{"id":1067,"date":"2022-03-10T22:48:15","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T18:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/?p=1067"},"modified":"2022-03-10T22:48:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-10T18:48:15","slug":"successful-cultivation-of-ornamental-grasses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/gardening\/grasses-and-ferns\/successful-cultivation-of-ornamental-grasses\/","title":{"rendered":"Successful cultivation of ornamental grasses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is at least one grass to beautify every corner of the garden and every corner of the garden is suitable for growing grasses.&nbsp;Adopt these plants with multiple attractions to give life and structure to your environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technical sheet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their pollination is carried out by the wind.\u00a0You will meet annual or\u00a0perennial\u00a0decorative species, not to mention\u00a0bamboos\u00a0which produce woody stems (hard as wood) and are intermediate with shrubs.\u00a0However, all grasses regrow from their stump, at least the perennial species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dimensions:<\/strong>\u00a0variable: from a few centimeters, for grassy forms, to more than two meters for\u00a0miscanthus, Provence cane,\u00a0pampas grasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Flowering: <\/strong>grasses do not, strictly speaking, form flowers, but spikelets that are not very colorful, greenish, which last for a long time, taking on pretty beige to golden colors.\u00a0The first blooms appear from March-April and the last, autumnal, often last until the heart of winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hardiness:<\/strong>&nbsp;most varieties are hardy.&nbsp;However, splendid exotic species and varieties deserve to be cultivated as annual plants for summer settings or acclimatized in mild regions.&nbsp;This is the case with&nbsp;<em>Pennisetum setaceum<\/em>&nbsp;such as &#8216;Rubrum&#8217; or &#8216;Fireworks&#8217; with leaves variegated with purple or highlighted with pink, canes from Provence&nbsp;<em>(Arundo donax),<\/em>&nbsp;the large&nbsp;<em>Erianthus ravennae<\/em>or sugar cane (&nbsp;<em>Saccharum officinarum<\/em>&nbsp;) including the superb purple variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Invasive or not<\/strong>&nbsp;:&nbsp;<br>There are three categories of grasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The&nbsp;<strong>creeping grasses<\/strong>&nbsp;, that is to say extending through rhizomes and rapidly invade a space.&nbsp;Their culture should only be thought of by considering a culture surrounding them with an insurmountable barrier.<\/li><li>The&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>bunch grasses<\/strong>&nbsp;, that is to say, that grow in clumps.&nbsp;This is the case with the majority of grasses encountered in our gardens. They gradually enlarge over time, like any perennial, but without ever producing a sucker other than at the foot of the mother plant.&nbsp;Like many perennials, their multiplication is done by division of tufts.<\/li><li>The&nbsp;<strong>grasses short rhizomes<\/strong>&nbsp;.&nbsp;They widen a little, but do not go very far, forming less dense clumps than the bunchgrass grasses.&nbsp;A simple spade at their foot is enough to limit their modest invasion.&nbsp;It is the second largest group of ornamental grasses in number<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to sow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>To be practiced in spring for pure species, whether annual or perennial.<\/li><li>For varieties obtained by crossing, sowing is not recommended.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to plant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The&nbsp;planting grasses&nbsp;is done preferably in the spring, ideally from natural regrowth of plants.<\/li><li>September is also recommended, the plants then having plenty of time to take root before winter (a period not recommended for less hardy species).<\/li><li>In the South, it is preferable to install them in autumn, because the risk of rot by stagnant humidity is less.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maintenance and other care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Organic mulches will be spread at the foot of&nbsp;shade grasses&nbsp;such as luzules, hakonechloas or deschampsias or damp earth.<\/li><li>On the other hand, a&nbsp;mineral mulch&nbsp;(gravel) will be more appropriate for steppe species such as&nbsp;stipas&nbsp;, fescues, calamagrostis.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fertilizers and fertilization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No need to add fertilizers for the good health of the grasses.\u00a0They are generally satisfied with the reserves of the soil to thrive.\u00a0Shade or damp earth species will however appreciate a contribution of organic matter when planting: potting soil,\u00a0compost, dehydrated manure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Diseases and pests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grown in healthy soil and a well-ventilated atmosphere, grasses are rarely diseased.