Perennial grasses are a category of plants that live for two or more years. Not only do they attract beautiful birds and insects, but they also act as borders and double as decorative pieces around empty spaces. Zone 6 refers to the areas with a minimum average temperature of -10° to 0°F and ornamental grasses in zone 6 can be planted without a care as they come with little to no maintenance and can withstand harsh conditions. Perennial grasses also include a wide variety of grass, all of which are planted to enhance a home or garden landscape.
Below we have listed everything you need to know about perennial grasses, including types, ornamental and landscape uses, benefits, and growing conditions. Be sure to skim through the entire article to be a pro at planting perennial grasses.
Types Of Perennial Grasses
There are many types of perennial grasses, including ornamental grasses and turf grasses. Ornamental perennial grasses include varieties like pink muhly grass, dwarf zebra grass, blue fescue grass, and more. These types of grass mostly remain evergreen throughout the year and stay reasonably short, ensuring that your other plants get sufficient sunlight. On the other hand, turf grass encompasses various lawn grass species and includes varieties like Kentucky bluegrass, red fescue grass, and the lush bermuda grass. These need to be mowed regularly and can be stepped on without hesitation.
Ornamental & Landscape Uses
Perennial grasses are great for ornamental purposes and even landscape use. The flower heads of these plants come in various colors, sizes, and textures, adding to the beauty of your space. And when it comes to landscape use, many use perennial grass as borders, accent plants, and even to control soil erosion as they stabilize soil.
Benefits
Perennial grasses are a favorite among gardeners and other plant lovers for several reasons. Not only do they add to the aesthetic of any landscape, making the place a lot more visually appealing and presentable, but they also come with several benefits. They are almost maintenance-free, requiring very little attention to grow and thrive. Besides this, they are also drought-tolerant, pest and deer resistant.
Growing & Planting Conditions
Depending on whether your perennial grasses are cool-season or warm-season plants, you can plant them during a particular time of the year. Warm-season perennial grass is usually planted during May and July, whereas cool-season perennial grass is planted during fall.
As already mentioned, perennial grasses thrive with little to no maintenance when it comes to growing conditions. Having said that, they grow best in areas where the soil is well-drained and there is the adequate sun. While most of them are drought-tolerant, they require about an inch of water per week to be healthy.
A great addition to any garden, perennial grasses make wonderful houseplants. With no hassle of maintenance and constant pruning requirements, you can add them to zone 6 areas without worry and be sure to wake up to a wonderful view.
Author
Julian Carter
