#miscanthus sinensis

[wiley-treehouse-gardens]

[metasattva]

Autumn 2024_192 4 seasons in the neighborhood, Japan

[samirafee]

#MISCANTHUS SINENSIS - ZEBRA GRASS🌾

@samirafee

[nagaino]

[flowerishness]

Poaceae The grass family including Cortaderia selloana (Pampas grass) and Miscanthus sinensis (Zebra grass)

I don't really think of members of the grass family as flowering plants, but of course they are. The grass family is huge with 780 genera divided into over 12,000 known species, making Poaceae the fifth largest plant family in the world. The grass family doesn't have pretty flowers because it doesn't need to attract insects. All grasses are wind-pollinated.

The grass family is ancient. Seeds from Poaceae species related to modern rice and bamboo have been found in fossilized dinosaur dung from the late Cretaceous period but the grass family really got going about five million years ago. New mountain chains (like the Rockies) created much larger dry habitats, ideal for the vast grasslands to develop. Today, just three species (rice, corn and wheat) provide half of humanity's daily calories.

I've never grown ornamental grass but one one of my neighbors has thoughtfully planted these two common species in the front garden. I know all about that combination of grass species we call a lawn and I've struggled with mine for thirty-five years. Incidentally, I'm giving away my rechargeable lawn mower next week because I've sold my house. The mower works just fine but I won't need it to mow my balcony. I'm moving at the end of the month to a fourth-floor condo.

It has come to this.

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 4 November 2024

In late autumn and remaining into early winter the flowers of Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan' (eulalia, Japanese silver grass) add interest to the border. This tall deciduous grass produces arching green leaves with white margins and pale green midribs. It will thrive in a fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun.

Jill Raggett

[pix4japan]

Morning Light on Sengokuhara: Silver Grass and Tradition at Mt. Hakone・仙石原すすき草原：箱根山北麓に広がる、伝統と美の保護

At an altitude of about 700 meters, the vast field of Sengokuhara is blanketed with tall susuki grass (Japanese silver grass, Miscanthus sinensis). Lush and deep green in summer, the grass transforms in early autumn into glistening silvery tufts that sway elegantly in the breeze.

A gently sloping path cuts straight through the field along the northern base of Mt. Daigatake, an inactive lava dome that’s part of the Hakone caldera. This dirt path stretches 680 meters (2,228 feet) across the full width of the slope, leading visitors on an immersive walk through this ocean of silver grass that has been designated as one of Kanagawa’s “50 Best Scenic Spots” and a “Top 100 Flower Viewing Spot.”

While traditionally used for grazing and roofing, Miscanthus species are now valued not only as beautiful ornamentals but also as a candidate for biomass energy resource. Originating in East Asia, these grasses have since spread across North and South America, Europe, Africa, and beyond.

Full write-up with references and Google Maps links (1-minute read): https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20241015-sengokuhara2

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan Timestamp: 08:05・2024/10/15 Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP 28 mm ISO 100 for 1/20 sec. at ƒ/11

[konjaku]

荻[Ogi] Miscanthus sacchariflorus

In Akutagawa Ryūnosuke's novel 芋粥[Imogayu](The Yam Gruel), there is the following passage. This is the scene where a fox captured by a general 藤原利仁[Fujiwara-no Toshihito] was ordered to deliver a message. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217513605 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Toshihito

抛り出された狐は、なぞへの斜面を、轉げるやうにして、駈け下りると、水の無い河床の石の間を、器用に、ぴよいぴよい、飛び越えて、今度は、向うの斜面へ、勢よく、すぢかひに駈け上つた。駈け上りながら、ふりかへつて見ると、自分を手捕りにした侍の一行は、まだ遠󠄁い傾斜の上に馬を並べて立つてゐる。それが皆、指を揃へた程に、小さく見えた。殊に入日を浴びた、月毛と蘆毛とが、霜を含んだ空󠄁氣の中に、描いたよりもくつきりと、浮󠄁き上つてゐる。 狐は、頭をめぐらすと、又枯薄󠄁の中を、風のやうに走り出した。

[Hōridasareta kitsune wa, nazoe no shamen wo, korogeru yō ni shite, kakeoriruto, mizu no nai kawadoko no ishi no aida wo, kiyō ni, pyoi-pyoi, tobikoete, kondo wa, mukō no shamen e, ikioi yoku, sujikai ni kakeagatta. Kakeagari nagara, furikaette miruto, jibun wo tedori ni shita samurai no ikkō wa, mada tooi keisha no ue ni uma wo narabete tatte iru. Sorega mina, yubi wo soroeta hodo ni, chiisaku mieta. Koto ni irihi wo abita, tsukige to ashige toga, shimo wo fukunda kūki no naka ni, egaita yorimo kukkiri to, ukiagatte iru.]