&nbsp;With excess humidity,&nbsp;rust&nbsp;can settle on blue oats or fescues.&nbsp;Drain the land to compensate for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For evergreen grasses such as\u00a0<em>Stipa tenuifolia,<\/em>\u00a0the\u00a0<em>Deschampsia,<\/em>\u00a0or blue oat, content yourself, in late winter, combing tufts of manually using a glove to remove dead leaves.\u00a0The tufts of deciduous grasses will be cut back as late as possible (in winter) in order to benefit from their decorative culms for a long time in winter.\u00a0Clean the clumps as soon as the stems weaken.\u00a0Wait March-April to\u00a0cut back the\u00a0semi-hardy and acclimatized\u00a0grasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Harvest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many grasses have inflorescences which keep wonderfully in\u00a0dry clumps.\u00a0Do not hesitate to experiment with compositions taking advantage of the great diversity of their golden or silver inflorescences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Multiplication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Strain\u00a0division\u00a0is widely used to propagate interesting species and varieties.\u00a0It is best practiced in spring, when the plants start to grow again, failing which in September.\u00a0So they are able to form new roots quickly and in abundance in hot soil. Grass species are innumerable and difficult to differentiate in nature.\u00a0In the garden, we recognize them because they are monocots (recognizable by their parallel veins) and their flowers are primary and not very colorful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grasses (of the Poaceae family) are ubiquitous on all continents.\u00a0These plants are popular in contemporary gardens where they instill a natural, wild and lively note.\u00a0They are appreciated there for their silhouette, their sometimes colored foliage, their flowering, and their fall colors.<br>Thus, their graceful vegetation marks the rhythm of the seasons.<br>The flexibility of their culms (stems), their foliage, and their inflorescences is magnified by the wind, then by the frost.\u00a0They also lighten the massifs by finding their place, according to the species and varieties, either in the shade or in the sun, in dry as in damp earth, in the South or the North of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grasses for light in dry ground<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><strong>Anemanthele lessoniana<\/strong>&nbsp;.&nbsp;<\/em>Hardiness: &#8211; 6 \u00b0 C. H 80 cm.&nbsp;Reddish orange color for its fine leaves and soft tufted habit.<\/li><li><em><strong>Bouteloua gracilis<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;or &#8220;mosquito grass&#8221;.&nbsp;H 50 cm.&nbsp;Compact tufts, swarm of horizontal spikelets.<\/li><li><strong><em>Calamagrostis x acutiflora<\/em>&nbsp;&#8216;Karl Foerster&#8217;.&nbsp;<\/strong>H 1.80 m.&nbsp;With an upright, narrow habit, like an exclamation point in the flower beds.&nbsp;Spikes erected in June, beige then golden until winter.<\/li><li><em><strong>Calamagrostis brachytricha<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;or &#8220;diamond grass&#8221;.&nbsp;1.20 m in all directions.&nbsp;With supple habit and feathery ears, catching dew.<\/li><li><em><strong>Cortaderia selloana<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;pampas grass&nbsp;.&nbsp;H up to 3 m.&nbsp;Foliage in dense sheaf and large silvery or golden beige feathers until winter.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><strong>Elymus magellanicus.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em>H 45 cm.&nbsp;It is azure wheat with steel-blue erect leaves and grainy blond ears.<\/li><li><strong>Blue or green fescues<\/strong>&nbsp;in compact tufts for original mottling.&nbsp;H 25 to 40 cm.&nbsp;Thin, erect ears of golden spikelets.&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Elijah Blue&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;a bright silvery blue;&nbsp;<strong><em>Festuca gautieri,<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;emerald green in flattened cushions or&nbsp;<strong><em>F. valesiaca<\/em>&nbsp;var.&nbsp;glaucantha<\/strong>&nbsp;with fine leaves, silvery bluish gray and purplish spikes.<\/li><li><em><strong>Melica ciliata<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;or &#8220;ciliated melica&#8221;.&nbsp;H 60 cm.&nbsp;with whitish cylindrical ears to be planted against the light.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><strong>Pennisetum&nbsp;alopecuroides<\/strong>&nbsp;.&nbsp;<\/em>Port in broad sheaf and ears in swabs.&nbsp;Fall splendor!&nbsp;H 90 cm for<strong>&#8216;Cassian&#8217;s Choice&#8217;<\/strong>with orange autumnal foliage, H 45 cm for<strong>&#8216;Little Bunny&#8217;<\/strong>, dwarf.