Why Ornamental Grasses Are the Secret to a Beautiful Border in 2024

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  • Опубліковано 17 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 100

  • @czarnick123
    @czarnick123 20 днів тому +41

    This channel is better than most things on TV. Production quality is outstanding and consistently so.

  • @kevinjamesparr552
    @kevinjamesparr552 13 днів тому +4

    Your Videos not just rival Gardeners World but beat them hands down. Your talks with real gardeners helps in heaps to get right down to basics and learn skills for free. Now us know everything

  • @SMElder-iy6fl
    @SMElder-iy6fl 21 день тому +29

    I've been reducing grasses in my garden due to my age. I have trouble cutting down the grasses in Spring. Getting old is such a bummer!

    • @LouciferFlump
      @LouciferFlump 20 днів тому +2

      Is there no friend or family member that could help you? There are types that don’t require any cutting back per se, aren’t there? 🤔

    • @juliashearer7842
      @juliashearer7842 20 днів тому

      What are you replacing them with?

    • @shirleybush9579
      @shirleybush9579 19 днів тому

      I got rid of mine also. Makes a mess when you cut them down.

  • @jasminebambury5841
    @jasminebambury5841 20 днів тому +26

    I appreciat your videos so much. Every time so informative and beautifully done. Your hard work comes through and youve helped me sooooooooo much. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆♡♡♡♡♡

  • @gracepeterson7483
    @gracepeterson7483 20 днів тому +3

    Another benefit of ornamental grasses I've found is that the deer don't seem to bother them. Another informative video, Alexandra. 💗

  • @emkn1479
    @emkn1479 21 день тому +8

    My husband always loved evergreens and grasses and I started out only loving perennials, but now I 100% see their value and embrace both grasses and evergreens. They’re invaluable in the landscape. And since deer don’t eat grasses, I’m now a super fan! I have several cultivars of big blue stem that have the most gorgeous blue hue in the growing season and a striking burgundy fall color.

  • @cindydamrow1031
    @cindydamrow1031 19 днів тому +4

    You continually create phenomenal videos, and give us advice from top designers that we otherwise would not have access to. This is definitely a video I benefited from, as grasses can be very confusing. The garden is absolutely stunning, and you looked beautiful as well. Loved your choice of outfits!

  • @RandeeHalladay
    @RandeeHalladay 21 день тому +18

    Your choice of places and people to interview are wonderful. this is an excellent video. Thank you

  • @LouciferFlump
    @LouciferFlump 20 днів тому +6

    I used to think of grasses as just being the same as leaving a patch of lawned grass to grow long.
    I’m a fairly recent convert….
    I love the look and sound of them wafting in the wind, it’s enchanting when you get their placement *right* - which is very important!

  • @susanneimgarten3055
    @susanneimgarten3055 21 день тому +4

    Since i added a lot of different grasses to my sunny and shady borders, they look very much „airy“, lighter and brighter. They soften my stone wall and add structure during winter. i ❤ grasses.

  • @jimmshorts
    @jimmshorts 19 днів тому +2

    I adore grasses. I enjoyed learning several new varieties here. As well, I gained some angles on design that hadn't occurred to me previously.

  • @gardenjoy5223
    @gardenjoy5223 21 день тому +3

    What a wonderful garden!
    When I set out to make my cottage garden, I found out soon, that it wouldn't look nice for about half the year, if I didn't put a structure beneath it of evergreens. Some of those evergreens were grasses in different heights and colors. I also got some that you cut down completely, but would make a lovely combination with the many flowering plants around. It worked. I had the nicest garden in my village of 1300 people.

  • @debs-more-plants
    @debs-more-plants 21 день тому +7

    What a gorgeous garden! Wow!
    I love those grasses! Thank you for the tour. ❤Niw looking at my garden I’m a little depressed!😂😂😂

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  18 днів тому

      Ah, no, never be depressed looking at your garden! Although Paul's garden is certainly better than mine.

  • @barbkenas5663
    @barbkenas5663 21 день тому +3

    This video was just in time, I am in the process of adding grasses! Tfs!

  • @lesleyfrenzartist
    @lesleyfrenzartist 15 днів тому +1

    I always find myself gravitating toward grasses in late summer/early autumn! I have a miscanthus in front of our kitchen window and it absolutely shimmers in the autumnal morning light. Have added 4 new grasses throughout the garden in the last month. They add so much height and movement, especially in our breezy PNW valley.

  • @Michellemybelle1996
    @Michellemybelle1996 17 днів тому +1

    I have 7 different grass types in half a dozen different landscape beds in my country yard in West Michigan- love them for all the reasons stated. I really enjoy how educational your channel is!!

  • @MurphysGarden
    @MurphysGarden 12 днів тому +1

    Great video, such helpful advice. I’ve got several grasses and I love the movement that they bring, I will definitely be adding more from the list discussed. Many thanks for your great content.