[Kitsune wa, kashira wo megurasuto, mata karesusuki no naka wo, kaze no yō ni hashiri dashita.]

The fox that was thrown out ran down the diagonally sloped surface as if tumbling, dexterously leaped between the stones at the bottom of a river without water, and this time, ran up the opposite slope diagonally with great force. As running up, it looked back and saw that the group of samurai who had captured it were still standing with their horses lined up on the far slope. All of them appeared to be small about the size of fingers lined up. In particular, the palomino and the gray (horse), bathed in the setting sun, standing out more clearly in the frosty air than depicted.

The fox turned its head and ran like the wind through the withered silver grass again. Source: https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1214737/1/80

Actually, 利根川[Tone-gawa](The Tone River) flows beyond this colony of Ogi in the photo. In the story it says 枯薄󠄁[Karesusuki](Withered silver grass, Susuki), but when I read this, always imagine the scene with Ogi spread out. Ogi is more appropriate for wide open plains and riverbeds than Susuki(M. sinensis). The two are so similar that it is difficult to distinguish, though. And, Akutagawa would not have made such a fine distinction either.

荻の穂や 頭をつかむ 羅生門

[Ogi no ho ya kashira wo tsukamu rashōmon] As I was passing near Rashōmon, the ears of Ogi grabbed my head. By Matsuo Bashō https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashōmon_no_oni

[partybarty]

I'm sure you have all been wondering, like I have, what species of grass are considered acceptable for grass tennis courts. It appears the type of grass is not mandated, according to Tennis Australia's National Court Surface Policy's description of a grass court is natural grass grown from seed.

Here are some grasses that I propose we make grass courts out of: 1. Blue Fescue Grass – Festuca glauca

2. Windmill Grass – Chloris truncata

3. Snow Grass – Poa sieberiana

4. Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus')

5. Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')

6. Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

[angiec333]

Chinese silver grass, Miscanthus sinensis

[susi-kissa]

庭のススキ

Japanese pampas grass (Miscanthus sinensis)

[wiley-treehouse-gardens]

[the-puffinry]

there's a patch of dead Miscanthus sinensis (eulalia/chinese silver grass/susuki grass) from last year in my garden, and wikipedia tells me it was used to as building material in the past? I can't easily find a lot about it, but I wonder if I could use it to weave something like a straw hat. It isn't enough for much else anyway, but it seems like a fun thing to try-- you have to cut last year's growth every year and it seems like a shame just to throw away!

Well I could compost it of course. But it seems fun to try making something. Does anyone here have tips on how to use it for that? I suppose it wouldn't be very different to work with tha straw, but just in case.

[tameblog]

