We all get caught up balancing colors and placements of
blooming plants in our gardens during the growing season. Now, as we move into the winter months, consider
places in our gardens that could use new enhancements to provide greater garden
interest. For example, when snows come
and go and your landscape changes with each storm, how much attention do you
pay to your overall gardenscape?
Think about the barren spots, the newly formed little
gullies from water run-off, or interesting branches that may fall from an old
tree. These can contribute to potential shifts in garden plans. Grasses can
enhance our beds, even in warm seasonal containers, while most help save on
watering.
Grasses provide more depth of enjoyment by defining
spaces with color, form and texture, from barren seed heads to interesting blades.
Do you have a space that could use a height element, or a dash of color with
unique spikes? Do you have native grass
clumps that can be moved to a more suitable location, thus fulfilling your desired
goals? Research a grass and its related
cultivars carefully for seasons, soil types and growth characteristics (i.e. bunch
or sod-forming), as these needs and the physical appearances may affect the
results you are after.
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| June Grass |
Most importantly, we should acknowledge that beyond native
grasses, there are ornamental grasses that can tolerate our altitude and
multiple growing conditions with a dedicated, patient and persistent hand.
Seeding can be a challenge. For larger areas of soil and landscape regeneration,
broadcast seeding may be appropriate, but for a smaller, more specific area, seedlings
you grow or some from the local nursery may be more successful. Many of these are also great in garden beds as
well as clump cultivars for summer container plantings with colorful annuals or
perennials added for composition.
Some of these native grasses include:
- Indian Rice Grass (Orzopsis hymenoides), a delicate cool-season grass addition to any rock garden, the birds will thank you for the seed spikes.
- Mountain brome (Bromus marginatus) may be more common and familiar to us all but it is valuable for any restorative garden area that needs a filler.
- Blue grama grass (Bouteloua Gracilis), Colorado’s state grass, is cold hardy, but plant it in a sunny, warm spot in finely textured soil.
- Arizona fescue (Festuca Arizonica) is a bunch grass, good forage for wildlife and livestock.
- June Grass (Koeleria family) has unique lustrous seed heads, growing in sandy soils
- Mountain Muhly (Muhlenbergia montana) is a bunch grass, medium in height. Did you know there is a mountain bike trail in Evergreen named after this grass?
- Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) can develop into a thick sod. It also can withstand varying weather conditions from monsoon to drought.
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scopariums) is a plains grass, but in a sunny area with protection, it may grow well and provide color as the seasons advance.
Routt County Master Gardeners add these colorful ornamental
grasses:
- Feather Reed grass (Culamagrostis acutiflora)
- Reed Canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
- Oat grass (Helictotrichon semperverirens)
- Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica)
- Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
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| Purple Ornamental Millet |
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| Millet seed heads |
I recently discovered Purple Ornamental Millet (Pennisetum
glaucum), a warm-season annual grass. This family is broad, as it is one of
the oldest grains for food and grazing, originating in Africa and adjacent continental
areas. It has an extensive root system
that makes it drought tolerant. It grows best in the upper 80s to mid-90s. Cooler, wet conditions will inhibit colors
and stem growth. The deepest stem and
blade colors come from plenty of direct sun.
Make early fertilizer applications and consistent watering a priority. Purple ornamental millet will grow several stems, all producing
spikes (inflorescence) that produce the seed. A clump
or mass planting in beds or containers is ideal. It may overwinter in small clumps
if moved inside.
Your reward for researching, planting and caring for
these grasses may be a gentle breeze off the back deck next summer, while you
watch with pleasure the soft waves of grasses moving across the garden.
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