  • @ladyjrider666
    @ladyjrider666 17 днів тому +1

    Really enjoyed this informative video. My Japanese grass does well in a container. I am adding tall and thirsty grasses to a slope. I'm hoping it becomes something special.
    Thank you for a useful video.

  • @dyanalayng5507
    @dyanalayng5507 20 днів тому +4

    I loved my tall grasses. My favourite by the front door only went to delightful curled seed heads in the late fall 🇨🇦
    The clump did hollow out in the centre after a few year but not in an ugly way, and my cat enjoyed that hollow for summer naps.
    They ARE difficult and dusty to cut down in the spring.

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  18 днів тому

      I understand that even a lot of professionally run gardens have this problem of people weeding out carefully planted specimens. The next video is going to be about the Piet Oudolf borders in Wisley, and Piet Oudolf says in his books that some of his planting is in big blocks because it's easier for people to understand what is a weed and what isn't when there are lots of the same plant together. But I don't suppose even that prevents the occasional mad weeder.

    • @LarryCamilo
      @LarryCamilo 15 днів тому

      Hi @dyanalayng

  • @rickvandijk
    @rickvandijk 20 днів тому +1

    Only started adding grasses to our relatively small garden a few years ago. They’re glorious, but I make sure to divide them in spring to avoid them taking over. But yes, fantastic plants.

  • @mamalovesthebeach437
    @mamalovesthebeach437 17 днів тому +1

    Such a beautiful garden, and a stunning example of what you can do with grasses. I have only perennial grasses and do use my glove to “rake through“ and take out dead leaves. it keeps them thriving.❤

    • @PelhamPlants
      @PelhamPlants 7 днів тому

      Thank yyou for your kind comments 👍👍

  • @scallywags12
    @scallywags12 20 днів тому +1

    I been using grasses in my borders for over 15 years. They look great with all the perennial flowers. Thanks for some more tips!

  • @lm8006
    @lm8006 20 днів тому +1

    Great advice on grasses! I’m slowly coming around to adding them to my garden to provide texture & movement. And now, it seems there are SO many varieties to choose from!

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  18 днів тому

      It's taken me a while to get round to them, but they're definitely on my shopping list now.

  • @musicalmarion
    @musicalmarion 20 днів тому +1

    They're all so beautiful 💚

  • @upnorth21
    @upnorth21 19 днів тому +1

    Love the experts that you bring to us! Great info, especially about not cutting back carex.

    • @PelhamPlants
      @PelhamPlants 7 днів тому

      Thanks for your kind words 👍👍

  • @MyFocusVaries
    @MyFocusVaries 20 днів тому +2

    My husband loves grasses, so I'm working some in to the garden. Unfortunately, our hakonachloa reverted from variegated light green to plain green and now looks like a weed. I'll try another. We have clumps of a massive wispy grass he loves. I love the ones with interesting tops, like a little firework. Thanks for the tour.

  • @catherineperry9513
    @catherineperry9513 20 днів тому +1

    An excellent Grasses 101, thanks so much Alexandra. 👐

  • @topaz3468
    @topaz3468 21 день тому +2

    I have reduced my penstemon grasses considerably over the last two years bc they are troublesome to weed around. Also, since most varieties flop over, they become tripping hazards while trying to walk around them to weed the garden. The nursery will tell you it is low maintenance, but I didn't find this to be the case... the 25 degree freezes destroyed many of my varieties several winters back. Best to admire this in the yards of my neighbors I think. LOL.

  • @marycummins5384
    @marycummins5384 19 днів тому +1

    Very educational video as Grasses are tricky .

  • @katiewilliams6591
    @katiewilliams6591 19 днів тому +2

    Another fab video Alexandra!! I have to admit to having not been fond of ornamental grasses but this video has changed my mind. I'll be investing in a Stima gigantica and a japanese hackl... (I'll check the spelling 😜) Thank you both, Paul and you do a great double act!

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  18 днів тому +1

      Thank you! I've always found that the Hakonechloa needs a bit of cosseting to get established, but it does look lovely when it's happy.

