats first grow in greenish-blue hues that change to yellow and brown as the plant develops. Cultivars include "Regal Mist," a dark pink variety. It can take some shade. Fertilizer You can fertilize your Hameln fountain grass with a slow-release balanced product in the spring to enhance its growth. Try to use a natural fertilizer rather than a chemical one and avoid fertilizing in full sun exposure, this way you will have more erosion control resulting in less amounts of damaged grass or lawn diseases. All Right Reserved. Whether it be grass seed for areas of full sun, partial shade or full shade, you need to make sure youve picked the right one for your location based on the below factors. Water and mow less frequently, leave grass clippings in and reserve fertilizing for the best growing season. Check out our low maintenance grass selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. This means it will benefit further from the above lawn maintenance tips for stronger roots. Its name comes from its seed pods, which look like oats. Ornamental grasses are versatile, hardy and spectacular, bringing movement, texture and drama to gardens of all styles, nearly all year round. Like CitraBlue and Palmetto St. Augustinewhich we talk about a little farther down in this articleEMPIRE has a very dense canopy. If you want really low maintenance, then you can always opt for a lawn alternative. Just make sure that, when spring does come, you cut the plant back early enough to get the old growth out of the way before the new growth emerges. If you select ground cover grasses, 2-3 pounds of complete fertilizer is recommended per 100 sq. So, if you are residing in areas that get exposed to frequent dry spells, ensure that you select drought-resistant ornamental grasses for garden plantation. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. This grass is easy to take care of and continues to maintain great color. They give you elegant ornamental grasses. UC Verde Buffalograss is also low-maintenance because it suppresses weed growth well, so you'll spend less time getting rid of those nasty weeds. Use a large, sturdy knife, an ax, or a sharp shovel to divide the plant into quarters . So, what would be the solution to this problem? They need more help for growth right at the beginning of the spring, as soon as temperatures are consistently over 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21.11 C). These low-maintenanceplants can also make Coloradolandscapesmore interesting by adding height, movement, and even sound! To avoid this mess, tie the dead stalks up into abundlebeforeyou make your cuts. Korean Velvet Grass No-Mow Grass Korean Velvet Growing Conditions: Ornamental grass with a slow growth rate, requires less water, fertilizer, and thatch. Ornamental grasses can look stunning in a garden of any size and need significantly less maintenance than standard turf. Amend nutrient deficient soil with organic material such as grass clippings, dead leaves or compost. The primary purpose of ornamental grass is to be pretty, to be an "ornament.". Ornamental grass, by contrast, is one of the yard's actors. Divide it every few years to rejuvenate it. Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensisGracillimus) is a fine choice in zones 5 to 9 for a tall,drought-tolerant ornamental grass, as it reaches as much as 7 feet in height, with a spread a bit less than that. Too alkaline or too acidic, and nutrients are unable to be absorbed. If you prefer your blades to be gold-colored, try golden Hakone grass(Hakonechloa macra Aureola). Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. This will help the grass drain more moisture from the ground and survive with less water. In fall, that color morphs to a reddish-purple. This mix is designed to bring back nutrients to your lawn to make it more low-maintenance. It also grows best in cool climates that arent too wet. Dont go for a grass type merely for its blade type or color, especially not if you are dealing with heavy foot traffic! True grasses are in the Grass family (Poaceae) but horticulturists consider Sedges (Carex spp.) You'll want to contain this plant, however, because it's invasive. This low-maintenance, cold-hardy stunner is perfect for both cooler northern regions (where it goes dormant . Most of them share an important trait: low-maintenance. The popularity of this clumping, drought-tolerant ornamental grass lies in the blue color of its foliage, which will beautifully complement any surrounding plants you may have with silvery foliage, such as lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina). Whether you mix ornamental grass with shrubs, trees, and flowers or let it stand alone, you'll want to apply mulch around ornamental grass. Simple trees, unfussy hedges, and crushed rock borders in black or white come together in an impressive contemporary garden. To divide tall ornamental grass, cut the plant down to 4 to 6 inches, and then dig up the entire clump. In fact, happy homeowners tend to strive for a beautiful garden . Plant it in full sunto partial shade in well-drained soil. Replacing lawn grass with a combination of mulch and ornamental grass can reduce yard maintenance requirements. Another soil property that is important to know when wanting to plant grass seed or maintaining an already established lawn, is the pH level of the soil. It shows off beautiful pinkish-red plumes to bring the garden an ethereal look. Medium-Sized Varieties of Ornamental Grasses, Low-Care Landscaping