Late spring is the ideal time to plant many beautiful summer flowers and perennials. For some grasses, the time after the Ice Saints is also perfect for sowing or planting. If you would like to further beautify your outdoor area and plant some ornamental grasses in May, then you have come to the right place. Here you will find three beautiful varieties that you can plant in the garden this weekend.
Planting ornamental grasses: When is the best time?
Ornamental grasses can be planted all year round, but spring or fall are best.
Spring is preferable for sowing grasses from seeds. They can be sown directly into open ground where they are intended to bloom. Most species thrive best in an open, sunny location.
If you purchase the plants from a nursery, you should also try to get them in the spring so they can be planted directly into the ground. To do this, dig a planting hole, place the plant in the hole so that it is at the same depth as in the original pot, and fill it back up. Then water the plants well. Grasses do not need to be fed regularly.
Early fall is also a good time to plant ornamental grasses. This gives the seeds enough time to adapt to the conditions before the worst of winter weather arrives. But the grasses won't show off their beauty until next summer.
Pampas grass: Now is a good time to plant this popular classic
If you're wondering what ornamental grasses to plant in May, then the popular pampas grass has probably come to mind. In fact, this beautiful ornamental grass is planted exactly in spring and those who have not done it yet can do it this month.
Growing pampas grass is relatively easy, but there area few things to considerto make it a successful addition to your garden. The best time to plant pampas grass is from spring to mid-June to allow the young plants to become established before winter.
Pampas grass likes a sunny spot, but also grows - not quite so happily - in partial shade. The plant prefers well-drained, moist soil and needs plenty of space around itself. If you plant pampas grass as a hedge or as a privacy screen, you should leave a distance of at least two meters between each plant.
Pampas grass is wind tolerant—it looks beautiful swaying in a light breeze—and can also tolerate salty conditions, making it a good addition to a coastal garden.
You can grow pampas grass from seeds by sowing the seeds in pots indoors from February to April. Once the weather is warmer, plant the pampas grass in your bed and water it well. Pampas grass grows quickly, so you can expect it to be within a few monthsfull heightachieved, although pampas grass grown from seed will not bloom for at least two years.
If you have bought a ready-potted pampas grass, you have the advantage that it will grow for a few years - and already have these characteristic, feathery flowers.
To plant out, make sure the hole is the same width and height as the plant's root ball. Add some fertilizer to the hole and place the pampas grass in it. Then fill the hole with soil, tamp it down with your foot and water well.
Plant ornamental grasses in May for beautiful autumn flowers: the red love grass
Red love grass is a very drought-tolerant grass that provides a soft structure in the garden almost all year round. The plant's foliage appears in late spring and moves gently in the light wind. Its airy, cloud-like red flower clusters appear in late summer and provide a splash of color through October.
Lovegrass grows best in full sun and in a fast-draining clay or sandy soil. It is an easy-to-cultivate grass that also thrives in other locations. For example, it also tolerates partial shade (but has a loose, open habit) andloamy soil. Plant red lovegrass in May and water it regularly for the first month. During the first growing season, continue watering weekly if there is no rain. Established plants have good drought tolerance.
The easy-care Pennisetum grass will reward you with dark purple flowers
Admittedly, most ornamental grasses simply serve as gap fillers in beds. However, this does not apply to black pennisetum, which is a real eye-catcher in the garden with its delicate, violet flowers.
Black Pennisetum is a clump-forming grass with narrow, arching green leaves that bears dark purple to black flowers on bottlebush-like heads well into autumn.
If you want to plant ornamental grasses in May, this variety is an excellent choice. So that the grass will delight you with its beautiful flowers this summer, it is better to buy it as a small plant that you plant directly in the bed. Make sure it is in full sun and leave enough space around the plant so that it can spread freely.