    • @katiewilliams6591
      @katiewilliams6591 17 днів тому

      Great, thank you, I'll bear that in mind@@TheMiddlesizedGarden

    • @LarryCamilo
      @LarryCamilo 15 днів тому

      ​@@katiewilliams6591 hi 👋

    • @PelhamPlants
      @PelhamPlants 7 днів тому

      Thank you so much for your kind words Katie 👍👍 Well done for experimenting with grasses, they can add so much to the border! 👏

  • @hossenfeffer8383
    @hossenfeffer8383 21 день тому +1

    Lovely displays, Alexandra! 🇨🇦

  • @sonayozden4814
    @sonayozden4814 19 днів тому +1

    Sizi şans eseri buldum. Kuraklık çok büyük bir sorun. Bahçenizde değer verdiğiniz pekçok bitki benim yaşadığım yerde kır çiçeği olarak yetişen doğal türler. Bana hemen her videoda yaptığım hataları, doğruları gösterdiniz. İngiliz bahçesine sahip değilim, akdeniz bahçesi oluşturmaya çalışıyorum. Sizin sayenizde güllerimin yerini değiştirerek başladım. Gerçek boyutlarına ulaştılar. Çok canlılar. Dekoratif otları biliyordum fakat bahçemde istemediğime karar vermiştim. Değişen iklim koşulları yüzünden yavaş yavaş otların gerekli olduğuna karar verdim. Son siparişlerimi iki hafta önce ektim. Çok güzeller. Vetiverler birinci yılını tamamladılar. Pembe çimleri, stipa pony tailleri, carex evergoldları bahçeye dağıttım. Enson bu iklime uyumlu olacağını düşündüğüm Rus Adaçaylarını ektim. Bahçem iyi gidiyor. Amaryllis, nergis, belladonnaları bahçeye farklı noktalara taşıdım. Çok güzel bir mimoza, erguvan, kiraz, incir, kayısı, erik, kızılcık, zeytin ağaçları ve çok büyük bir meşe ağacımız var. Çok farklı bitkiler kullanıyorum ama daha bilinçli tercih ediyorum. Size çok teşekkür ederim.

  • @juliabinford6500
    @juliabinford6500 20 днів тому +1

    I enjoy majestic grasses, but I’ve only planted Karl foerster, because I don’t have strong sun. That transparent grass was beautiful.

  • @chrisdaniels3929
    @chrisdaniels3929 20 днів тому +1

    Thank you for thee good ideas

  • @gerriemargell6401
    @gerriemargell6401 20 днів тому

    Beautiful video once again, thank you. I've planted many herbs that have gotten away from us with reseeding everywhere. Which now makes me a bit afraid to plant anything. Should I be wary of grasses reseeding throughout the yard an neighborhood? Do you have any grassy tips for a zone 6 wild garden?

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  18 днів тому +2

      I think it's worth putting 'is (insert grass name) invasive in (insert the name of your area)?' to check whether anything is actually invasive where you are. Definitely avoid those. Then I'd suggest finding out what the native ornamental grasses are for your area and starting with that. Some grasses do re-seed and spread more than others, but I think it's easier to take a plant out rather than to plant a new one, so I don't mind -re-seeders (just avoid anything technically invasive for your area).

  • @lorimiller623
    @lorimiller623 20 днів тому +2

    Piet Oudolf uses a lot of grasses to give his gardens a soft, misty look.

  • @SpanishEclectic
    @SpanishEclectic 17 днів тому

    I really loved the colors in this garden. Here many of those grasses can become invasive. I've never planted any, yet I dig them out year after year as I'm still clearing space for new planting areas and need to start clean. Some grasses also have 'razor' edges...I recall as a child my neighbors had a huge Pampas grass next to their Mid-Century home here in San Diego. We would get cuts from it if we weren't careful. Weird story...the parking brake failed on a car up the hill, and it rolled down the street, headed for their garage. Luckily, the car hit the Pampas grass, which stopped it! Not sure if it's related to that other Japanese grass, but one that caught my eye (that I'd like to use in future) was called Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata Rubra?) due to bright red on the leaves...like something out of one of those Samurai movies. Regardless of whether I think I'll every want to plant something in particular, I always listen to your experts; you ask great questions and there is always some point that I didn't expect. We are due another October heat wave this week, but at least the days are shorter now. See you next week.

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  14 днів тому +1

      Ha, ha, I can imagine that. We have huge clumps of 1960s pampas grass in front gardens here, and I think they're still around because no-one has the strength to dig them out. Thank you for your comments!

  • @maryeustace1620
    @maryeustace1620 20 днів тому

    Wonder garden and very useful video.
    Is there any particular grass you could recommend especially for part shade?
    Thanks

  • @camillaluckey4136
    @camillaluckey4136 11 днів тому

    Ever try Little Blustem? It’s a native here in western North Carolina mts. It’s just tall enough to wave. Another native, evergreen, is the carex Cherokee.

  • @BritInvLvr
    @BritInvLvr 20 днів тому +3

    I love the way grasses look but I stopped because the gophers love them here. One took hold but weeds grew in between and I couldn’t pull them.

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  18 днів тому +1

      I have to admit that I don't have to deal with gophers. Suspect they are even worse than rabbits.

  • @michaeljonesdougherty.209
    @michaeljonesdougherty.209 19 днів тому

    I like grasses had sea grass in a circle bed edge in took over like Bamboo was pretty but had to dig 4 feet to get root ball out
    Would only put it in a large pot.
    It's popular at the beach where I live . Over used there I went with cottage style garden.

