Georgia Backyard Nature

Perky Pampas Grass

Even though I see the big clump of Pampas grass every day, it's winter beauty didn't register until yesterday. All around the lake is drab, except for the perky spot of green with creamy white feathers floating above. Pampas grass is can be a great addition to a yard for year-round interest. It grows very fast and can get up to 8 feet high and just as wide, so it's perfect for big, empty spaces. The leaves fall gracefully and are a nice contrast to other plants in the garden. In summer, it sprouts big feathery seed heads that last into the winter.

It’s tough, too. Hardy in zones 7-11, it can thrive on steep banks, in poor soil, and needs no special care. I read that it doesn’t do well in soggy spots, but the one above is right at the edge of the lake. Pampas grass has very thick foliage, so it makes a great privacy screen or windbreak.The downside is the grass clump makes a great home for rodents and reptiles.

It's amazing that something in the yard that I see every day can suddenly catch my interest. Now that the Pampas grass has my attention, I won't overlook it again.

Gorgeous Grasses

 

When driving toward my house yesterday, the big clump of Maiden Grass caught my eye. Covered with tan seed heads, it was a gorgeous sight with fronds rippling in the gentle breeze.  Even though I’ve written about it before, I couldn’t resist posting a picture. 

There are numerous varieties of Maiden Grass. Some are variegated or have different types of seed heads. All are striking. It can grow up to seven feet high and just as wide. What looks like one clump in the picture is really two planted about three feet apart, so it’s about  ten feet wide and six or seven feet high. Maiden Grass has very thick foliage, so it makes a great privacy screen or windbreak.  The one in the picture hides a big electrical box.

It seems every year, I’m amazed at the elegance these graceful clumps of grass bring to the yard. But that’s the nature of the garden—even ordinary plants can surprise with a spectacular show when it’s their time.

Crowding Cattails

 

The little pond the beaver created two years ago is now just a marsh. Lots of young trees are growing there, but most of the area is covered in Cattails. There were only a few last year, but now they are so thick, other plants are being crowded out.

 

Cattails are a common aquatic plant with long slender grass-like leaves which can grow up to 10 feet tall. The ones in the picture are about that big. In fall, the characteristic brown cylindrical seed heads appear on long stalks.

 

 

Depending on your point of view, Cattails can be visually appealing or a big nuisance. They make a great wildlife habitat, but the thick leaves also look like a haven for snakes and rodents. These plants are also very invasive. Grown from rhizomes, like iris, they spread alarmingly fast. Cattails can completely take over the shallow waters of a pond or lake.

 

Now the marsh has two fast spreading plants—Yellow Flag Iris and Cattails. But it looks like the Cattails are winning. In another year they’ll crowd everything else out. Maybe the beaver will return and use them for building materials.

Zesty Zoysia Sod

 

My backyard slopes downward to the lake. While that’s a good thing if you’re worried about flooding, there are some drawbacks—mainly erosion. When I moved in, the yard had a beautiful Bermuda lawn. Over time conditions changed—trees matured, giving part of the lawn too much shade for grass to grow well. An attack of goosegrass, an invasive weed, made some areas thin. It wasn’t a problem until Georgia emerged from several years’ of drought.  Without a thick thatch of grass to slow the rain, part of the yard became a barren mess and erosion began in earnest.

A landscaper recommended planting dwarf Mondo grass in the shadiest area and re-sodding part of the lawn with Zoysia, which is a low-growing, creeping grass. It’s more shade tolerant in the Deep South than Bermuda grass. Hopefully over the next few seasons, the Zoysia will creep into the thinning areas and establish a healthy lawn again.  I can help that along by planting sprigs of Zoysia in the rest of the grass.

It’s nice not to look at bare red clay riddled with furrows anymore. I have my fingers crossed that this will solve the problem. NOTE TO SELF: Next house must have a level yard.

Winter Wonderland

 

Here in Georgia we celebrated our first white Christmas since 1882. Snow started falling a little after noon yesterday and we're still getting flurries this morning. Even though there's only an inch or so of the white stuff on the ground, the birds are very active at the feeders. They need a lot of energy to stay warm and with bugs and seeds hidden by the snow, an easy meal is just the ticket on a wintery morning.

This little titmouse enjoyed a dried mealworm snack.

 

A vivid red cardinal looked striking against the safflower seed feeder.

 

Maiden grass was weighed down by the snow.

 

Snow on Christmas made the day even more special here on the lake. Here's hoping you have wonderful holidays and a Happy New Year!!

Mesmerizing Maiden Grass

 

It’s the time of year for the big clump of Maiden grass in my front yard to burst into prominence. For most of the year, it just sits there, but when Maiden grass is  festooned with feathery tan seedheads, it’s a beautiful sight.  The grass clump also adds winter interest when the leaves become  golden tan and the seedheads turn silver.

There are numerous varieties of maiden grass. Some are variegated or have different types of seedheads. All are striking. It can grow up to seven feet high and just as wide. What looks like one clump in the picture is really two planted about three feet apart, so it’s about  ten feet wide and six or seven feet high. Maiden grass has very thick foliage, so it makes a great privacy screen or windbreak.  The one in the picture hides a big electrical box.

