"The Importance of Good Grooming" sounds like an article for girls in some kind of high-handed teen publication dating back to the 1930s, doesn't it? However, the phrase came to mind this week as I was staring at my rather sloppy looking Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima).
I have a LOT of Mexican feather grass in my garden - 34 plants by an off the top of my head count. I'm sorry that I learned only belatedly that it can be invasive in my climate. It's a very drought tolerant and spreads easily even in unirrigated areas. Tufts of grass seedlings have popped up in my garden beds, as well as odder places, like between driveway paving stones. Keeping in under control requires timely removal of the zillions of seeds the plants produce. Cutting the grass back eliminates the seedheads but, in my opinion, negatively impacts the graceful appearance of the plant. Combing the grass by running one's fingers through its strands is one recommended method to clean out the seeds and dead material but I found that this is also hard on my hands, even when I have the foresight to put on gloves before I get started.
So I tried tools originally purchased to groom my cats. Of these, the flea comb worked best but I think it was rough on the grass. In the end, I found that a wide-toothed hair comb works well to remove seeds without having them attach themselves to gloves and clothes.
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Hands still work best for pulling out dead material from the middle of the plants but tugging the dead blades from the base in small segments was more efficient than simply running fingers through the plant material - and less hard on my hands.
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The freshly groomed plants look a lot better. I'm so pleased with them I thought I'd make them this month's focus for the foliage follow-up post sponsored by Pam at Digging.
Only 31 more plants to go.
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Why, of why, didn't I plant more Lomandra 'Breeze' instead of all that Mexican feather grass? No grooming needed there.
Please visit Pam at Digging to see her foliage follow-up and to find links to other foliage highlights.
All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
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| Three of my "ungroomed" grasses - some are much worse than these but I don't have photos on hand |
I have a LOT of Mexican feather grass in my garden - 34 plants by an off the top of my head count. I'm sorry that I learned only belatedly that it can be invasive in my climate. It's a very drought tolerant and spreads easily even in unirrigated areas. Tufts of grass seedlings have popped up in my garden beds, as well as odder places, like between driveway paving stones. Keeping in under control requires timely removal of the zillions of seeds the plants produce. Cutting the grass back eliminates the seedheads but, in my opinion, negatively impacts the graceful appearance of the plant. Combing the grass by running one's fingers through its strands is one recommended method to clean out the seeds and dead material but I found that this is also hard on my hands, even when I have the foresight to put on gloves before I get started.
So I tried tools originally purchased to groom my cats. Of these, the flea comb worked best but I think it was rough on the grass. In the end, I found that a wide-toothed hair comb works well to remove seeds without having them attach themselves to gloves and clothes.
Hands still work best for pulling out dead material from the middle of the plants but tugging the dead blades from the base in small segments was more efficient than simply running fingers through the plant material - and less hard on my hands.
The freshly groomed plants look a lot better. I'm so pleased with them I thought I'd make them this month's focus for the foliage follow-up post sponsored by Pam at Digging.
 |
| Freshly groomed Stipa tenuissima |
Only 31 more plants to go.
Why, of why, didn't I plant more Lomandra 'Breeze' instead of all that Mexican feather grass? No grooming needed there.
 |
| Lomandra longifolia 'Breeze' |
Please visit Pam at Digging to see her foliage follow-up and to find links to other foliage highlights.
All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party