Grasses

[Daisy]

As in ornamental grasses. If you've got any, have you found that they self-seed and/or spread all over the place? Any recommendations for well-behaved but beautiful grasses would be most welcome.

It's over 2 ½ years now since we re-did our front garden using slate chippings in place of the lawn. OH has kept saying it would look nice with some ornamental grasses planted into the slate, but I'm not keen on planting anything into that because it will mean breaking through the weed-proof membrane which will leave it open to all sorts of weeds etc. So I've suggested we have a few grasses in planters, but I've never grown them before so I'm looking for ideas, please.

[Plantaholic]

No not really, I wonder if they seed, if so they would get into the slate, can't help really Daisy

[Nanto2girls]

Daisy, it might be best to do a bit of research. Google should be able to help you.

[Gemini]

I have no experience either.
I think they will look nice, but I agree in pots is best, once you break that membrane all sorts of weeds etc will grow!

[Mimi]

We have bamboo in a pot, I brought it from Tesco a few years ago for £5. It was so small I was able to carry it home in one hand. I have repotted it three times and it is now taller than me .It stands on our patio quite happily but in winter I drag the pot near the corner of the fence to protect it from the very strong winds we get here. As it is so big it will take two of us to repot it next spring.
I personally wouldn't plant grasses in the garden as you don't have as much control over the spread of the plant , plus you can move the pots around to suit your taste or preferred growing conditions of the grasses.

A new grass I brought last spring is Uncinia Rubra Everflame, this is a red grass that I have also put in a light grey pot and the red looks lovely against the grey colour. As I have never grown this plant before I am hoping it survives the winter.

[Daisy]

Mimi - that looks lovely, thank you. We have got black pots and I think the colour would look good against the grey slate and the pots. I suppose if I'm worried about it self-seeding I can always cut the flowers off, as the leaves are so attractive. It certainly looks as though it would grow almost anywhere and won't need cosseting.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/18608/Uncinia-rubra/Details

[Oma]

I know nothing about grasses but I would assume you can get varieties that don't seed and just grow shoots so would be control able in pots , hope you find what you looking for , be a shame to spoil your lovely garden with random seeds getting amongst the slate ,

[Shemadee]

Noticed Lidl had some today!

[Qwerty]

No idea Daisy but do love your garden !!!!

[Daisy]

Well, we're going shopping tomorrow so we'll see what we can find - but I do like the one Mimi suggested, and so does OH.

Shem - I'll try Lidls - many thanks.

Qwerty - thank you - it's not quite as tidy as that at the moment, but a good half day's work on it will sort it out.

[Nana]

All I know about grasses is that I have to take hay fever meds early on in the year. I'm also told the grass is greener on the other side....well, true in our case as our neighbour has green fingers & her grass is certainly greener than ours.😂