Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Garden Minute - Ornamental Grasses Nov. 28, 2017




November 28, 2017

This is Jason Lamb with your Gardening Minute.

Ornamental Grasses are not used in landscapes as often as they could be. Annual or peren­nial, tall or short, native or exotic, grasses can be used in many places and all seasons. In addition to the common use as lawns and turf grass, ornamental grasses can form borders, backdrops, hedgerows, and add to a native landscape.
The type of garden or landscape desired must be considered careful­ly when choosing grasses. Gardeners must consider water requirements, soil adaptations, winter hardiness and growth characteristics such as height and season when deciding on a landscape grass. Some ornamental grasses spread by rhizomes, which limits their use as an ornamental.
Grasses are normally divided into three groups. Short, mid, and tall grasses. Blue fescue, blue grama, foxtail barley, and Indian rice grass are short grasses, rabbit foot grass, redtop, side oats grama, little bluestem, and big bluestem are mid grasses, and giant reed, Ravenna grass, and Pampas grass are considered tall grasses. Ornamentals are a great way to add color and focal points to your garden.
If you would like more information on ornamental grasses please contact the Extension office at 461-0562. This has been your Gardening Minute with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where our programs are open to everyone.

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