  • @lauravalenzuela2233
    @lauravalenzuela2233 21 день тому

    Love the grasses. They do seem to overtake my border though. Maybe I get the wrong ones.

    • @gardenjoy5223
      @gardenjoy5223 21 день тому +1

      Yes, some tend to do that. But nothing you can't manage with a little shovel in your hand. But if those grasses are hard to reach, it would be easier to replace them. Then again, when one loves to do some gardening, and it is manageable, it makes for a lovely excuse to be out :)

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  21 день тому +1

      Interesting - I have the opposite problem, I find it hard to get some grasses established. Not sure what the answer is in either case!

  • @nicolasbertin8552
    @nicolasbertin8552 21 день тому +3

    Ornamental grasses are a nightmare to plant in my garden. It's a community garden, with some perennial areas. Sadly, even though I take care of plantations, I cannot do all of the work. And since it's a community garden, we grow them all from seed we don't have the budget to buy big specimens from a nursery. So for ornamental grasses, we plant them small, from a 7 cm pot. And when other members of the garden will weed a border, they way too often just pull out the ornamental grasses, thinking they're weeds... Most of them are dumb founded when I tell them that yes, in borders we use grasses now and they look beautiful. For them it should just be flowers. The first year, I put a stick to mark the position of the plant, but when you plant dozens of flowers and grasses, the second year people remove the sticks so it's not too ugly, or they degrade coz they're bambou sticks or branches. It might work out for some lime colored grasses, like some sedges, or bronze colored ones. But for grasses like panicum or sporobolum or calamagrostis, it is REALLY difficult to keep them, and it's a punch in the gut when you know the grass is slow growing and has been pulled out after 2 or 3 years in the ground by some careless person... Some grasses like miscanthus will grow tall fast and may not be weeded out, but I hate miscanthus in european gardens, it just looks so off, it's not at its place at all, especially in our garden which is mostly european plants, and a few americans that don't look out of place. But miscanthus really does...

  • @rusticrye5413
    @rusticrye5413 20 днів тому +3

    The problem with grasses is that they they get battered down by rain and wind. Even the low-growing ones end up totally flattened. My garden here in very wet Wales looks a complete mess, so I've made the decision to get rid of them all.

    • @pansepot1490
      @pansepot1490 19 днів тому

      Good decision. Not every type of plant is for everyone. Better stick with what thrives in our conditions and get rid of the rest. Makes gardening easier and more rewarding.

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  18 днів тому

      I agree with @Pansepot1490 but also note that although the grasses I have get flattened by rain sometimes, they do seem to bounce up again. So it may depend on how much rain you get!

  • @sannaericditsler4034
    @sannaericditsler4034 18 днів тому

    I used to have grasses in my garden. I have moved and not put one grass in this garden. If you have ever tried to dig up a grass because the middle died out you will understand why I have none now.

  • @kevinjamesparr552
    @kevinjamesparr552 6 днів тому

    Trouble is grass seeds rather well and result is grass can appear all over border

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  5 днів тому

      Yes, I think that can be a problem. Although I rather love self-seeders.

  • @joecity9
    @joecity9 20 днів тому +2

    Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass is great for 'any' garden. But, not for 'every' garden. It's just too much of a good thing in this country 🇨🇦. It started to lose it's appeal when McDonalds started to landscape their parking lots with it together with Stella d’Oro Daylilies.

  • @togetvj
    @togetvj 20 днів тому

    I agree, ornamental grasses look beautiful BUT they might not be so great if you have pets. Each year at the time that glasses make seed, I have to be extremely vigilant in checking my Ragdoll cat's coat. I have removed seeds that managed to put down roots and were burying themselves into my cat's skin. I found one the other week which was right in the corner of his eye. They also get between his toes. It can be serious. A search of the net will reveal many cases.

    • @TheMiddlesizedGarden
      @TheMiddlesizedGarden  18 днів тому +1

      That's an interesting point. My short-haired labrador doesn't have a problem with seeds, but my friend's spaniels do. So I think a lot depends on the pet and also whether it goes into your borders (I'm trying to keep the labrador out of them, with mixed success!)

    • @togetvj
      @togetvj 17 днів тому

      @@TheMiddlesizedGarden I just wanted to give others a heads up. I really love ornamental grasses. You might want to keep close watch on your Labrador's eyes but yes, you are right about it depending where the pet goes. Love your channel by the way.

  • @قناةطبخالمغربيالاصيل

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  • @wowyummyyy
    @wowyummyyy 20 днів тому +1

    LIKE 👍 👍👍👍👍 😻 💝 😻 💝 😻 💯💥 💯💥 💯💯