How to Plant Ornamental Grasses

Overview

Ornamental grasses can be an aesthetically pleasing and relatively carefree addition to any garden. While they may be grown from seed, for uniformity's sake it is a good idea to plant small plants purchased at the nursery. Ornamental grasses are best planted in the spring, and come in two varieties: clump growers (such as blue fescue or blue oat grass) and spreaders (such as ribbon grass). Maintenance is simple: an annual haircut in the fall, after the growing season, and regular watering.

Step 1

Prepare the ground by raking it to a depth of 3 inches and removing all debris, old plant matter, rocks and roots. Add just a small amount of general-purpose plant fertilizer, no more than 1 lb. for every 100 square feet.

Step 2

Sprinkle on a layer of topsoil, to a depth of about 1 inch.

Step 3

Space plants the same distance as their mature height. Blue fescue, for example, reaches a height of about 1 foot, so plant clumps 1 foot apart.

Step 4

Remove ornamental grass plants from containers and lay aside. Dig holes for plants as deep as their root systems. Gently spread apart roots with your fingers and position in the hole.

Step 5

Pour topsoil into the hole and distribute around the plant, making sure the soil goes through the roots. Pat down and leave a small indentation at the top so water can collect during watering for better penetration.