Grasses: One size doesn’t fit all

A grass is a grass, right? Actually no, a one-size-fits-all approach is anything but best when it comes to producing ornamental grasses. Some like it hot; some are cool customers. And each group has its own set of cultural requirements for maximum growth, whether they’re warm-season or cool-season grasses.

A good place to start when building an ornamental grass program: Identify which grasses you want to grow, then group them into warm season and cool season. Producing warm- and cool-season grasses in the same conditions introduces avoidable growing problems. Group them correctly to even out watering needs and organize them according to similar heat requirements.

Turning up the heat

Examples of warm-season grasses include Miscanthus, Pennisetum, Cortaderia, Panicum, Andropogon, Schizachyrium, Sporobolus and Muhlenbergia. Generally, warm-season grasses are going to respond to warm temperatures and longer day lengths. They will be summer and fall flowering and will thrive in full sun.

Warm-season grasses can be shipped dormant in the early spring. This results in greatly reduced irrigation needs in the liner tray and after potting while dormant.

Heat and light are key factors to consider when growing warm-season grasses inside and also when determining when crops can be grown outside. Provide approximately 50° to 55°F night temperatures, warmer days and full sun.

Be aware that this category of grasses can tolerate colder temps, but growth will slow, and leaf damage may occur from frosts or freezes without some cover.

Also, some warm-season grasses are day length sensitive, including Panicum, Pennisetum, Andropogon and Schizachyrium. These varieties respond well to increased day length during winter months.

Keep it cool

Examples of cool-season grasses include Calamagrostis, Deschampsia, Festuca, Helictotricon and Phalaris.

Cool-season grasses will be spring and summer flowering and will generally struggle more as temperatures rise. If you’re producing cool-season grasses indoors, increase airflow and control moisture levels. Open the greenhouse during warm winter days to avoid high temperatures. Aim to maintain nighttime temperatures at approximately 40° to 45°F, although daytime temps can be warmer.

Protect finished material from frosts, which can damage foliage. Cool-season grasses can go dormant if subjected to extended periods of freezing temperatures.

General grass tips

A few tips remain consistent across both warm- and cool-season grasses. Following them can make ornamental grass production much more successful.

Incorporating good air circulation, humidity level management and vigilant scouting and monitoring, is key to any successful ornamental grass program.

Avoid over-fertilizing ornamental grasses, as it can result in stretching, increased susceptibility to disease and finished plants that tend to flop.

Choose a well-draining mix, and transplant liners into an appropriate container size. After potting liners, allow pots to dry between thorough waterings while avoiding wilting. (You’ll see this as leaf curl in grasses.)

If wet conditions are unavoidable, consider a preventive broad spectrum fungicide drench at liner planting.

A monthly preventive fungicide spray rotation will help keep your foliage healthy and free of leaf spots, resulting in a nice finished product for both warm- and cool-season grasses.

Josiah Raymer is head grower and general manager for Emerald Coast Growers, one of the country’s largest ornamental grass and perennial producers. www.ecgrowers.com