Information ornamental grasses and "lawn care" ... blend with "landscaping ideas" and "garden design"... some general gardening information...Inside this article:
Ornamental Grasses for Shady Places
by: ARA Content
(ARA) - Gardeners often fight to grow turfgrass in shady spots only to get frustrated when the turfgrass fails time after time. As a result, many turn to shade-loving plants to fill in these bare areas.
Imagine their surprise when they discover that grasses are among the many plants available to them. "Most gardeners think grasses are for the sun only. We want them to know that many ornamental grasses will also grow in the shade," says Gordy Oslund, owner of Shady Oaks Nursery, a mail-order catalog specializing in shade-loving plants. More about this...
"Grasses add an element to the garden that few other plants can, both visually and audibly," says Oslund. "Not only are the plants beautiful, but they swing and sway in the slightest breeze."
Besides these obvious advantages, grasses and grass-like plants are available in a wide array of colors and sizes. Some require wet sites, other's need dry spots, and some form small clumps. Others are tall, vigorous spreaders. "There's a grass to fill almost any need," says Oslund.
Many so-called ornamental grasses aren't grasses at all. Some are sedges, some are rushes, but all have thin, long leaves.
While most grasses are thought to need full sun to thrive, many ornamental grasses and grass-like plants have varying degrees of shade tolerance. Some tolerate light to moderate shade while others thrive only when grown in the shade.
"Grasses are now being recognized as a basic in perennial gardening instead of a novelty," says Oslund, who points out that he's used grasses in landscaping his own home.
A newer gardening trend has also fueled interest in grasses. Beginning in the 1980's, a gardening style called "New-American" became very popular. It involves planting large clumps, or sweeps, of the same plant in large flowing beds instead of just one plant here and there. Bold flower colors, natives and frequent use of grasses are just some of the basics of this style. More about this...
What will help even more to introduce grasses to gardeners is the fact that the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has selected "Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass" as the PPA Plant of the Year 2001. While the common name is quite long and cumbersome, the botanical name of "Calamagrostis acutiflora Karl Foerster" is even more awkward. Yet nothing is awkward about this graceful plant.
Narrow green grassy leaves form clumps about two to three feet high. The pinkish to reddish brown plume-like flower spikes reach much higher and appear in late spring. This plant tolerates almost any growing conditions, including moderate amounts of shade and almost any soil type or condition.
"We expect it to be a top seller," says Oslund. "Everyone who sees it, especially when it's in bloom, wants to know what it is," he adds.
Don't expect all grasses to be green, though. A wide variety of leaf colors are out there. Some have reddish or purplish leaves, including Japanese Blood Grass" (Imperata cylindrica), whose leaves are red towards the tips, and "Flame Grass" (Miscanthus sinensis Purpurascens), whose long leaves turn a reddish hue in the fall.
Other ornamental grasses are showstoppers with their variegated foliage. Perhaps the most unique is "Porcupine Grass" (Miscanthus sinensis Strictus). Unlike other variegated grasses, this one has horizontal stripes across the foliage. "It makes a strong contrast in the landscape even though it's quite fine-textured," says Oslund. "My personal favorite is 'Hakonechloa macra Aureola.' It's graceful yellow and green variegation is a great complement to blue sedges or hosta."
For very shaded spots, gardeners will have the best luck with sedges, rushes, liriope and canary grass. "Sedges do so well in the shade that we carry about a dozen different varieties," Oslund points out. 'Some are all green, others are variegated with white, cream or golden-yellow."
As a group, sedges (Carex sp.) like moist soil. Many form small neat clumps and are perfect for accent plantings, edging beds and even for use in containers. Others spread and make excellent groundcovers. More about this...
Rushes include such interesting plants as "Horsetails" (Equisetum hyemale) and "Corkscrew Rush" (Juncus effusus Spiralis ). These also prefer moist soils, and will even take standing water from time to time. Oslund warns that they are spreaders, so you may want to confine their root systems.
Liriope (Liriope spicata) is a standard in the South. These grass-like plants are actually members of the lily family and are used extensively as groundcovers and bed edgers. This one will tolerate dry shade.
"Feezey's Canary Grass" (Phalaris arundinacea Feezeys ) is a true grass that will take a lot of shade. It's a tall grower with green and white variegated leaves, and is a vigorous spreader. If necessary, confine the root system in a submerged bottomless pot to control the spread. This one grows well in both dry and wet soils. More about this...
Don't let shade scare you away from trying ornamental grasses. Says Oslund, "I'm convinced that grasses have a place in every yard, no matter how big or small."
For a free catalog of shade-loving plants, including grasses, contact Shady Oaks Nursery at 1-800-504-8006.
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About The AuthorCourtesy ARA Content,
http://www.aracontent.com/
e-mail: info@ARAcontent.comCopyright © 2001 ArticleCity.com
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