Garden Ideas for Small Yard

A friend of mine contacted me for assistance in creating a garden in her small yard. She lives in a townhouse and her backyard is very small and not private. If she put up a privacy fence then all she would need would be two panels on the sides and I thought she might feel closed in so I suggested that she invest in a lovely grass garden instead and create a private garden in her small yard.

The ornamental grass garden would add privacy and movement to her landscape plus the flower plumes are pretty. A grass garden is pretty summer through winter and is easy to care for too.

Along with the grass garden, I suggested planting some low growing daylilies and garden decorations; birdbath, outdoor bench, wind chimes and window box planted with colorful coleus plants.

Here is the digital set that I created for my friend. This set was used to show my friend how a few ornamental grasses can transform her yard and create a comfortable resting area where she could read a book or sip a cup of herbal tea.

When it comes to creating an ornamental grass garden I always choose tall grasses and then taper downward, ending with low growing border grass.

I recommend buying ornamental grasses at greenwoodnursery.com. This online nursery has a good selection of grass. My favorites are;

1. Karley Rose Grass; Features dark green foliage pretty rose color flower plume
2. white or pink pampas grass for showy flower plumes
3. Add contrast to the ornamental grass garden with Red Rooster Carex grass.
4. Accent the grass garden with low growing Elijah blue fescue grass with blue foliage or Lirope/ lilyturf with its dark green leaves and purple flowers in the fall. Both are low growing in a mound and will make the grass garden look eye appealing.

Plants That add Interest to Winter Gardens

Normally after a hard frost I will go out and cut back my plants in my garden however some plants I leave because they will provide interest through out the winter months.

Fountain grass in winter

The dried ornamental grass plumes as they add not only interest but also movement in the garden. I also find that the seed heads from the autumn joy sedum. Black-eyed Susan’s and the dried hydrangea flowers look eye appealing during the winter season.

Dried Hydrangea Flowers in in late fall

What I usually do is leave these garden plants alone throughout the winter months and then cut them back in early spring.

After a hard frost after I clean up the garden (cut back all other plants)  I will apply a layer of cypress mulch around the stems of the plants that I am leaving for winter interest.  This year I am using  Scotts nature scapes mulch in the color of red for winter because it is a nice contrast.

Here is a YouTube video that will show you how beautiful grasses look in winter.

Grow Feather Reed Grass

Grow feather reed grass as an accent in your yard or plant along the perimeter of your yard for privacy. The feather reed grass is a low maintenance ornamental grasses that will add color and interest to your landscape. 

Feather reed grass has deep green foliage that grows upward out of a clump. This particular grass is the first of the ornamental grasses to bloom. In early June, the reed grass will produce a light pink feather plume. In midsummer, this plume will turn a shade of light purple and in the autumn, the plume will turn a golden tan. The color changes of the plumes is quite eye appealing. 

Plant the feather reed grass as a feature in your garden or plant along a path. You can also plant this grass in a large container, whatever you choose the feather reed grass will become a focal area in your yard and garden.  

I have a grass garden and enjoy it all year round. The movement of the grass in the wind is very relaxing.  One of my favorite things to do at the end of the day is to sit on my patio and watch the reed leaves move in the wind.  I grow ornamental grass in different focal areas of my yard and the grass has added interest to areas that were lacking.

Plant the feather reed grass in spring after the danger of frost has past or you may plant the grass anytime during the growing season; however, the reed grass must receives adequate water, so that the it does not dry out. 

If you intend on planting during the summer months then install a drip-line watering system and water grass daily, it is best to keep the soil evenly moist but not wet the first growing season.  

Select a garden site that has full to part sun and well-drained soil. This particular grass is not picky about the soil in which it grows in and will tolerate rocky, clay and dry soils. Plant the feather reed grass in masses for best appearance. Refrain from planting the grass next to a privacy fence or a wall, as this grass needs good air circulation.

Prepare your garden site by removing the grass, rock and all other debris.  Use your shovel to loosen the soil to ten inches. Amend the soil with four inches of compost. Dig a hole that is the same depth and width of the nursery container.  

Set the grass root ball in the center of the hole and fill the hole with the remaining soil. Space the plants two feet apart. Water the feather reed grass well.  

Continue to water the reed grass in the morning with soaker hose.   For newly planted grass I always keep the soil evenly moist but not wet for the first growing season or until it has matured. Once the feather reed grass is mature, it is drought tolerant.

In the fall when the ornamental grass turns brown do not cut it back.  The foliage is attractive throughout the winter months and provides shelter for birds and small animals.  Trim back the grass in late winter by cutting it back to 12 inches in height. Trim grass before the early spring growth. Divide and transplant clumps every three to four years. Best time to transplant is in the early spring or early fall.





image credit Wikipedia commons

Ornamental Grass Garden Ideas

Grow ornamental grasses and you will enjoy a worry and maintenance-free garden from summer through early spring. Plant grasses in a group setting, as a hedge, or as an accent plant, the ornamental grass garden will add interest to your landscape. 

 Design your grass garden site by selecting grasses that will complement each other. For a small yard choose medium size grasses such as Karley Rose mixed with smaller grasses such as Prairie Dropseed. For large yards, choose tall and full grasses such as reed, zebra, reed grass, fountain grass, or giant reed grass.

Design your garden by staggering the height of the grasses. Plant the largest grass in the back, plant one medium on the right side and the other medium on the left side. Frame the grass garden with the smaller grasses by planting them in the front.