Got a space between a fence and the sidewalk or along the side of your apartment building that could use some beautifying? We showed you a great example of using succulents to fill even the tiniest space, and here's another using drought tolerant grasses:
Small Space Filler: Ornamental Grasses
This is a more minimal and utilitarian look than the succulents, but the texture and subtle differences in color make this striking. As we mentioned in planting the parkway, when you go to the nursery find the full sun section and seek out the ornamental grasses, they're normally grouped together. Just pay attention to how big the label says the mature plant will be. You don't want to plant a grass that will grow 6 feet high! Make sure you choose plants that will all do well with little water and full sun (if those are the conditions of where you're planting).
Have you tried something like this at home? Have you seen it done really well? One of our favorite things to do (if it isn't totally obvious from our posts) is to wander the neighborhood checking out what everyone else has been up to and what plants are doing really well. Chances are if they're doing well next door, they'll do well at home.
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gardening, succulents, small space, drought tolerant, ornamental grasses, small space gardenRelated Links
- Creating A No-Dig Garden
LA Times Home & Garden 6.12.08 - Simple Tips to Make Over Your Garden
- Mini Garden Tour: Gramma's House
- Drought Tolerant Plant: Bromeliads
- Look! Planting in Rows
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Love it. Grasses are fab! Soft and green yet a totally funky look! Just make sure you plant it so it doesn't look like weeds... Mondo grass is great so lower to the ground plantings and comes in reds, maroons, greys and greens. Lovely.
view venus_thames's profile
I love the grasses too. The slightest breeze sets them in motion, and provides delightful rustling sounds.
There's one small yard that has various grasses, and it's a delight to look at, while I walk to the store. It's like a bit of wilderness in the city.
I don't know if this would grow locally, but it looks neat:
http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&cid=pext00007&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=1089
And used in a yard, the clumps and mounds look awesome:
http://www.redwoodbarn.com/DE_ornamentalgrass.html
Bonus, it's supposed to look that way, no mowing needed or desired.
view TRUE BLUE's profile
Mondo grass is not a grass but a groundcover.
"Canyon Prince" Giant Wild Rye and Deergrass are two great native selections for the sage scrub communities that dot southern CA. Blue and Red Fescues are good non-native choices, as are Mexican Feather and Weeping Lovegrass.
view NathanSE's profile