September 25th, 2024 Posted In: Beautiful Borders Ornamental grasses bring out the best in your border, contrasting and complementing the flowers.But they were considered ‘fashionable’. Consequently many of us overlooked them.Until now, they haven’t been part of a traditional herbaceous border.But now we increasingly appreciate that ornamental grasses add light, texture and movement to a border.They have gone beyond ‘fashion’ and are now perennial border staples. And they are very easy to look after.I visited Paul Seaborne of Pelham Plants, who is passionate about grasses, to find out how to choose and use them.Pelham Plants is in Sussex, and his adjoining garden has open days for the NGS. And Paul also sells his plants via the Plant Fairs Roadshow.Here are seven brilliant ornamental grasses and how to make the most of them in your garden.Top ornamental grasses for your gardenGolden Oat Grass/Stipa gigantea -a stunning statement grass that needs minimal careFeather Reed Grass/Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ – the garden designers’ favourite grass for structureChinese Silver Grass/Miscanthus Yakushima Dwarf – as a single statement or create a grass ‘hedge’Transparent Moor Grass/ Molinia ‘Transparent’ -adds ‘barely there’ movement and magic to a borderFountain Grass/Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’ – there’s a huge range of chunky pennisetum grasses with beautiful bottle-brush flowersPheasant’s Tail Grass/Anemanthele lessoniana – a resilient autumn favourite for dry gardens or partial shadeJapanese Forest Grass/Hakonechloa Macra – add light and structure to shade. Good in pots.Golden Oat Grass/Stipa GiganteaHardy to: Minus 23C/minus 10FPaul grows Golden Oat Grass (Stipa gigantea) ‘Gold Fontaene’ in his cottage garden. ‘Just because it’s a tall grass, that doesn’t mean it has to be at the back of a border,’ he says.Place it at the front or at a corner. It’s tall, feathery stems are almost see-through. He particularly likes to place it where it can be backlit by the rising or setting sun.Although it looks fragile, he says that the slender stems are quite strong and resilient. The seed-heads empty soon after flowering, but remain on the plant so you get the full effect of an ornamental grass throughout winter. A few stems may collapse, but otherwise, cut it to the ground in spring.Paul uses a hedge-trimmer, so the job takes only a few minutes. And that is the only care the golden oat grass needs all year!Golden Oat Grass (Stipa gigantea) ‘Golde Fontaene’ in Paul Seaborne’s garden. It’s almost transparent – you can see other plants or the house through it.Feather Reed Grass/Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’Hardy to: Minus 40C/minus 40F. 1.5m-1.8m highCalamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ is loved by garden designers everywhere. It is very straight and upright, forming columns of golden grass from summer through to winter.I have seen it used as a ‘hedge’, where it gives the impression of a row of soldiers on parade.Paul used to have evergreen shrub columns in one of his borders. But he felt they dominated the borders, so he took them out and used Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ as a punctuation point instead.This is also a tall grass, but it is quite narrow so it is suitable for the middle or back of a border.Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis) ‘Karl Foerster’ has a very upright, sculptural habit, with straight golden stems. It makes it good for ‘punctuation points.’ The top photo shows a garden designed by Michael McCoy – read his tips in Naturalistic Planting Design – how to get it right.Chinese Silver Grass/Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yakushima Dwarf’Hardy to: There are many varieties of miscanthus and hardiness varies. ‘Yakushima Dwarf’ is hardy to Minus 28C/minus 20FThere are many sizes and varieties of Miscanthus or Chinese Silver Grass. Heights vary from 60cm/2ft to 1.8m/6ft.Paul’s ‘Yakushima Dwarf’ is about waist-high and he uses it as a hedge.Ornamental grasses make good hedges because they filter wind, but don’t take too much moisture or nutrient from the soil.The only disadvantage is that Miscanthus are not year-round. You should cut them down to the ground once a year in spring. However, they grow up quickly and provide movement and structure in late summer and over the winter.Miscanthus also make good punctuation points – on a corner, in the middle, front or back of a border, depending on the height.Chinese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) ‘Yakushima Dwarf glows in Paul’s border, adding light and movement. It also acts as a ‘hedge’, filtering the wind and protecting the perennials on the other side of the border.Transparent Moor Grass/Molinia ‘Transparent’Hardy to: Minus 28C/minus 20F. Hieght 1.5m-2.5mThis is a very transparent grass. It is very tall and airy, but Paul recommends putting it at the front of a border or on a corner, because it doesn’t block anything.You can see all your flowers through it, so it adds texture and movement to a garden.This grass looks good from summer until the first