kate’s tips for pLaNtiNG WitH Grasses

When planning a new border, setting plants down in pots across the chosen area or plotting the planting positions on graph paper is a particularly helpful exercise. A massed planting of grasses is much easier to maintain than having plants dotted about a border. A hedge trimmer can be used to cut them back in spring. For hedges and screens, grasses can be treated in the same way as traditional woody hedging or edging plants. Patterns, such as staggered rows, at a density of 3-7 per 10sq ft (1 sq m), can be used, depending on the desired effect. For a mixed planting, spacing grasses at half their mature height will allow enough room to show off their shape while still leaving enough space for flowering perennials. Grasses that are known for their strong vertical habit, such as Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ or Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus, are very useful for tall hedges. Low-growing, fountain-shaped grasses, such as Anemanthele lessoniana, or dwarf forms of Miscanthus sinensis, can be used to soften hard landscaping. When carefully spaced, ‘see-through’ grasses, including tall forms of Molinia caerulea, are great for placing at the front of a border or scattering through a planting to create a sense of intrigue. Their fine, arching flowering stems are always on the move, allowing glimpses of the rest of the planting.