Gerald Filipski

I have become a huge fan of ornamental grasses . Plant breeders continue to introduce new varieties that do nothing but wow me . I was planting some grasses the other day and thought that they would be a great addition to the indoor plantscape . The bonus with most of these grasses is that they are so adaptable to just about any condition . In other words , to use a term of mine , you can ’ t kill them with a hammer . They are practically indestructible , and they look fantastic in many applications .

They would be very versatile for the condo or apartment gardener because they can be grown outdoors in the spring and summer , brought indoors for the fall and winter , and put back out again the next spring . Cost efficient , versatile , and beautiful — what more can you ask ? One of the main reasons for my love of grasses is the ease of growing them and keeping them happy . I have even managed to overwinter a couple of my grasses outdoors !

Let ’ s begin with containers . The right container can make or break a grass . With so many decorative styles on the market today , this choice is very much a personal one and one that you should spend time on . Look around for a container that looks just right . If your grass is gold and edged in green , for example , a high gloss , black container would look great . If the grass is rusty brown in colour , then a bright yellow container would do the trick . The idea is to compliment and contrast the grass . Today , container gardening is very much about the pots themselves because they can add so much to a design . If you are going to bring the grasses indoors in the fall , then choose a container that is light enough to transport . Many of the cast resin types look much heavier than ceramic or terra cotta containers but weigh a fraction of the real thing .

Ornamental grasses come in many varieties that include tall , medium , and short heights and a myriad of colours including shades of green , gold , brown , red , purple , and white . Grasses can stand on their own when it comes to landscape design . In other words , you only need grasses to create an appealing and very interesting container garden . A single tall grass in the background with two to three medium-height grasses and three to five short varieties in front can turn a dull corner of a deck or balcony into a thing of beauty .

Requirements are few when it comes to these undemanding plants . They prefer a well-drained soil , so a good quality potting mix is a must . There is no need

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