Maiden grass is another almost carefree plant. Once established, it needs little care. It should be cut to about 12-18 inches in late winter and fertilized in spring.  Plant maiden grass in a location with full sun and well drained soil.  Once established, unless it’s very dry, watering isn’t necessary. If it gets too big the clump can be divided in spring after a few green shoots appear. Then you’ll have more to enjoy!!

Even though it looks great, I’m glad the Maiden grass is a good distance from my house. Big grass clumps make a great home for rodents and snakes and I’d rather not see those near the front door.

 

Graceful Grasses - Problem Solving Pampas

The cold nights have taken their toll on all the plants except the evergreens. But this morning as I watched the geese, I realized that the Pampas Grass still looked as good as it did in summer.

 

Pampas Grass is can be a great addition to your yard. It grows very fast and can get up to 8 feet high and just as wide, so it can fill big, empty spaces. The clump in the picture looks deceptively small against the lake, but compared to the two geese to the right, it's pretty big.

 

 

 

It’s also great for year round interest.  The leaves fall gracefully and are a nice contrast to other plants in the garden. In summer, it sprouts big feathery seed heads that last into the winter.  

 

Pampas Grass is tough, too. Hardy in zones 7-11, it can thrive on steep banks, in poor soil, and needs no special care. I read that it doesn’t do well in soggy spots, but the one above is right at the edge of the lake. The smaller picture shows one that I just tossed into the lake. It took root and despite being surrounded by water, continues to thrive.

 

Pampas grass has very thick foliage, so it makes a great privacy screen or windbreak. The downside is the grass clump makes a great home for rodents and reptiles.

 

Although I can attest that it’s very hard to dig up, once the clump gets big, it can be divided and give you more plants. I divided one clump into four plants and put them near the lake. All four survived.

 

 

A couple of cautions, though. Make sure you have enough room for pampas grass. Once it’s established, it’s hard to dig up and harder to get rid of.  Another issue is that the leaves have very sharp edges. It shouldn’t be planted where you have to walk close to them.  And finally, you may want to think carefully before planting it too close to your house.  You may not want the critters that roost there to have a home so close to yours.

 

 

Pampas grass really has presence. The elegant leaves rippling in the wind and the swaying seed heads look especially beautiful against the backdrop of the lake.  I just don’t want to think what may be calling that pretty clump of grass home.

Pretty Pink Grasses

 

While we’re on the subject of four season grasses, here’s a striking clump of grass that I spotted at a nearby parking lot. It’s called muhly grass. In fall, it sprouts airy pink flowers that last for weeks. Muhly grass is very hardy and can endure drought, poor soil, and heat. Hardy in zones 6-11, it does best with full sun and good drainage.

 

 

I’d never seen this type of grass before, but you can bet next spring I’ll find a place in my yard for it.

Golden Grasses

Last summer I wrote about a big clump of maiden grass in my front yard. I  mentioned that it turns a golden tan in the fall so here’s an update.  This is how it looked then.

 

 

 

The cold rainy weather has worked its magic on this graceful grass. The combination of golden leaves and silver seedheads make it even more stunning than in the summer.

 

I never thought of grasses as a four season plant, but this one’s convinced me. I just wish there was a way to put some ornaments on it—wouldn’t it be great decorated?

 

Check out    http://www.georgiabackyardnature.com/georgia_backyard_nature/2009/08/graceful-grasses.html for the original post about maiden grass.

Graceful Grasses

I spend a lot of time looking at the shrubs and flowers in my yard, but turning into the driveway this week, I was struck by the beauty of a plant, I don’t notice that often. It was a large clump of maiden grass which had just sprouted beautiful tan seed heads.  Wind rippled the gracefully arching leaves, making the plant seem alive.

 

There are numerous varieties of maiden grass. Some are varigated or have different types of seed heads. All are striking. Maiden grass can grow up to seven feet high and just as wide. What looks like one clump in the picture is really two planted about three feet apart, so it’s wider than seven feet.

Although not as exciting and colorful as some of my other plants, grasses can be a versatile and striking addition to a landscape. Standing alone, a large clump of maiden grass makes a great accent. It can be used like a hedge as well. Pair it with purple coneflowers, black-eyed susans, or lantana, and it’s a striking backdrop for your perennials. The ones in the picture hide utility boxes, accent a large lantana, and provide a striking focal point for the yard. They’re also beautiful in winter when the leaves turn a golden tan and the seed heads silver.

 

Maiden grass is another almost carefree plant. Once established, it needs little care. It should be cut to about 12-18 inches in late winter and fertilized in spring.  Plant maiden grass in a location with full sun and well drained soil.  Once established, unless it’s very dry, watering isn’t necessary. If it gets too big the clump can be divided in spring after a few green shoots appear. Then you’ll have more to enjoy!!

It’s nice to see a plant as mundane as a clump of grass, burst into it’s glory and become the showy star of the front yard, if only for a while.

 

 

Click on the pictures for a better view!!