frost. After that, its stems collapse. ‘And you clear it all away,’ says Paul.The following spring Molinia ‘Transparent’ will grow up again. So it is virtually maintenance-free, apart from clearing away the dead stems once a year!Molinia ‘Transparent’ adds movement and texture to a corner of Paul’s garden. You can see all the colour through it. Another of the easy-care ornamental grasses, although they are all comparatively low maintenance.Fountain Grass/Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’Hardy to: there are many varieties of pennisetum so hardiness varies. ‘Black Beauty’ down to minus 28C/minus20F. Height 80cm-1.5mThere are many varieties of pennisetum, but ‘Black Beauty’ is one of Paul’s favourites. ‘It’s a lump of grass, so it needs to be on the front edge or to dominate its position. Put soft planting around it.’This needs ‘good light and a good depth of soil. It can be quite a thirsty plant.’ Many ornamental grasses are good for ‘dry gardens’ or gravel gardens, but not this one.Cut down to the ground once a year in spring.Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’ is quite a chunky grass with distinctive black-tinted plumes. Ideal for the front of a border or as a statement plant.Pheasant’s Tail Grass/Anemanthele lessonianaHardy to minus 6C/21F. Height 90cm/3ftAnother garden designer favourite. Unlike many grasses, this is good in partial shade, although it also likes full sun. Has lovely autumn colour.This is considered partially evergreen, so don’t cut it down to the ground. Comb out the dead leaves with gloved hands.Good at the front of a raised border, as it arches gracefully to the ground.Pheasants Tail Grass (Anemanthele lessoniana) in my own border, adding light to a grouping of purple asters.Japanese Forest Grass/Hakonechloa MacraHardy to minus 28C/minus 20F. Height 30cm-50cmThis low-growing grass is popular for light shade, but don’t over-crowd the border when it’s getting established. It’s also reasonably drought-resistant but will need watering in its first year.Paul grows it beneath a cornus and beside a hedge, alongside hardy geraniums, so it is a useful ground cover plant.It’s also good in pots and containers, as are most grasses. (The very tall ones are more vulnerable to the wind in pots.)Two shades of Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) in the nursery at Pelham Plants, both in pots.See more of Paul’s garden in videoPaul and his partner created their garden while developing the Pelham Plants nursery, so most of the plants in the garden can be bought from the nursery. Growing the plants in a garden also gives Paul a good insight into what the plants need and how to make the best of them.  See the garden in video here.See some good plants for planting in spring picked by Paul and other independent nursery growers from the Plant Fairs Roadshow. And see their pick of good plants to plant in autumn here. Paul’s tips on creating a micro-climate in your garden are particularly useful.Should ornamental grasses be cut back every year?Firstly, find out if your ornamental grass is evergreen or deciduous.Deciduous ornamental grasses usually change colour in the autumn, then many will give you sculptural dried seedheads and stems throughout winter.  These grasses need cutting to the ground every spring.Check the care instructions for your variety. If you cut the more tender grasses too early, a frost may get to the plant. But otherwise it’s simple!If your ornamental grass is evergreen, then the leaves will stay green or mainly green throughout the year. Some of the leaves will change colour and die off, so you will get a stippled effect.Most of the evergreen grasses should NOT be cut down completely to the ground. Rake the dead leaves out or ‘comb’ through the grasses with a gloved hand.You can do this in spring or at any time when the grass seems to have too much dead in it.More ornamental grasses inspirationThe new Piet Oudolf Landscape at RHS Wisley is a triumph in contemporary naturalistic planting. It is absolutely gorgeous and uses grasses as a ‘matrix’ or background, with perennials woven through it. Visit it if you get the chance, but if you can’t don’t miss 5 lessons in planting style from the Oudolf borders at Wisley.And grasses are also very good in ‘dry gardens’ as they’re usually resilient. At the Walworth Garden in South London, they specialise in eco-friendly landscaping. They try to re-use or recycle everything rather than sending it to landfill. As a city centre site, it had lots of broken-up bricks, stones and lumps of concrete in the earth, so they picked it all out and used it as a ‘rubble mulch’.It’s planted with grasses and drought-resilient plants. See Eco-friendly garden design for more details.The Marchants Plants Garden in Sussex (now closed) was one of the UK’s most loved gardens using grasses. Henry Macaulay of Marchants gives his advice on adding grasses to a border in The very best time to plant perennials & top tips on filling a gap in your border.Pin to remember the best ornamental grassesAnd do join us. See here for a free weekly email with more gardening tips, ideas and inspiration. Source link

