Aggressive seeder – DGP

Posted on September 27, 2023 by jmarkowski Posted in Ornamental grass .

I love Sorghastrum (Indian Grass) but it is an aggressive seeder that pops up all over my garden and isn’t the easiest to yank out. And it appears to enjoy weaving its way through my many perennials, as seen infiltrating an innocent Amsonia below.

It’s become so bad, that I dedicated an afternoon to just eradicating all of the random Sorghastrum grasses. What will I do to address this dire situation? I may, gulp, cut down the grasses in fall to hopefully cut down on the aggressive seeder that is Indian grass, winter interest be damned.

Actually the more I mull it over as I’m writing this post, the more I’m convinced a cut down is the way to go. Sorghastrum doesn’t hold up well in the winter compared to my other grasses (especially Panicum) so why promote the seeding?

Thanks so much for listening and allowing me to work this out in real time. Appreciate it.

The late August garden

Posted on August 31, 2017 by jmarkowski Posted in My garden .

The latest and greatest:

The signs of autumn are becoming less and less subtle. The Itea ‘Little Henry’ in the front are half green/half scarlet red. The Amsonia hubrichtii is revealing orange hues throughout. The Panicum in the upper left is now showing signs of its yellow fall color and even the blooms on Joe Pye Weed are transitioning to a richer and darker pink.

The blooms on Pennisetum ‘Desert Plains’ recently emerged in full force.

A smorgasbord of ornamental grass blooms. It’s tough to identify them all individually but included here are Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’, Karl Foerster grass and Indian Grass.

And now here they all are individually.

I took a few steps back for this picture of Indian Grass to show just how prolific it is as a focal point at the end of my driveway.

Red for days on Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’.

Those Karl Foerster blooms still soaking up the sun like champs.

Lobelia siphilitica (Cardinal flower) still popping up everywhere, including smack dab in the middle of this ornamental grass.

Have I mentioned Amsonia in every post so far this year? Here’s another one.

You know I attempted (key word here) to remove all of my Northern Sea Oats. While it continues to stick around, there’s no denying that it is stunning in the right light.

I’ll take the blush/pink faded blooms of this Hydrangea over the bright white blooms any day. Quintessential late summer color.

There are very few berries on Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’ that have been missed by the birds.

Boltonia in full bloom, fortunately being held up by the neighboring Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’.

Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed) while blooming, has been devoured by some critter so it’s a bit ugly right now. Yuck.

Butterfly chasing adventure of the week: Common Buckeye.

Tour of the Garden – 8/24/17

Posted on August 24, 2017 by jmarkowski Posted in My garden, Ornamental grass .

The Grasses

What else would I lead with at this time of year? Duh. I’m well aware that my last post featured Flame Grass, but I couldn’t resist featuring it yet again. Those silvery blooms blowing in the wind bring the garden to life. Once that green foliage color turns every imaginable shade of orange, it will be sensory overload.

Can you say focal point? Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is killer right now. While I love it massed for maximum effect, it can hold its own on its own. While the flowers or inflorescence are a show-stopper, give me the sturdy blue stems any day of the week. Even on a Monday.

Ho-hum, another Panicum ‘Northwind’ pic.

The red is really shining through on Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’. These grasses are incredibly fool-proof and have been for over a decade now.

Multiple grasses are anchoring this garden scene. I’ll say it again, as ubiquitous as it may be, the upright and tan blooms of Karl Foerster grass add so much to the late summer garden. Massed or dotted throughout the garden, it doesn’t matter. It works and I won’t stop using it any time soon.

Just a different Instagram filter for a different vibe.

Fine, you win

I cut it down to the ground in early spring. I cut it back again in June. I chopped off a ton of the branches after they were infested with Japanese beetles.

It doesn’t matter. This Salix ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ (Dappled Willow) just keeps growing and growing. If I’m being honest, I’m bored with it but I can’t imagine trying to remove it.

Oh well.

Not looking good

All of my Achillea (Yarrow) ‘Moonwalker’ look like this or worse. The funny thing is they thrived earlier in the summer like never before.

