Got grass?

No, I am not talking about cannabis, although with dispensaries on every corner it seems like it would be easy enough to get. I am referring to ornamental grasses. To me they are the stars of the fall garden. They are very low maintenance and bring excitement and movement to the garden during a time when many plants are fading out. With different growth habits, sizes and colors, there is an ornamental grass for any garden. Maiden grass (Miscanthus) features plumes that are typically silvery, or pink-tinged. Some Miscanthus can grow to be over 6 feet tall. These are especially good in a privacy border. Of course, there are also dwarf varieties, like ‘Little Kitten’, and ‘Adagio’. Switchgrass (Panicum) tends to be more upright and features dangling seed heads which are beautiful when backlit by the autumn sun. Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis) ‘Karl Foerster’ is a tried-and-true performer with a narrow upright habit; it is also one of the first grasses to green up in the spring. This is important as many grasses are considered “warm season” and need the heat of summer before they really perform. Little Bluestem (Schyzachyrium) is a wonderful columnar native grass; I especially like ‘Standing Ovation’ – it’s blue-green blades turn a lovely wine red in fall.
 
Most ornamental grasses require full sun but there are a few that can tolerate some shade. If your garden is sun-challenged try planting northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa) or sedges (Carex).
 
If you want a grass that makes you feel better this fall skip the dispensary and head to your local nursery.