[nagaino]

[ramestoryworld]

September 25th, 2024 Posted In: Beautiful Borders Ornamental grasses bring out the best in your border, contrasting and complementing the flowers.But they were considered ‘fashionable’. Consequently many of us overlooked them.Until now, they haven’t been part of a traditional herbaceous border.But now we increasingly appreciate that ornamental grasses add light, texture and movement to a border.They have gone beyond ‘fashion’ and are now perennial border staples. And they are very easy to look after.I visited Paul Seaborne of Pelham Plants, who is passionate about grasses, to find out how to choose and use them.Pelham Plants is in Sussex, and his adjoining garden has open days for the NGS. And Paul also sells his plants via the Plant Fairs Roadshow.Here are seven brilliant ornamental grasses and how to make the most of them in your garden.Top ornamental grasses for your gardenGolden Oat Grass/Stipa gigantea -a stunning statement grass that needs minimal careFeather Reed Grass/Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ – the garden designers’ favourite grass for structureChinese Silver Grass/Miscanthus Yakushima Dwarf – as a single statement or create a grass ‘hedge’Transparent Moor Grass/ Molinia ‘Transparent’ -adds ‘barely there’ movement and magic to a borderFountain Grass/Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’ – there’s a huge range of chunky pennisetum grasses with beautiful bottle-brush flowersPheasant’s Tail Grass/Anemanthele lessoniana – a resilient autumn favourite for dry gardens or partial shadeJapanese Forest Grass/Hakonechloa Macra – add light and structure to shade. Good in pots.Golden Oat Grass/Stipa GiganteaHardy to: Minus 23C/minus 10FPaul grows Golden Oat Grass (Stipa gigantea) ‘Gold Fontaene’ in his cottage garden. ‘Just because it’s a tall grass, that doesn’t mean it has to be at the back of a border,’ he says.Place it at the front or at a corner. It’s tall, feathery stems are almost see-through. He particularly likes to place it where it can be backlit by the rising or setting sun.Although it looks fragile, he says that the slender stems are quite strong and resilient. The seed-heads empty soon after flowering, but remain on the plant so you get the full effect of an ornamental grass throughout winter. A few stems may collapse, but otherwise, cut it to the ground in spring.Paul uses a hedge-trimmer, so the job takes only a few minutes. And that is the only care the golden oat grass needs all year!Golden Oat Grass (Stipa gigantea) ‘Golde Fontaene’ in Paul Seaborne’s garden. It’s almost transparent – you can see other plants or the house through it.Feather Reed Grass/Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’Hardy to: Minus 40C/minus 40F. 1.5m-1.8m highCalamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ is loved by garden designers everywhere. It is very straight and upright, forming columns of golden grass from summer through to winter.I have seen it used as a ‘hedge’, where it gives the impression of a row of soldiers on parade.Paul used to have evergreen shrub columns in one of his borders. But he felt they dominated the borders, so he took them out and used Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ as a punctuation point instead.This is also a tall grass, but it is quite narrow so it is suitable for the middle or back of a border.Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis) ‘Karl Foerster’ has a very upright, sculptural habit, with straight golden stems. It makes it good for ‘punctuation points.’ The top photo shows a garden designed by Michael McCoy – read his tips in Naturalistic Planting Design – how to get it right.Chinese Silver Grass/Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yakushima Dwarf’Hardy to: There are many varieties of miscanthus and hardiness varies. ‘Yakushima Dwarf’ is hardy to Minus 28C/minus 20FThere are many sizes and varieties of Miscanthus or Chinese Silver Grass. Heights vary from 60cm/2ft to 1.8m/6ft.Paul’s ‘Yakushima Dwarf’ is about waist-high and he uses it as a hedge.Ornamental grasses make good hedges because they filter wind, but don’t take too much moisture or nutrient from the soil.The only disadvantage is that Miscanthus are not year-round. You should cut them down to the ground once a year in spring. However, they grow up quickly and provide movement and structure in late summer and over the winter.Miscanthus also make good punctuation points – on a corner, in the middle, front or back of a border, depending on the height.Chinese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) ‘Yakushima Dwarf glows in Paul’s border, adding light and movement. It also acts as a ‘hedge’, filtering the wind and protecting the perennials on the other side of the border.Transparent Moor Grass/Molinia ‘Transparent’Hardy to: Minus 28C/minus 20F. Hieght 1.5m-2.5mThis is a very transparent grass. It is very tall and airy, but Paul recommends putting it at the front of a border or on a corner, because it doesn’t block anything.You can see all your flowers through it, so it adds texture and movement to a garden.This grass looks good from summer until