Ornamental Grasses for Late Season Magic

by southbrachWPadmin | Aug 8, 2019 | Garden, Garden Inspiration, Lawn Care

Is there a more dramatic group of plants in the late season garden than ornamental grasses?

The way they’re back lit and glowing in the late summer sun. Their graceful sway and hypnotic movement displays even the slightest of breezes. And their sheer scale and height at this time of year as they show in all off their full-grown stature. You can’t take your eyes off a stand of them–they’re just mesmerizing!

The terms cool-season and warm-season ornamental grasses simply refer to when they bloom. Cool-season grasses start growing early in spring and often have their most vibrant color during those months. Warm-season types emerge more slowly in spring, flower later in the summer and often remain in bloom well into fall. Both types have a place in any garden when planning for a long, colorful season!

Here we’ve chosen a few warm season grasses which can handle heat, humidity, and drought and bloom well into fall.

Plumetastic® Pink Muhly Grass

Glittering clouds of vivid purple plumes lend rich color from late summer to fall.
3′ tall and wide; blooms to 4′ tall
Partial to full sun
Zone: 7 – 10
Design: Add to ornamental or native landscapes as a singular sensation or massed.

Northwind Switch Grass

Compact, clumping grass with olive-to-golden yellow autumn foliage and showy seed heads that lend winter interest.
6′ tall, 3′ wide
Partial to full sun
Zone: 4 – 9
Design: Excellent vertical form for mixed beds and erosion control on slopes.

Morning Light Maiden Grass

Dense clumps of slender blades with creamy white margins creates a shimmering silvery appearance.
5′ tall, 4′ wide; plumes to 6′
Partial to full sun
Zone: 5 – 9
Design: Use height and width to contrast low borders or walls.

Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass

Rugged native with flag-like, golden summer flowers on stiff, weather-resistant stems.
Up to 3′ tall and wide.
Partial to full sun.
Zone: 4 – 9
Design: Adds texture to waterwise gardens.

Good Companions to Ornamental Grasses:

Petite Plum® Dwarf Butterfly Bush

Add to a stand of tall grasses in a corner of the yard or along a fence line for a stellar pollinator-luring, late summer show.
5′ tall and wide
Partial to full sun
Zone: 5 – 9

Flower Carpet® Amber Groundcover Rose

Use in front of taller grasses or combine in very large containers.
2.5′ tall, 3′ wide
Full sun
Zone: 4 – 10

Royal Purple Smoke Tree

Got space? Picture tall, slender blades against reddish-purple foliage and airy smoke puffs.
Island bed or at the corner of a house.
15′ tall, 12′ wide.
Full sun
Zone: 4 – 8

Evolution™ EMBERS™ Fever Coneflower

Enchanting tumbled up with grasses in mixed borders, containers, and cutting gardens.
Up to 20″ tall and wide
Full sun
Zone: 4 – 9

However they are utilized in the garden, Ornamental Grasses are an often-overlooked way to spice up the landscape! If you have questions about any of the Ornamental Grasses or companion plants listed in this article, reach out to the closest Southbranch Nursery location and we’ll be happy to assist!

Starting early on your warm season lawn

by southbrachWPadmin | Feb 20, 2019 | Garden, Lawn Care

While you may not be actively thinking about your lawn, having and keeping a well-manicured and lush green lawn starts while it is still dormant!

The fall winds carry the smell of autumn, bringing rain and weed seeds. These seeds will lie dormant in your yard all winter, waiting for soil temps to rise to 55˚ to germinate. Late winter is the best time to nip these seeds in the bud, so to speak. By applying a pre-emergent to your lawn before these weeds germinate, you can drastically reduce the amount of herbicide you will apply later in the year. Preventing those weeds from flowering and seeding in the first place reduces the amount of chemicals you apply to your lawn. An ounce of pre-emergent is worth a pound of herbicide! The best time to apply a pre-emergent in our area is between late February and mid-to-late March, before the soil temps begin to rise above 50˚.

Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper containing Dimension ®
Hi-Yield Weed and Feed 15-0-10

Though your warm season lawn is still dormant this time of year, it’s not too early to being prepping your lawn care equipment.

This is a great time to sharpen your lawnmower blade, get a tune-up before a rush of non-working mowers floods the repair shops, replace or repair any tools that are beginning to show signs of wear (which can be hazardous), turn old clothing into shop rags, and stock up on fluids for your machines. Typical maintenance on a mower includes draining and changing the oil, replacing the air filter, and changing the spark plug. If you didn’t drain the old gasoline or use a gas stabilizer in the mower when it was stored, you may need to have the carburetor looked at. Beat the rush and start early! Nothing gets you down faster than pushing out the mower after your lawn wakes up and is ready for its first cut, only to find it won’t fire up for reasons unknown.

When was the last time your lawn soil was tested?

Testing the soil every year gives you a great assessment of the current state of health for your lawn. Is your soil too acidic? Do you have patches of moss growing through your lawn? Have you noticed an uptick in weeds growing in your lawn? Many weeds prefer more acidic soil and will thrive in a malnourished lawn. Not only that, but soil outside of an optimal pH range of 5.9-7.2 can reduce the uptake of nutrients you apply to your lawn, reducing the effectiveness of your dollars spent keeping your lawn looking green and lush. Knowing where your soil stands is the first step in addressing your lawn needs throughout the year.

Espoma Organic Lightning Lime to raise the soil pH
Hi-Yield Soil Sulfur, Organic Compost, or Hi-Yield Ammonium Sulfate to lower the soil pH

What is dethatching and when should it be done?

Dethatching refers to the process of removing the layer of organic debris that forms between the blades and roots. It will look like a matting of old, grayish-brown grass stems that have grown together. A small amount of thatch between .25-.75” is actually helpful to your lawn! It will provide insulation against soil temperature fluctuations, and helps conserve soil moisture. However, too much of a good thing is a bad thing in this case. Thatch that is more than 1” thick can repel water (including water that carries your fertilizer!) from penetrating the soil, reduce the air exchange with the soil, and prevent any grass seed you lay down from reaching the soil and germinating.

What causes thatch?

Overwatering, over fertilizing, and mowing too high can cause a buildup of thatch over time. Using a mulching mower can help, though you are likely to encounter a thick thatch over the years of natural grass cycles.

So what can be done about thatch? Why, dethatching of course! In late spring, use a hard rake to rake the grass, digging deep to penetrate the thatch and loosen it. Do this in early spring to prevent damage to new growth. If you have a large lawn, or would simply prefer to have a more mechanical approach, you can rent a dethatcher that will do most of the work for you, making just one pass over your lawn. After dethatching, remove the raked up thatch and throw it in the compost pile or discard it, and water your lawn if your weather has been dry.

Following these steps and preparing for spring and summer in the late winter will greatly reduce the amount of time you spend trying to address issues growing and maintaining your lawn throughout the year! Visit Southbranch Nursery Co. for any questions you have regarding your lawn, and let our knowledgeable staff guide you to becoming the envy of the neighborhood!