Ornamental grass is perfect for any garden. Whether you have a Japanese, modern or low maintenance garden. In the summer, ornamental grass adds atmosphere and movement to your garden. In winter you can enjoy the sturdy silhouettes of the culms and plumes.
Ornamental grass gives your garden a great natural look and it comes in many different colors, like all shades of green, yellow, brown, blue, black, and even red. Ornamental grass also comes in various heights. The lowest species are about 25 centimeters, while the highest can grow to more than 2 meters tall. Pole-shaped species grow slowly and gradually expand. Other varieties with underground runners will spread throughout your garden in no time.
Most frequently asked questions about ornamental grass
1. Can I plant ornamental grass in a pot?
Ornamental grasses can be planted all year round. Spring is the most suitable period. These grasses can be planted in any type of soil, but it is important that the soil is permeable. Ornamental grasses are also suitable for planting in a pot. Choose an appropriate size for this. For example, you can place pots with ornamental grasses on your balcony or along your terrace. Start with filling your pot with potting soil.
Make sure that the water in the pot can escape through one or more holes in the bottom. Apply a layer of Hydro granules at the bottom of the pot. The pot should be larger than the grow pot it was in, so it still has room to grow. Plant your ornamental grass at the same depth as it was in the nursery pot. And water well after planting.
2. Can I place ornamental grass in the shade?
Ornamental grasses, like perennials, prefer sun and shade. Many species prefer a spot in the sun or partial shade. But there are also varieties that are suitable for a place in the shade. For example, different varieties of Carex, such as Carex Comans, Carex Foliolissima, and Carex Morrowii. Hakone grass, Luzula Sylvatica, and Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Niger’ can also thrive in the shade.
3. Can I trim ornamental grass?
You can certainly trim your ornamental grass. You rejuvenate the plant with this. Cutting back will help the plant grow stronger and earlier in spring. In winter, the plant protects itself against frost with the ‘old’ leaves. The root ball is also protected by the leaf against rain and moisture. If the soil is well-draining, this will prevent the roots from rotting.
You can prune both the evergreen and the semi- and non-evergreen varieties. With evergreen species, it’s not always necessary. It’s sufficient to only cut back the damaged leaves.
4. When do I cut back my ornamental grass?
Never cut back ornamental grass in the autumn, you will miss a large part of the ornamental value that the plant has. Especially in winter, ornamental grass gives you the most beautiful silhouettes. In addition, the grasses provide any livelihood in your garden with some wind. Pruning is done in the spring, early March. This will accelerate growth and support the plant to sprout young and fresh again.
5. Which ornamental grass should you not prune?
In principle, you can prune any ornamental grass. However, you do not necessarily have to prune the evergreen varieties. By removing the brown leaves in spring, your plant will look great again. Optionally you can prune them to get fresh young leaves. In that case, you can follow the same method as you do with the other grasses. In spring, cut the entire plant to about 5 to 20 centimeters above the ground, depending on the size of the plant.
6. How do I trim ornamental grass?
Use sturdy garden gloves and sharp pruning shears for cutting back your ornamental grass. The leaves of some grasses are very sharp, so wear protective gloves. Depending on the size of the plant, prune the leaves between 5 and 20 centimeters from the ground.
You can prune evergreen or semi-evergreen varieties. The leaf will sprout again. However, it is not necessary, you can also suffice with cutting away the ugly, curly or brown leaves.
7. What types of ornamental grass are there?
Grasses are one of the largest families of plants. There are about 8000 species around the world. Each grass species has its own unique shape, small and clump-shaped, strong and high with the well-known culms, shaped like a screen and flared species. There is also a wide choice in the colors of the top, as are the various shapes and sizes. There are evergreen types of ornamental grass, semi-evergreen types, and non-evergreen types. In addition, when choosing your ornamental grass, you should pay attention to whether it requires a place in the sun, partial shade, or shade.
9. How much ornamental grass do I plant per square meter?
How many species you plant per square meter depends on the size of the species. There are solitary species, which easily need one square meter when fully grown. Look at the attachment in the pot for the plant information. This indicates how much space you need to give the plant.
A guideline that I can give you depends on the pot size in which you buy the plants. If you buy plants in pot size P9, you can plant five plants per square meter. The pot size P9 has a size of 9x9x10. Plants that you buy in a container with the size C2, have a volume of two liters, diameter of 17 cm. With this size, you can generally place three plants per square meter.
10. When do I plant my ornamental grass?
You can plant ornamental grasses all year round. We only advise against planting them during frost. Spring and autumn are the best times to plant ornamental grasses. The species appreciates it when the soil is warmer and looser. Make a spacious planting hole and otherwise make sure that the soil is loosened by digging.
Plant your ornamental grass as deep as it is in the nursery pot. If you plant it too deeply, you have a greater chance of soil that is too wet and that the roots will rot. Water after planting. If the soil is sufficiently loose, the plant will be able to absorb the water it needs after planting and the remainder will sink into the soil.
