by Matt Corrion
Ornamental grasses are more popular than ever, and for good reason. They can add texture to the landscape, and they are tough plants that are easy to grow in a variety of conditions. 
Ornamental grasses can also add beauty to the winter landscape.
But should ornamental grasses be cut back to the ground in winter?
Most ornamental grasses develop tall seed heads late in the summer that naturally persist through the winter. When temperatures start to drop the plant will die back, leaving the dried foliage, stalks, and seed heads. The general rule that you should cut back the grasses before the next growing season, so that the new year’s growth will be more vigorous and healthy.
I have found a couple of exceptions to this here in the Denver area, particularly with Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima), which did not regenerate as well or look as good the year after I cut it back. I have since started leaving it uncut, which results is the new growth coming up right through the beautiful finely textured golden old growth. But with most varieties, they should be cut back before new growth starts in the spring.
So the question, then, is whether you should cut them back in the fall, or wait until the spring. Many people enjoy the colors and movement that these elements provide in winter. Others prefer a more “neat” or formal look.
I thought it would be interesting to explore the advantages each approach:
Advantages of leaving the grasses for the winter and waiting until the spring to cut them back
- When shrubs lose their leaves, and perennials wither to the ground, grasses can provide form in the landscape
- Texture: Interesting textures can stand out, collecting frost or snow, and reflecting sunlight
- Movement: Winter winds and soft breezes can move and sway the stems and seed heads of ornamental grasses
- The grasses can add color to the drab winter landscape, including shades of reds, yellows, browns, and blues
- Upright grasses can be used to help screen views when deciduous plants have lost their leaves
- The grasses can provide habitat and shelter for birds and other small animals
Advantages of cutting back ornamental grasses right away in the fall or early winter
- This can be interesting and different look, I have seen some nice formal plantings that looked stunning with the grasses cut back
- Some grasses hold their form better than others, while some varieties may flop over under heavy snow
- Cutting them back may give the impression (rightly or wrongly) that a commercial landscape is being better maintained
- In some cases the grasses may block sight lines, such as to important signage in a shopping center
- In high foot traffic areas, it may be beneficial to cut back ornamental grasses to avoid them being trampled
So what do you think, is one method better than the other? My personal taste is to leave the grasses up all winter, but there are situations where you may want to cut them back. And you can always decide to cut them back later, if you feel the need to tidy them up.
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
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by Matt Corrion
After getting great feedback on my 20 Best Xeriscape Plants for Colorado post, which included a few follow-up requests, I have decided to publish a list of the best high altitude plants for landscaping.
The Challenges of High Elevations
When landscaping at higher elevations, there are many challenges to consider. The plants themselves are often limited in how cold of winter temperature they can withstand. And there are also the challenging microclimates, wind, and levels of moisture that can occur at high altitudes.
Grazing deer and elk are also a common problem at higher elevations. All of these factors should be carefully considered in the design of the landscape. Consult the USDA Plant Hardiness zones for your local area, and consider working with an experienced landscape architect or garden designer.
It would be a great idea to do some nature walks in your local area to observe the native plants that are thriving naturally, and are well adapted to the various microclimates that can be found in your area.
I have decided to limit the list to plants that I feel will do well above 8,000 ft. There are several plants that are advertised to do well above 7,500 ft, but I am not comfortable recommending all of them, so lets go with 8,000.
Deciduous Trees
- Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides
- Canada Red Cherry Prunus virginiana ‘Canada Red’
- Russian Hawthorne Crataegus ambigua
- Ginnala Maple Acer ginnala
- Apple and Crabbaple Malus (several types)
- Alder Alnus tenuifolia
- Tartarian Maple Acer tartaricum
- Birch Betula (several types)
- Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia
- English Oak Quercus robur
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by Matt Corrion
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) has a graceful form, and unique pink flowers that appear in the spring before the leaves emerge. The flowers appear even on the larger branches, and sometimes even on the trunk itself. Redbud is one of my personal favorites. In arid climates like Colorado, they should be planted in a protected location, in partial shade.
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
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by Matt Corrion
Juniper bushes are the most despised landscaping plant in existence. I know this to be true, because 75% of the time that I talk with a homeowner or property owner about renovating their landscape, they say something like “those Junipers have GOT to go!”.
Juniper bushes are common in older landscapes. Here they were not given adequate room, so they have been sheared off along the walkway.
Why is this? I think there are a few main reasons, aside from the fact that they are prickly beasts that we have all tangled with a one point (either landing in one while playing as a kid, or getting that annoying rash on your arm while trimming them) :
1) They were simply overused in the past. People are just tired of them and want something unique and new. And since they live for ages and rarely die, they are often the only living survivors guarding the front doors of homes in any older neighborhood.
2) They were not planted with enough room to grow. Many of the varieties get quite large after say, 20 years, and quickly outgrow the planting bed. Because they grow too large for their setting they require excessive pruning to keep them at a manageable size. This pruning then exposes all of the dead old growth inside the base of the plant- ugly!
3) The aforementioned prickliness. And good luck getting the baseball you were tossing around out of the center of that green monster.
Given these negatives, why then should you consider using Juniper plants in your landscape?
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by Matt Corrion
The interesting seed pods of the Golden Rain Tree appear like hanging paper lanterns. They start out a golden yellow in late summer, and fade to shades of red and brown through the fall.
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
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