I told myself I wouldn’t dabble in red-blooming Lobelias any longer. They have never escaped the jaws of the deer or the rabbits. Just when all 5 were starting to look great while blooming together, this happened. I even sprayed the bastards with Deer Off the night before.

I’m done.

You know I love me some Sneezeweed ‘Mariachi Series’. But for the first time since I’ve planted them, they are toppling over. It may have been due to a recent deluge of rain so I’ll do my best to remain patient.

Still chasing

Yes, still awkwardly running after each and every Monarch butterfly.

Autumn has arrived

This is the Viburnum that I ceremoniously moved to a new location in the garden a few weeks back. I’m sure the red leaves are due to the stress I put on it and not the fact that fall has come a few weeks to early. Either way, that color is solid and I have big hopes for the future as it matures.

But even better is the sign of all of those berries. This is a Viburnum dentatum ‘All That Glitters’ which requires ‘All That Glows’ as a pollinator. I have both planted close to each other and I’m assuming this is the result of that pollination. They should turn purple in color in the coming weeks.

All of my Itea (Virginia Sweetspire) turn red prematurely in August. This is the dwarf cultivar ‘Little Henry’ which I’m allowing to sucker like mad in a very wet part of the garden.

While it may be slight, you can start to see the color transformation in the foliage of the Amsonia.

Amsonia tabernaemontana

Amsonia hubrichtii

The Red Twig Dogwood just displayed its red stems for the first time this week. And for those curious, the leaf damage was from Japanese beetles a few weeks back.

Ready to shine

The Eupatorium ‘Wayside’ (Hardy Ageratum) are starting to bloom.

But have they ever taken over.

So many of you warned me of this and it is coming to fruition. It may be OK this year, but I see a problem with the years to come. I’ll need to jump on this soon to prevent a total takeover.

Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ is rounding into form and they are all inundated with bees.

Helenium (Sneezweed) has popped up all over my garden where I least expected it and I’m good with that. That is until it falls over when the many flowers emerge at once.

They may not “shine” but Chelone lyonii (Turtlehead) ‘Hot Lips’ adds a nice dash of color in late summer.

My continuing use of annuals

I’ve added Heliotrope …

… and Persian Shield

… and I must admit I might be coming around even more on using annuals. As many of you know, I’ve rarely used annuals in the garden outside of containers but finally embraced them this year. I’m getting the “fill-in” functionality and long bursts of color. While I prefer to grow over time with my plants, I may be finally crossing the dark side.

I love you, but don’t know where to go with you

I am like totally in love with Aralia ‘Sun King’.

Look at that foliage.

Problem is I have no room for it in my garden. All of my shaded areas are accounted for and even if I made room, I worry about the deer destroying it.

So for now, I’m digging it in a container, shaded on my front porch, and will do my best to overwinter it in the container.

Top ten ornamental grasses

Posted on January 28, 2016 by jmarkowski Posted in Ornamental grass .

My garden is dominated by ornamental grasses. It started out of necessity as they could handle the poor draining clay soil, all day sun, harsh wintry conditions and were completely ignored by the deer. But is has since evolved into me simply loving the hell out of them as witnessed by my numerous posts on the topic. They are the backbone of my garden.

A friend recently asked me “Which grasses should I plant this spring?” and I told him I’ll do you one better, I’ll dedicate an entire post to my personal favorites. A handy little guide for those who are just entering the OG world or are looking to add a few to their existing collection. My recommendations are solely based on grasses that have resided in my own garden as I’ve had the time to watch them mature and adapt over the years. There are definitely others I’ve seen in other gardens that I would recommend as well, but until I have a personal experience with them, I cannot comment.

I’ve dedicated posts to many of these individual grasses, so simply click on the name of the grass to read in greater detail. I’ve also included a few quick tidbits below about each grass.

Here are my top ten ornamental grasses (in no particular order):

Panicum ‘Northwind’

Grass remains completely upright all year long.
Reached full size (5′-6′) within three years after planting a tiny plug.
Underrated yellow fall color.

Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’

First grass I ever planted.
My favorite fall “red”of all the Panicums
I’ve divided this grass numerous times with ease.

Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’

The biggest head turner in Fall with its foliage color of red/green/orange.
The silver blooms are a nice contrast.
Looks fantastic with fall perennials (Dwarf sneezeweed in the photo)

Sorghastrum ‘Sioux Blue’

This towering native grass (middle of pic) reaches 7 feet when in bloom.
Took 2-3 years to establish, but now upright and stays that way through winter.
Individual blooms are interesting when viewed up close.

Pennisetum ‘Desert Plains’

Only two years in with this one and it has already established itself well.
Great late summer/fall foliage color.
Tons of blooms starting in summer and they still look good into the winter.

Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’

Reliable performer year after year. 9 years in for me.
Doesn’t hold up as well in winter as the other grasses.
A bit weedy like most Miscanthus.

Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’

Yes, you can find them everywhere, but there is a reason for that. Care free and upright and buff blooms all summer and into fall.
I like to squeeze one in between perennials as a great contrast in texture and color.
I divide all the time with ease and nothing but success.

Schizachyrium (Little Bluestem) ‘Blue Heaven’

Great blue color in spring and then shades of pink and red in late summer.
Has handled early morning shade without issue.
Two years in with this one and I’m in love with it. Holds up all season including in winter.

Molinia ‘Skyracer’

A slow to establish cool season grass but worth the wait. This one is all about the blooms as they get 4′ to 5′ tall and look killer at the back of a border.
Does not hold up in winter as the blooms break off.
Just planted ‘Cordoba’ for the first time which is allegedly even better than ‘Skyracer’.

Andropogon ‘Red October’

Another newcomer for me as we’re three years in. About 3′ to 4′ in height but should reach 6′ to 7′.
The foliage color is off the charts already. Red hues even in spring and then dark red in fall.
Seems slower to establish but it will be worth the wait. Only a few blooms to date.

And a few bonus “non-recommendations”:

Calamagrostis ‘El Dorado’

The picture to the right is this cool season grass at its peak. Short lived though as it becomes nondescript the rest of the year.
Nowhere near as solid as ‘Karl Foerster’

Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’

Maybe TBD is a better description. Nothing bad, just not as exciting as other switch grasses to date.
I haven’t seen much of a blue hue so far, just a drab green.

Northern Sea Oats

Just read this and you’ll understand why I gave up on it.

Indian Grass blooms arrive

Posted on September 7, 2015 by jmarkowski Posted in Ornamental grass .

We have had incredible weather this long weekend so most of it has been spent outdoors on our back deck. We’re milking this summer thing for as long as possible.

Breakfast listening to nothing but the birds, including our friends the Red-shouldered hawks.

Watering and deadheading the container plants and harvesting the tomatoes and peppers that are still thriving on the deck.

Watching the sunset turn the sky into an intoxicating pink melange.

This time of year also brings about the stellar blooms of Indian Grass (Sorghastrum) ‘Sioux Blue’ which emerge right at the deck’s edge.

As soon as you set foot out of my kitchen and onto the deck, you are immediately drawn to them.

I find myself constantly touching the upright flowering stems and really love how they look up close where you can appreciate the yellow stamens.

Now having said that, Sorghastrum really shines (figuratively and literally) when planted among other grasses, shrubs and perennials.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

All of this Indian Grass love has inspired me to widen an existing bed I can view from my deck, just so I can move additional ‘Sioux Blue’ that are located in other spots within the garden.

Operation “Kill the grass with cardboard and grow more plants” has entered into phase 1.

A Different View

Posted on September 8, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Ornamental grass .

Views from the deck in early evening:

The Indian grass (Sorghastrum ‘Sioux blue’) is in full bloom at about 7′ high:

Another view of that same Indian Grass looking out towards a Switch Grass (Panicum):

‘Karl Foerster’ grass lit up by the sun:

Another Switch grass (Panicum):

And a Milkweed seedpod opening up and releasing the goods:

The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

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