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Grasses are more than just bush and lawn!

Many people unfamiliar with gardening or landscaping think of grasses as just bushes or types of lawns, but of course, they are so much more than that. Grasses are used extensively in gardening and soft landscaping to significant effect. In this article, we look at why grasses are essential and some of their uses in the garden. We also describe some beautiful grasses at Windy Willows Wholesale Nursery.

Why do we need bush and lawn?

Apart from the fact that they look fantastic in the garden with their range of textures and colours, grasses tend to be low-maintenance and integrate well with other perennials and focal plants. Grasses are also soil protectors and stabilisers, so they also play an essential role ecologically.

We often talk about the great benefits of utilising Indigenous plants in our gardens due to the massive water problems we encounter, and grasses are amongst the best of the natural foliage we find.

On a broader scale, grasses are grains too and, when cultivated, they provide food for human beings.  In the wild, they are the primary sustenance of many creatures and will attract birds, butterflies and other insects to your garden. As lawns, they provide all kinds of benefits like preventing erosion, breaking down organic chemicals and having a cooling effect in summer, to name just a few.

How do we use them?

Grasses are decorative and ornamental and can create spectacular effects in the garden.

They can be used to accent garden ornaments between art pieces. They can be used as screens to add privacy or create colourful containers. Grasses can add texture to flower beds and borders and soften hard landscaping when used cleverly around paving, etc. - or in between stones.

Try grasses to dress up decks and patios or add an exciting element to other flower arrangements in the beds. Use them to create beautiful edging or even to garnish your vegetable garden! Remember, they make lovely groundcover and are a delight to birdlife, too, as birds use the leafy blades to make nests, for shelter in more giant grasses, and as food, as many species of birds eat the seeds.

The uses are endless; if you want to know more, please consult us. We would be delighted to show you how we use grasses in gardens and our soft landscaping.

Simply the best!

Windy Willows has a large range of grasses available to the public.  A few of our favourite indigenous ones are:

Weeping Anthericum – A semi-shade grass with beautiful white flowers; creates lovely waves in a soft breeze.

Aristida – excellent evergreen and frost hardy grass to fill large borders.

Chlorophytum, or Hen and Chicken - a popular ground cover with lovely variegated blue green and white leaves and white or purple flowers; also good for hanging baskets.

Chondropetulum tectorum, Cape Thatching Reed – This is a wetland grass, so requires more water.  It is a favourite for providing character to a garden, with its striped stems and attractive brown flowers.

But we also love some of the exotic grasses!  These include:

Acorus golden edge – adds a stunning yellow green contrast colour to your garden; perfect for the edge of borders or patios.

Phormiums – these provide structure to a bed.  They are evergreen and come in a fabulous range of colours, from deep red (Phormium bronze baby) to pink (phormium flamingo) to green with pink stripes (Phormium pink stripe).

Talk to the professionals

Now that you know that grasses are so much more than just bush and lawn, view more of them by simply using the plant selector on The Windy Willows Wholesale Nursery website or why not come in and view our vast range firsthand - and talk to us about your needs and preferences?

Remember that we are not only a nursery offering exceptional pricing to the public, but we are also landscaping experts, and this includes all forms of landscaping, so we can advise you on whatever you need – or you can hire us for a specialist consultation on-site.

We are always there for you and can’t wait to meet you face-to-face!