Some 35 years ago my mother-in-law gave me my first ornamental grass. It was a pink-tinged variety of ribbon grass which I enjoyed but would not have in my garden now, as it is a spreader.
Fifteen years later I discovered blue oat grass, a beautiful, sun-loving, drought-tolerant grass that I will always grow.
From there I went on to grow about 28 varieties of ornamental grasses in my nursery, falling in love with this varied family of plants.
Many ornamental grasses are suited to our climate. One of the easiest plant groups to maintain, they simply need to be cut back to about four inches above ground in the spring before growth resumes. No other maintenance is needed all year.
They are generally pest and disease free—and deer-proof.
Grass species fall into one of two categories. Cool season grasses begin growing in early spring and bloom in June or July. Warm season grasses remain dormant until April and bloom in the fall.
There are two types of grasses. Clump-formers are well behaved, gradually increasing in circumference. Spreaders increase rapidly by runners. They may be good for erosion control but not in a garden.
An excellent online resource, for photos and details about grasses hardy to the Okanagan, is www.bluestem.ca.
A beautiful, simple landscape can be created with just one variety of ornamental grass. To expand the grass presence, choose at least one species each, from the cool and warm season grasses.
For interest and texture during spring, when grasses are re-growing, add naturalizing spring bulbs and possibly a few large feature rocks. Plant bulbs in the fall.
Use mass plantings of an easy care, long-blooming perennial to add colour and attract pollinators and butterflies to the garden.
A tall ornamental grass garden could include Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ (feather reed grass) as the early blooming grass and a variety of switch grass (Panicum) for fall bloom. Perennials, Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ and/or Aster frikartii, could be added. Both bloom four months without deadheading.
These perennials and grasses need some irrigation during hot dry weather. Drip irrigation to each plant conserves water and reduces weed growth because surrounding ground remains dry.
