Round of your landscaping with Ornamental Grasses
Once you have selected your grasses make sure that the soil is prepared correctly before planting. Fall is the best time to prepare for planting. Till the soil deeply and make sure you have a good drainage system. You will need a minimal amount of fertilizer for ornamental grasses. If you are unable to till the soil in the fall, you can also do so in the spring as ornamental grasses can be planted in both the spring and fall seasons. When you plant the grasses in the spring this gives them extra time to develop a good root system before winter descends. If you are going to plant in the fall, take some extra precautions to assure the success of your ornamental grasses. Try to complete the planting in the months of August and September. As the first winter approaches, you should provide a light cover of straw or hay that will yield better results. Once you have experienced several hard frosts, apply the mulch. Be careful not to plant the grasses too deep. If you do, there is a chance that they develop root diseases or even rot in the ground.
Caring for your grasses is relatively simple. Watch the color of the leaves and their vigor to determine when they need fertilizer. It is best to apply the fertilizer in the spring and water it thoroughly. The first season you have the grasses it is important to water them well so that they can develop a good root system. Once the grasses are established, they do not require regular watering. During periods of drought, you will need to provide supplemental watering. One of the advantages to ornamental grasses is that they do not need to be cut back during winter months. As the foliage browns it helps to insulate the crown of the plant. You may consider cutting the grasses back approximately six inches as spring approaches and before growth resuming. If you remove the foliage, expect spring growth to begin early. Leaving the foliage on the plant will delay the growth by up to three weeks. Other types of ornamental grasses that are available for landscaping projects include: feather reed grass, plume grass, switch grass, ribbon grass, prairie dropseed, annual quaking grass, rabbit’s tail grass among many others.
