The Grass Doesn’t Always Have to be Greener

 Colorful ornamental grasses can be a great addition to any garden. Grasses add texture as well as color. If you plant and plan correctly you can have colorful grasses blooming at different times throughout the seasons.

When deciding what to plant, when many people think of ornamental grasses they think the typical Karls Forester Feather Reed Grass. This is the most commonly planted grass because of it’s hardy nature, texture, and height. But next time you are deciding which ornamental grass to plant consider planting grasses such as Orange Agastache, ‘Blonde Ambition’ Blue Grama Grass, Giant Sacaton, or Undaunted Ruby Muhly.

This image shows the ‘Blonde Ambition’ Blue Grama Grass on the left and the Orange Agastache on the right. Both of these grasses have interesting texture, unique coloring, and a full shape. These two grasses would be a great addition to any lawn or garden. The Blue Grama Grass grows to be 3 feet in height as well as width. It is a full sun to partial shade plant that is drought tolerant after establishment. The Orange Agastache plant grows to be 1-3 feet tall as well as 1-3 feet wide. This plant is also full sun to partial shade tolerant. The Orange Agastache needs a minimal amount of moisture once established. The biggest draw to this colorful plant is the fact that it attracts hummingbirds.

The image to the left shows the Giant Sacaton in all of it’s feathery glory. This plant has fountain spits and showers of feather like tips that will add texture and height to any garden. This plant grows 5-7 feet in height and 3-5 feet in width. The Giant Sacaton blooms in late summer to early fall and does well in full sun areas as well as partial shade areas. This grass is drought tolerant, needing only a moderate to light amount of water. This ornamental grass is a Southwestern Native and does beautifully in the Colorado climate.

The Undaunted Ruby Muhlenbergia is a showy ornamental grass that will grow to be 1-2.5 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. This showy grass blooms in the Fall with beautiful pink and red color. The plant does best in full sun and only needs a moderate amount of water. This ornamental grass will provide both color and texture to any garden.

The most optimal time to plant ornamental grasses in your garden is either the Spring or the Fall. Fall is the most optimal time to do deep soil preparation in your garden. Thorough soil preparation promotes the freeze thaw process during the winter months. When preparing your soil use about one pound of all purpose fertilizer (10-10-10) for every 100 square feet of planting beds. The incorporation of ornamental grasses into your garden can provide long lasting results. The next time that you are planting consider the above grasses for their color, texture, and hardiness.

Contact Designscapes Colorado for more information at, info@designscapes.org.