With Ornamental Grass and Mulch, 12 Best Ornamental Grasses for Your Landscape, How and When to Cut Back Ornamental Grasses, How to Grow and Care for Chinese Silver Grass, 10 Best Ornamental Grasses for Adding Privacy to the Garden, 10 Popular Sedges for Ornamental Garden Use, 33 Best Rock Garden Plants for Sun or Shade, How to Grow and Care for Blue Fescue Grass, 10 Best Plants for Erosion Control in Your Yard, The Best Zone 7 Plants to Grow Regionally, 10 Great Ornamental Grasses to Grow in Containers, 18 Perennial Flowers That Bloom in Spring, Summer and Fall, How to Grow and Care for Silvergrass (Miscanthus), 12 Fall Plants for Container Gardens & Hanging Baskets. When To Apply Milorganite Fertilizer For Best Results, When To Water After Applying Weed And Feed. This tough, low maintenance, perennial grass, hardy to Zone 8, is drought tolerant and evergreen. Low Maintenance - Ornamental Grasses - Outdoor Plants - The Home Depot #1 Home Improvement Retailer You're shopping South Loop OPEN until 10 pm Delivering to 60607 Cancel Holiday Decorations Appliances Bath & Faucets Blinds & Window Treatment Building Materials Cleaning Decor & Furniture Doors & Windows Electrical Flooring & Area Rugs Hardware After establishment, ornamental grasses can be very low maintenance. This plant family boasts a huge variety of graceful, low-maintenance grasses that add a wealth of texture and movement to the landscape, in colors ranging from soft pink to bright green or intense purple. See the examples below to get ideas for incorporating grasses into your own garden. Blue oat grass is a mounding,cool-season ornamental grass suitable for zones 4 to 8. Hakonechloa - variegated ('Aureola') or bright chartreuse foliage ('All Gold') provides a wide tuft of . Designers love to use ornamental grasses to add structure and seasonal interest. Hard fescue and fine fescue mixes require very little maintenance. Japanese Forest Grass is an attractive grass that typically reaches about 18 inches max. Get it Aug 18 - 23. PROS: No Mowing. This way, you can help your grass stay green for longer. Buy local and save money at Grass Pad. Add some silt which is a type of soil that has smaller particles than sand grains and is also fast-draining to the mixture and you get what is known as loam soil, which is considered to be the best soil for grass seed to grow in. These are our favorites for home gardeners, from cool-season varieties to transition-zone and warm season grasses that are naturally resistant to heat. Its one of the best slow-growing grass types for those who hate mowing. You don't walk on ornamental grass, so there's no pressing need to maintain it at a certain height. You'll only have to mow your lawn once or twice a year. Add Color and Texture to Any Landscape with Ornamental Grasses. Use a single variety of ornamental grass to fill the length of the bed instead of mixed perennials and annuals for an easy-care (and handsome-looking) solution. It grows 8 to 12 feet tall (its clump has a spread of 3 to 4 feet). Achieving anaestheticallyappealing landscape while keeping water consumption down can be tricky, but its the price we pay to live in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. As with maiden grass, cut back the foliage in early spring. Large, 12-18" tall plumes erupt from foliage in mid-summer. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Fiber Optic Grass grows about a foot tall and produces tiny, fluffy flowers on the tips of stems that look like a fiber optic light. Below are some popular types of ornamental grass that stay small and make great additions to the landscape: Dwarf Mondo Grass ( Ophiopogon spp. Evergreen in milder regions. By removing all that dry, old growth that is basically a big mess of dead grass, new growth will actually be exposed to sunlight and fresh air. Enter and get to know the best low-maintenance lawns instead of wasting your time on a more traditional lawn. This low maintenance evergreen will grow in sun or shade and is salt and drought tolerant. If you want to get straight to it, these are my favorite types of lawns that require less maintenance: Whichever low-maintenance grass type you pick, youll put in less work if you follow these best tips for taking care of your lawn. This deer-resistant ornamental grass is cold-hardy to zone 5. That is ornamental grasses. Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Tip 1: Understand native plants. It is also highly drought and pest resistant, requiring little care to survive and thrive. What's great about small ornamental grasses is they'll do well in containers in small spaces, too. Impressive, graceful, fountain-like clumps. While it might be tempting to mow down a mess like this, removal of the dry stuff and a good shaping is generally all that will be needed. USDA zones: 3 - 8. It thrives in direct sunshine and isnt ideal for shaded lawns but becomes dormant in droughts, recovering quickly through watering and keeping the soil moist. A forest garden is one of the few low-maintenance landscaping ideas that thrive on neglect and still ends up looking magical. Here are a few ornamental grasses that would look wonderful in a Denver landscape design. If you want short ornamental grass that doesn't require too much watering or trimming, consider a low-maintenance ornamental grass. Buy It: Dwarf Ornamental Fountain Grass ($35, Lowe's ) 03 of 21 Little Bluestem John Reed Forsman A lovely, tough-as-nails prairie native, little bluestem offers gray-green leaf blades that turn