The best ornamental grasses

 The best ornamental grasses to add to your garden

You have a flower garden and maybe even plant your own vegetables. But nothing is versatile and is as easy to maintain as elegant decorative grass for your beds and containers. At any time of the year, they move with the breeze, adding structure and interest. Unlike other grasses, they should be grown, not cut, and come in all shapes, sizes (1 to 15 feet tall), varieties, and colors.

To choose the best variety for your garden, consider what winter-hardy it is based on your USDA hardiness zone. Most people need full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun), but some take shade, which may indicate a plant tag or description. Keep in mind that there are two types of perennial ornamental grasses: winter, which grows when the temperature in the spring is cold, and then dormant in the summer heat; And the warm season, which grows best in hot climates. Annual grasses, by contrast, should be replanted every year, although they can sometimes grow in the winter in warmer climates.

When you are ready to plant the grass of your choice, dig a hole two to three times wider than the width of the pot, place the plant in the hole, and if the roots are round, approximate the sides of the root ball with your glove. Inside the pot. Then fill with soil, knock down firmly, and pour water well. From there, water the grass and plan to mow the perennial grass again in early spring, during the dry season.

Now for our favorite ornamental grass in your garden ...

1 Blue Fescue

This steel-blue grass is the most compact variety, planted in groups of three to five plants. Be sure to place it on the front of the composite borders as it will be more than a foot high.

2 Feather Reed Grass

The feathery spikes, which last until winter, are eye-catching on the top of this plant. It is very easy to maintain and comes in a variety of varieties of cultivated varieties.

3 Purple Millet

During this warm season, the grass produces beautiful flowers that turn into attractive seed heads in the fall. It is an eye-catching plant that can be attached to other annual or perennial plants in pots, beds, or containers.

4 Fiber Optic Grass

This adorable grass has small, fluffy flowers on the tips of the stems that look like fiber-optic light! It is about a foot tall and is considered annual in most parts of the country, but can also be brought indoors to enjoy as a houseplant.

5 Fountain Grass

The fountain grass forms a beautiful focal point with its brush flowers that emerge in the fall. Some species, such as the 'desert plain', are considered perennial, while others, such as the 'Desert Plains', are considered annual. Most are 3 to 4 feet high, so they are ideal for creating privacy or mixed boundaries.

6 Maiden Grass

Virgin grass has a beautiful texture with silver worms that lasts throughout the fall and winter. It is available in a variety of varieties but looks for the non-invasive genus named 'Crossilimus'.

7 Japanese Forest Grass

Bright yellow foliage is an ornamental grass that makes a great specimen in a large pot, this attractive grass, usually reaching a maximum of 18 inches, has curved leaves that are solid green or golden in color. This is one of the few ornamental types of grass that tolerates some shade.

8 Pink Muhly Grass

This grass reaches a height of 3 to 4 feet, so it is best at borders. Its beautiful pink-red pillars have a natural presence in the garden, which is a must for temperate climates.

9 Switchgrass

The curved leaves, which turn red in late summer, are an attractive addition to these grass garden beds. It is a good choice for large containers, about 3 feet high.

10 Mondo Grass

This low-growing cluster of grass makes a spectacular ground when planted in mass. It comes in shades ranging from light green to dark burgundy.

11 Sedge

There are a variety of sludges, but this cluster-forming grass is most attractive when planted in groups. Its curved leaves are available in beautiful gold, green, or colorful varieties.