How do you support big ornamental grasses?
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
14 years ago
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Thyme2dig NH Zone 5
14 years agoWendyB 5A/MA
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Ornamental Grasses How-To
Comments (9)Cut them back hard when they die back, it's easier than dead-heading. Fertilize them with lawn fertilizer, the cheapest stuff you can find, and go easy with it. Plant them in full sun, give them plenty of water when it's dry....See MoreHow hard is it to dig out large established ornamental grasses?
Comments (6)Every grass you listed is a nice clumping variety. Not only CAN you plant in mixed perennial beds, but you SHOULD. That's where grasses can really compliment other plantings. The Cabaret could be a specimen grass, or treated as a backdrop. Provide at least half the mature height in potential girth. For example, a Cabaret should have about 4 to 5 ft available for base growth. Morning Light won't need quite as much, maybe 3 to 4 ft. Pennisetum Hameln is a dwarf clumping fountain grass that would not be difficult to divide or relocate if need be. Samne thing with the carex...very easy to divide, relocate, or transplant. As you suggested, the Miscanthus will be the larger varieties and should be planted based on mature size, not on the pot they're currently in. Don't plant too close to a foundation, provide enough room for them to fill out all the way around. All of this is based on treating the Miscanthus as specimen type plantings within the bed. I prefer to see the grasses in their full form, not cramped into spaces. Massed planting for effect would be the exception. NONE of these grasses mentioned, however, are going to create competitive issues within the perennial bed. Just as you plan the other plantings, plan and space grasses appropriately as well. Hope this helps out! Here is a link that might be useful: Info on selecting appropriate ornamental grasses...See MoreHow to hybrid ornamental grass?
Comments (4)Interesting question! I'll look forward to the answers. I guess in order to hybridize them, you'd have to figure out how and when they're pollinated, do it yourself, and then isolate the hand-pollinated plant from further contact, collect seeds and grow them out. I don't know if it's fact or not, but I have it in my mind grasses are wind pollinated. With the exception of Luzula nivea (Snowy Woodrush) I've never seen bees on my grasses. It seems the steps would be: Collect pollen from one grass (How, I have no idea). Transfer it to the appropriate part of the other grass (How, I have no idea). Isolate the pollinated plant from further pollen attacks. Cheesecloth wouldn't do it. You'd have to use some material finer than that, but still light, air and moisture transparent. Wait for viable seed, and collect it. Successfully germinate the seed and grow out the results. Sounds like quite an undertaking....See Moreporcupine ornamental grass...what to do?
Comments (3)In your climate, I'd recommend against a fall planting. Miscanthus is a warm season grass and root growth halts as soon as soil temperatures cool. This makes it difficult to get established before the cold and wet of winter and fall planted miscanthus often fail from root rot or cold damage. Better to plant now, taking appropriate measures donn has outlined, or wait until spring....See Moreclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
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