You may be growing ornamental grasses as a specimen, a ground cover, a barrier, or an edging plant. Given how hardy these species are, how little maintenance they require, and how well they work in so many garden styles and designs, it's no wonder they've become so popular in the last ten years or so. But, as adaptable as they are, they're not impervious to conditions. The right amount of sunlight, good drainage, and rich soil are critical.

Shopping Plant Nurseries

As you begin to incorporate a few ornamental grasses into your garden design, you'll do well to shop the possibilities. You might be thinking of sedges or fescue as an edging plant, or of fountain or blue oak grass as a border plant. Ideally, you'll find a nursery that not only stocks a wide variety of grasses, but also has developed expertise in their planting and care.

More often than not, in the process you'll learn about varieties you hadn't considered or didn't know of in the first place. In making your selections, you'll be considering the same factors as you do with any perennial, annual, shrub or tree. You want to look at their growth habits, the growth and flowering patterns, their light and water needs and, of course, their ornamental qualities. You'll want to guard against some of the running grasses, which can be invasive.

One approach is to start by choosing a nursery and asking those experts for assistance. Go to several--whether online or locally--with the same scenario, that is, a basic garden idea and a list of "what's there" as well as a wish list. Get feedback from each, and get a sense of who gives you what seems to be the most complete information. Look for references from other customers. If you're dealing with an online catalog vendor, look into their shipping policies, methods, carriers, and costs.