Foundation plantings ornamental grasses and ?
organicshadegardener
17 years ago
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keesha2006
17 years agogeorich5
17 years agoRelated Discussions
What to Plant with Baptisia and Ornamental Grass
Comments (4)Sounds like a perfect place for prairie plants. I'm using these in my prairie garden: PURPLE/BLUES Aster novae-angliae ÂPurple Dome Aster oblongifolius ÂOctober Skies Echinacea pallida Echinacea purpurea Echinacea tennesseensis Liatris spicata - definitely narrow! WHITE/LAVENDER Penstemon digitalis ÂMystica All will fall in your height range. The asters will perhaps be too bushy for your needs....See Moreplanting ornamental grass without rototilling
Comments (5)You sort of have to just wait, but you know when its dead just by looking close to the roots of some of the grass. I think it took mine a couple of weeks at least but it looked like it had been sprayed and was starting to die the very next day. I had to let mine sit like that all winter because I did it in late summer three years ago. No weeds came up anywhere the next spring. I suggested the rock mulch because bark types or cypress will run downhill and float down. I put a wide border of larger river rocks all around the edges to define it. Saves money in the long run over mulch that breaks down and it keeps the soil moist a long time and is easier to water when necessary by preventing water run off. Your problem, you have probably already figured this out, is getting water to any roots of what is planted. If it was me, I would have a big bucket to hold dirt, dig your hole, take out half the dirt and replace it with sand, mixing it with the existing soil. That way, the water will soak in fast rather than just running off the slope. I've done a lot of that and it works very well. I would also consider grasses that like it on the dry side because its so hard to water a slope and some would just love it, like the Muhly grasses for instance. You have a situation that will grow fabulous plants requiring perfect drainage that would not make it anywhere else. The possibilities are endless. Check out High Country Gardens on line. For me a well draining slope is paradise when it comes to plant/grass selection and you can let it work in your favor....See MoreCan You Plant Ornamental in Regular Grass
Comments (5)One issue that needs to be brought forth - should service be required in, on or around the box you could loose the grasses that you planted. True this might not be an excessive investment but utility companies do have the rights to service their equipment. Any plants, hardscapes or buildings encroaching in the easement could be removed and not replaced at the discretion of the utility company. Like the others have stated you can dig a hole and drop in the grass and trim the turf with string trimmer or mower. You could remove sod, plant and mulch, which is what I would do. If there is room I would leave enough space for workers to service the box without having to cut back or down the grass when they do their work. Jake...See MorePlanting Ornamental Grasses from Seed
Comments (6)Hi, I'm growing grasses from seed this year. I got some nice ones from "Pase Seed" @ only $2.50 per packet (average). Each packet only contains about 20 to 50 seeds but unless you want a lot, this is fine. They had many that would work in your zone. Jelitto is a highly rated seed source with the best choices but they are rather expensive and the site is difficult to order from as you have to change euros to dollars and order a minimum amount. The packet prices are expensive. I read recently that you can experiment with grasses listed as hardy to certain zones and try some a zone warmer than yours because often you will have success as there are many factors involved. Zones are just a sort of average gauge to go by. With seeds, you can afford to do this. I sowed a couple of types listed as zone 8 in some sources while other sources has the same grass as low as zone 6. In other words, don't be intimidated. I have many natives growing that are listed as zone 8 growing successfully for years now. So much for strict zonal laws. Another source is "Plants of the Southwest" which offers some really nice natives that are quite decorative especially when mass planted. They are only $2.50 per package and usually you get 200 seeds. There is no shipping cost. Make sure your medium is sterile, non-soil potting mix, they tend to damp off otherwise. Cover your pots with clear plastic until they germinate and then uncover and give them some good light. Don't ever let them dry out completely. One day can kill. I am using a large south window to have good sized plugs by spring. I thought I'd started too soon but some are germinating and coming around so slowly, I'm glad I started early now. If every seed comes up within three days or so and grows very fast, I consider it a probable invasive and don't plant it. Some need warm, then cool, then warm again. These would be best done as winter sowing. Cool season grasses are especially good to start now. Warm season grasses are better started in Spring. I broke that rule too. Also, some seeds take quite some time to germinate and then come up at different times so don't ever throw out your pots too soon. I have some Deergrass Muhly doing that. I sowed them in early October and I am still getting sporadic germination and very tiny, slow growing plants....See Morefaltered
17 years agofoxglove
17 years agodowneastwaves
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17 years agoorganicshadegardener
17 years agoSandL
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17 years agoianna
17 years ago
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