Mention the hot new trend of growing ornamental grasses, and most people can name three or four plants they sometimes see growing in landscapes. Mention ornamental grasses to Gayle Allen, and his eyes light up as he expounds the many virtues of these versatile plants.
Few if any plants are as good in Utah as the ornamental grasses, according to Allen.Today's homeowners are looking for easy-to-care-for plants, and ornamental grasses fit the bill. "They never need staking or deadheading or pruning," Allen says. "They are highly adaptable to most different soils and require very little fertilizer to grow and flourish. After they are established, most need little water and are very drought tolerant.
"About the only routine care they need is to cut them to the ground in the spring. This gets rid of the old foliage and lets the new foliage come up and look good."
Allen says the plants are almost pest-free. "This year I had a bad grasshopper infestation in my garden. Although they have eaten the plants and destroyed individual leaves, they have not hurt the plants or destroyed the form - which is what you grow the plants for. The new leaves come out and keep the plants looking good."
As for diseases, most varieties have no problems unless they are overwatered. "I don't know how you could find a more ideal plant for growing in northern Utah. Of the 150 different varieties of grasses that I grow, at least 125 of those like the heat and like the dry conditions. Because they are well adapted to these hot, dry conditions, they also love the sunshine."
Allen says they can also be planted most anytime. "Unless plants are borderline hardy, gardeners can plant spring, summer or fall. I would probably plant tender varieties in the spring to give them a season to get established before they are subjected to a cold winter."
When pressed to name some of his favorites from the 150 varieties that he grows, Allen says, "I like them all because they change so much. Because of the way they grow, some look best in the spring while others show off in the summer. Others become most beautiful in the fall, and some are even very attractive in winter landscapes."
Because many gardeners are unsure how to utilize ornamental grass in the landscape, Allen offers these suggestions: "The easiest plants to combine with the grasses are the smaller, evergreen shrubs. These include the groundcover junipers, as well as some of the dwarf conifers.
"Lower-growing perennials also work well when planted with ornamental grasses. Some of my favorites are leadwort, coreopsis and daylilies.
"These wonderful plants are exciting and have a place in everyone's garden. I think that the more interest we can get in these plants, the happier gardeners will be. Few plants are as easy to take care of and yet give so much throughout the season as the grasses."
If you would like a fact sheet on ornamental grasses for Utah, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Larry Sagers
c/o Deseret News
P.O. Box 1257
Salt Lake City, UT 84110