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urban native planting - small bed #862742

Asked March 28, 2024, 2:58 PM EDT

hi! - i have a very small bed bordering my garage that i'd like to spruce up --- would native grasses work? do you have any recommendations? small, full blazing sun, vinyl clad back wall w/ concrete walkway bordering area

Scott County Minnesota

Expert Response

point of clarification - the current "grasses" are fake  :' (

The Question Asker Replied March 28, 2024, 3:23 PM EDT
Most native grasses grow well in full sun, but the bed appears to be narrow, so tall, robust species might outgrow the space or flop onto the walk. 

Relatively compact, low growing natives to consider are Eragrostis spectabilis – purple love grass and Sporobolis heterolepsis – prairie dropseed.

Festuca glauca-blue fescue and Helictotrichon sempervirens – blue oat grass are non-native grasses with a similar growth habit. 

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eragrostis-spectabilis/

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/prairie-dropseed-sporobolus-heterolepis/

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/blue-fescue-festuca-ovina-glauca/

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/blue-oat-grass-helictotrichon-sempevirens/

The following references may be useful:

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/files/2022/02/Ornamental-Grasses-in-the-Landscape-Kiss-My-Grass-Handout.pdf
An Ask Extension Expert Replied March 28, 2024, 8:54 PM EDT

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