Wealden Times | WT163 | September 2015 | Education supplement inside

Growth is strong and fast in the spring too, so it won’t
take long before they shoot up and look less unsightly.
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Getting the best from them
Cultivation – most grasses prefer an open, sunny situation,
but will tolerate a range of soils. They come from meadow
environments and situations where competition with
other plants is strong, so they’re usually tough and will
grow in among other plants well. Don’t overfeed them
though, as this encourages more leaf than flower.
Pruning – grasses are either evergreen or deciduous and
those that die off in the winter need to be cut back in early
spring before any new growth starts. Grass grows fast in the
spring and it’s easy to end up with a tangle of old and new
growth. Cut back as hard as you can – aim for a ‘balding
hedgehog’ look, so that the new shoots can come through
the old growth cleanly. Evergreen plants like stipas can be
tidied up in the spring with a rake through to dislodge the
old foliage, then every couple of years you can give them the
short back and sides treatment and have a good tidy up.
Propagation – grasses are clump forming and can be lifted
and divided in the spring if they start getting too large.
Creating Beautiful Gardens
For Brilliant Year Round Results
Wealden Country Landcraft
Wealden Country Landcraft
For all your design, construction and maintenance requirements, contact:
Adam Sutton BSc (Hons) Environmental Science | Tim Playfoot BA (Hons) Garden Design
Tel:01892 722699| Adam:07979 362241 | Tim:07990 751353 | www.playfootgardendesign.co.uk
137 www.wealdentimes.co.uk
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