Home => Gardening => Container Gardening => Container Gardening -- Ornamental Grasses
Related Articles: How to Grow Pampas Grass | Container Gardening Basics

Container Gardening -- Ornamental Grasses
by Ken Sharp

Description: How to grow ornamental grasses in containers.

Ornamental grasses can add a beautiful arrangement to your container garden. These grasses have fine leaves that blow in the smallest of winds and will certainly add an extra aesthetic flavor to your garden. These grasses come in many wonderful textures and colors. Some of these great colors are red, purple, tan, pink and white. With very little research, you are sure to find the right grass that will fit will into your container garden arrangement. Ornamental grasses will bloom in midsummer. They can grow anywhere from 1' to 9' tall, depending on the variety. These ornamental grasses are also great for lining in front of fenses or creating walls.

Full sunlight and excellent water drainage is the perfect setting for these ornamental grasses. They will not thrive very well in shaded areas. These grasses are very easy to take care of, with very low maintenance. They are great for cut flowers. They have beautiful and unusual foilage and can last throughout the year. You will need to apply a layer of compost every spring and put a layer of mulch, about two inches over this. This will control the weeds and help to retain moister. If it rains less than 1 inch per week during the summer months, you will also need to water the ornamental grasses. At the end of every winter, it is a good idea to cut back the plant to stimulate new growth for the summer. If you have Fountain Grass, you may need to stake it every 3-4 years. Some of the other varieties will require you to divide it every 3-4 years. This will encourage new growth.

When planting the ornamental grasses in your container garden, you will need to plant them about 1 to 3 fee apart. This will depend on the variety of your ornamental grass. First till your soil, about 10 inches deep, then add a 4 inch layer of compost. When planting, make sure the top of the root ball is even with the surface of your soil. After filling in the hole, water completely. Soon, your ornamental grasses will begin to grow, adding a wonderful quality to your container garden.

For more information on container gardening, planting, rose gardening, herbs, please go to: container gardening.