bold shades of purple, red, and orange in autumn. As low as $34.79. Its job is not so much to be admired, in and of itself, as it is to form a stage on which the yard's actors (flowers, shrubs, trees, hardscape, etc.) Neutral or slightly acidic soil is the best when it comes to growing grass seed. Plumegrass (Erianthus ravennae) is grown in USDA planting zones 4 to 9. Bring your catalogs and compare. David has been interviewed by numerous newspapers and national U.S. magazines, such as Woman's World and American Way. As low as $29.40. Try combining grasses such as Elijah Blue (which you should only need to cut back every couple of years) with varieties such as Festuca Glauca and Miscanthus Sinensis for a beautifully natural look without the graft. If you have poor soil in your garden, fertilize it before planting grass seeds in order to restore the nutrients that are not present. So, what happens if you put clay soil and sand together? However, there is another choice to make a stunning look for your landscaping. Usually ships within 2 to 3 days. Usually ships within 2 to 3 days. Dwarf mondo grass does well in full sun or partially shaded areas. Below are 22 low-maintenance plants you can grow in 2022. The plant reaches a height of 3 to 5 feet, with a spread of 2 to 4 feet. These ornamental grasses can survive, and even thrive, in those shaded spots. So much for what might be considered the "when" part of the question. A typical clump size is 5 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Its purplish flower spikes are followed by fluffy, attractive seed-heads tinged with purple or burgundy. As low as $39.89. However, they will also tolerate slightly colder and warmer conditions. It is a new, grey/blue and white variegated grass that has long, green, graceful leaves that sport thin white striping. Its also tough enough to survive winters, but its root system is shallow. You can also use grass seed in batches, with different types for different areas of your lawn if they vary in sun and shade levels. You can fertilize again in the fall, but theres no need to do it across the summer unless your lawn is really in need of nutrients. Use these low maintenance beauties to add vertical interest, a focal point or unity to a garden. UC Verde Buffalograss is also low-maintenance because it suppresses weed growth well, so youll spend less time getting rid of those nasty weeds. Dried flowerheads highly prized. It's mainly late in the season that Miscanthus sinensisGracillimus provides much of a display (after it blooms). This, in turn, will help you grow a more resistant, maintenance-free grass. It tolerates a little shade, but be sure to grow it in full sun to achieve maximum darkness. Theyre full of essential nutrients for your grass, so leaving them in both acts as a natural fertilizer and takes one additional job from your hands. Get it Dec 8 - 13. Also known as Indian Wood Oats, this native ornamental plant is an aesthetically brilliant, clump-forming grass with wide leaves and nodding and arched clusters of flat oat-like seed-heads. They come in a variety of colors, textures, and heights, and can be used to create a variety of looks. Fountain grass is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for. Not only is it attractive year round, rock never needs replacing. Some of the most popular varieties include: yarrow, echinacea, and lavender. The seep muhly (M. reverchonii) also . Types of Low Maintenance Grass 1. Plus, they can grow well outdoor in raised planting beds, or an entire yard, even some also can grow indoors in containers or pots. Its one of the most common options for the tough transition zone between climates because it has good resistance to both the cold and heat. If you live in an area subject to harsh winters, you'll need to treat it as an annual. The clumps each grow two feet tall and wide. You dont have to water your lawn every day, just water it enough to maintain moist soil! It's hardy in zones four to eight, and it gets a foot tall and six to nine inches wide. It can thrive in the harshest of conditions, making it perfect for more arid and dry locations. Little Bluestem is a prairie grass has gray-green leaf blades that add shades of blue in the summer and shades of purple, red, and orange in autumn. It needs about six hours of sun and can tolerate shade for about four hours. Ornamental grass, by contrast, isn't meant to be mowed, isn't meant to be uniform, and isn't meant to be tread upon. Plus, they can be used in gardens styles ranging from cottage to contemporary. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. ft. of bed area. 4. Drought-tolerant once established it bears reddish blades. And then you have the grass seed types that thrive in areas of partial shade and full sun. Zoysia is a drought-tolerant, warm-season grass that grows mostly through the late spring and summer. The seed-heads are mauve-colored. In fall, it emerges beautiful focal point with its brushy flowers. Its a modernized, improved version of Buffalograss native to the United States and Mexico, so its naturally apt for these climates. The latter is a functional grass, serving primarily a practical purpose: It forms a uniform surface on which to walk when we're out in the yard. Theyre amazing accent plants that sway in the breeze and add interest for any season of the year. It reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. EverColor Everlime Variegated Sedge Grass Zones: 5-9. 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