<\/li><li><strong>Oriental&nbsp;pennisetum &#8216;Karley Rose&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; and&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Tall Tails&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;with a more erect silhouette and supple, pink spikes, carried over a meter.<\/li><li><em><strong>Sporolobus heterolepis<\/strong>&nbsp;.&nbsp;<\/em>H 70 cm.&nbsp;Fine foliage, in a compact and supple tuft.&nbsp;Broad, thin, blond spikes with a scent of popcorn in autumn.<\/li><li><em><strong>Stipa tenuifolia<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;or &#8220;angel hair&#8221;.&nbsp;H 50 cm.&nbsp;Thin and golden ears, feathery, attracting caresses and supple in the wind.<\/li><li><em><strong>Stipa gigantea<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;rises to 2.50 m with its ethereal allure of irresistible golden wild oats.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grasses for light in cool soil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><strong>Imperata cylindrica<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Red Baron&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;or Japanese Blood Grass.&nbsp;H 35 cm.&nbsp;In sucking tufts of erect leaves, tinged with red from the end of summer.<\/li><li><em><strong>Miscanthus&nbsp;sinensis<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;or eulalie offers a plethora of varieties.&nbsp;Robust, erect plants with broad, supple leaves and digitate, feathery, silvery or golden inflorescences.&nbsp;Choose<strong>&#8216;Malepartus&#8217;<\/strong>, with burgundy then silver panicles, H 2 m;&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Morning Light&#8217;<\/strong>, with very fine foliage, highlighted with silver, H 1.40 m;&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Cosmopolitan&#8217;<\/strong>with broad leaves highlighted in white, H 2.40 m or<strong>&#8216;Graziella&#8217;<\/strong>with leaves streaked with yellow;&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Floridulus&#8217;<\/strong>is the giant of the genus with almost 3 m.&nbsp;Superb in privacy screen.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><strong>Panicum virgatum<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Praire Sky&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;.&nbsp;H 1.20 m.&nbsp;Combines upright, metallic blue foliage and thin pink spikes.<\/li><li><strong><em>Phalaris arundinacea<\/em>&nbsp;&#8216;Picta&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;or Shepherdess&#8217;s Ribbon.&nbsp;H 60 cm.&nbsp;Sucker roots, cream variegated leaves and erect spikes, pink in summer.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grasses for dry shade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among plants assimilated to grasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><strong>Luzula nivea<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;.&nbsp;H 60 cm.&nbsp;Spiky, green, evergreen foliage and flowers in spring white umbels.<\/li><li><em><strong>Luzula sylvatica<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Marginata&#8217;.&nbsp;<\/strong>H 40 cm.&nbsp;Large leaves in tight rosettes, persistent, green edged with cream.<\/li><li><strong><em>Carex&nbsp;morowii<\/em>&nbsp;&#8216;Evergold&#8217;.&nbsp;<\/strong>H 35 cm.&nbsp;Compact rosette of fine, supple, persistent leaves highlighted with golden yellow.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grasses for cool shade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><strong>Chasmanthium latifolium<\/strong>&nbsp;.&nbsp;<\/em>H 1.20 m.&nbsp;American grass, deciduous emerald green foliage and supple panicles with large, flat spikelets.&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;River Mist&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;is a superb novelty with cream variegated leaves.<\/li><li><em><strong>Deschampsia cespitosa<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Goldschleier&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;or &#8220;canche cespiteuse&#8221;.&nbsp;Dense tufts of thin, green leaves, surmounted in summer-autumn by a cloud of slender and golden spikelets.&nbsp;H 1.20 m.<\/li><li><strong><em>Hakonechloa macra<\/em>&nbsp;&#8216;Aureola<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8216;.&nbsp;H 35 x 45 cm.&nbsp;Japanese grass with broad leaves, variegated with golden yellow.&nbsp;Spectacular cascading harbor.&nbsp;Slow growth.<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is at least one grass to beautify every corner of the garden and every corner of the garden is suitable for growing grasses.&nbsp;Adopt these plants with multiple attractions to give life and structure to your environment. Technical sheet Their pollination is carried out by the wind.\u00a0You will meet annual or\u00a0perennial\u00a0decorative species, not to mention\u00a0bamboos\u00a0which [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1068,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grasses-and-ferns"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1067"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1067\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.semsgarden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}