Online Reporter
Andrew Mangwarara
WITH shifting climatic patterns and increasing frequency of droughts, modern landscaping requires a more resilient approach.
Ornamental grasses offer an exceptional solution as they provide significant aesthetic value while requiring minimal maintenance.
Before selecting your grasses, evaluate the specific needs of your space.
Consider whether the plant is water-thirsty or drought-tolerant, assess the sun and shade requirements of your site and ensure the variety is not overly invasive for your garden’s size.
Recommended varieties include the acorus, a yellow-toned grass that prefers broken shade.
It can, however, be challenging to establish.
The blood grass features striking red foliage and thrives in moist environments with full sun, while the dietes grandiflora (wild iris), an indigenous water-wise plant with white flowers, is very easy to grow.
Then there is the liriope, which is available in green or variegated forms.
This hardy plant is easy to propagate through division.
Lemon grass is a versatile, aromatic option that works well in garden beds as hedges or in containers, while mondo grass is an excellent choice for areas where mowing a traditional lawn is difficult.
Its deep green colour adds depth to any landscape.
Mondo grass is a compact, drought-tolerant ground cover that thrives in full sun or partial shade.
Looking at the pampas grass (cortaderia selloana), it is ideal as a focal point or for screening; its elegant plumes are also popular for indoor floral arrangements.
Also up for consideration is the pennisetum species.
This is a versatile group that is fairly drought-resistant.
They are available in green or reddish hues and reach a medium height, making them suitable for various landscaping applications.
Design and maintenance tips
Choose grasses that complement your garden’s existing layout and colour scheme.
You can use them in mass plantings, as fillers, as ground covers, in pots or as striking focal points.
Growing these grasses is straightforward, as most are hardy and require little intervention.
To maintain them, cut them back periodically for a fresher appearance.
When you divide the plants for propagation, take that opportunity to re-fertilise the soil.
Join the latest gardening trend and incorporate these resilient grasses into your landscape to modernise your outdoor space.
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