By Beth Burwinkel
Enquirer contributor

Judi Graves plants a variety of grasses because "they add so much to a garden." (Brandi Stafford photo)

Judi Graves loves the way tall ornamental grasses in her back yard rustle in the wind, bloom late in the season and remain in place all winter.

"Grasses just add so much to a garden - just the way they blow in the breeze," says Graves, a Covedale resident who grows several types of ornamental grasses. "Any gardener should have at least one grass in her garden."

Graves, who has been gardening 17 years, began noticing grasses in friends' gardens and about six years ago she decided to try some when she expanded her garden beds.

"I like things that make a statement," Graves says, gesturing to the tall fountain grass planted among joe-pye weed, black-eyed Susan, irises, sedum and obedient plant. "I like big expanses of plants - and the grasses will do that."

Graves uses different varieties of miscanthus for height and beautiful blooms. Miscanthus "Morning Light" grows near the back of her house. Its copper tassels become silvery as the season progresses.

Miscanthus "Agadio," which looks like wheat, is probably her favorite. She's also fond of fountain grass, particularly Pennisetum "Moudry," which has a dark bloom.

Graves' grasses start blooming in August and turn brown in the fall. She leaves them in the garden for winter interest and cuts them down in the early spring.

Not popular until 1990s

Gardeners in parts of Europe enjoyed ornamental grasses in the 1940s, but it took five more decades for them to catch on with gardeners here, says Rick Darke, a Pennsylvania gardening expert and author who has been interested in grasses since the late 1970s.

"They're not all about saturated color," says Darke, author of several books on ornamental grasses. "They're a very quick way to add a loose romantic feel to the garden."

Grasses gained popularity as nurseries began offering more choices and as gardeners began trying to create four-season interest in their landscapes, Darke says. Grasses also appeal because they are drought-tolerant and virtually disease free.

Not only have gardeners embraced grasses, but many state departments of transportation are beginning to plant them in roadside landscapes, Darke says.

Using grasses

Many gardeners, like Graves, incorporate grasses into the landscape alongside other perennials. Ornamental grasses hold their flowers high above the foliage for a very showy appearance, says Jim Hansel, manager of Ohio River Grass, an East End nursery.

Hansel also is seeing more grasses used in mass plantings to provide privacy. There are many tall grasses. Giant reed grass, for example, grows to 20 feet in one season - to 10 feet by mid June.

Planted on a hillside, grasses, which have a fibrous root system, help prevent erosion problems. They provide a habitat for birds and butterflies. And during the winter they provide interest to what might otherwise be a barren landscape.

Gardeners can find ornamental grasses for most conditions, wetlands to deserts.

"You can really pick and choose what you want," Hansel says. "Some grow well where soil is saturated. Others like it bone dry."

Ornamental grasses

Grasses are low-maintenance. They need to be cut back once a year, usually in March. They also need to be divided about once every five years. Grasses typically do not need to be fertilized. Plant in native soil, adding a little organic matter.

Grasses are also not susceptible to disease and insect problems.

Beginning grass growers should pick five grasses that interest them and plant them among other perennials in the garden.

There are warm-season and cool-season grasses. Cool-season grasses bloom in April and May. Warm-season grasses are flowering now; some will remain beautiful through January and hold flowers and seed heads through the winter.

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