the first frost. After that, its stems collapse. ‘And you clear it all away,’ says Paul.The following spring Molinia ‘Transparent’ will grow up again. So it is virtually maintenance-free, apart from clearing away the dead stems once a year!Molinia ‘Transparent’ adds movement and texture to a corner of Paul’s garden. You can see all the colour through it. Another of the easy-care ornamental grasses, although they are all comparatively low maintenance.Fountain Grass/Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’Hardy to: there are many varieties of pennisetum so hardiness varies. ‘Black Beauty’ down to minus 28C/minus20F. Height 80cm-1.5mThere are many varieties of pennisetum, but ‘Black Beauty’ is one of Paul’s favourites. ‘It’s a lump of grass, so it needs to be on the front edge or to dominate its position. Put soft planting around it.’This needs ‘good light and a good depth of soil. It can be quite a thirsty plant.’ Many ornamental grasses are good for ‘dry gardens’ or gravel gardens, but not this one.Cut down to the ground once a year in spring.Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’ is quite a chunky grass with distinctive black-tinted plumes. Ideal for the front of a border or as a statement plant.Pheasant’s Tail Grass/Anemanthele lessonianaHardy to minus 6C/21F. Height 90cm/3ftAnother garden designer favourite. Unlike many grasses, this is good in partial shade, although it also likes full sun. Has lovely autumn colour.This is considered partially evergreen, so don’t cut it down to the ground. Comb out the dead leaves with gloved hands.Good at the front of a raised border, as it arches gracefully to the ground.Pheasants Tail Grass (Anemanthele lessoniana) in my own border, adding light to a grouping of purple asters.Japanese Forest Grass/Hakonechloa MacraHardy to minus 28C/minus 20F. Height 30cm-50cmThis low-growing grass is popular for light shade, but don’t over-crowd the border when it’s getting established. It’s also reasonably drought-resistant but will need watering in its first year.Paul grows it beneath a cornus and beside a hedge, alongside hardy geraniums, so it is a useful ground cover plant.It’s also good in pots and containers, as are most grasses. (The very tall ones are more vulnerable to the wind in pots.)Two shades of Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) in the nursery at Pelham Plants, both in pots.See more of Paul’s garden in videoPaul and his partner created their garden while developing the Pelham Plants nursery, so most of the plants in the garden can be bought from the nursery. Growing the plants in a garden also gives Paul a good insight into what the plants need and how to make the best of them.  See the garden in video here.See some good plants for planting in spring picked by Paul and other independent nursery growers from the Plant Fairs Roadshow. And see their pick of good plants to plant in autumn here. Paul’s tips on creating a micro-climate in your garden are particularly useful.Should ornamental grasses be cut back every year?Firstly, find out if your ornamental grass is evergreen or deciduous.Deciduous ornamental grasses usually change colour in the autumn, then many will give you sculptural dried seedheads and stems throughout winter.  These grasses need cutting to the ground every spring.Check the care instructions for your variety. If you cut the more tender grasses too early, a frost may get to the plant. But otherwise it’s simple!If your ornamental grass is evergreen, then the leaves will stay green or mainly green throughout the year. Some of the leaves will change colour and die off, so you will get a stippled effect.Most of the evergreen grasses should NOT be cut down completely to the ground. Rake the dead leaves out or ‘comb’ through the grasses with a gloved hand.You can do this in spring or at any time when the grass seems to have too much dead in it.More ornamental grasses inspirationThe new Piet Oudolf Landscape at RHS Wisley is a triumph in contemporary naturalistic planting. It is absolutely gorgeous and uses grasses as a ‘matrix’ or background, with perennials woven through it. Visit it if you get the chance, but if you can’t don’t miss 5 lessons in planting style from the Oudolf borders at Wisley.And grasses are also very good in ‘dry gardens’ as they’re usually resilient. At the Walworth Garden in South London, they specialise in eco-friendly landscaping. They try to re-use or recycle everything rather than sending it to landfill. As a city centre site, it had lots of broken-up bricks, stones and lumps of concrete in the earth, so they picked it all out and used it as a ‘rubble mulch’.It’s planted with grasses and drought-resilient plants. See Eco-friendly garden design for more details.The Marchants Plants Garden in Sussex (now closed) was one of the UK’s most loved gardens using grasses. Henry Macaulay of Marchants gives his advice on adding grasses to a border in The very best time to plant perennials & top tips on filling a gap in your border.Pin to remember the best ornamental grassesAnd do join us. See here for a free weekly email with more gardening tips, ideas and inspiration. Source link