IN THE GARDEN
1. Continue harvesting fruit and vegetables such as potatoes, beetroot and tomatoes. 2. Divide and plant congested clumps of herbaceous perennials such as Geranium and Epimedium . 3. Plant spring flowering bulbs like Crocus , Narcissus and Fritillaria . Gardening jobs for September
4. Collect and sow seed from perennials and annuals.
5. Install water butts beneath downpipes to store water for use later in the garden.
feather grass, grows to approximately 60cm tall, and along with greater quaking grass ( Briza maxima ) is perfect for inclusion in a sun-baked gravel garden. A taller species, giant oat grass ( Celtica gigantea ) has flower stems to 2.5m that take on a golden glow in sunlight, making for a wonderful specimen, while Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ is an erect perennial favourite, valued for adding punctuation to a border. Poaceae is not only the most important family of economic value, but its diversity also offers a great selection of species for use in our gardens, each of which brings movement, texture and sound to these treasured oases. I for one can’t imagine a garden without them.
Whatever your situation there will be a grass for you. If you’re feeling encouraged to dive into the world of grasses for the first time, be sure to pick the right plant for the right place. When selecting, consider your soil type and light levels to ensure you make the correct choice. If you have light shade and moisture, Japanese forest grass ( Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) is a great choice. Anemanthele lessoniana (pheasant’s tail grass) is the only component in our grass maze, and this enjoys dry conditions in sun or shade, and its billowing mounds are attractive, tactile and full of movement throughout the year. Grasses can add form and texture to herbaceous beds, breaking up the cacophony of colour and the rigid forms of many perennials with their graceful form and motion. Nassella tenuissima , or Mexican
BOTANIC BALLET Grass beds offer wonderful visual contrast, flowing textures and graceful movement (top), this is especially true for wild barley ( Hordeum spontaneum ) moving softly in the wind (above)
Sally Petitt is head of horticulture at Cambridge University Botanic Garden
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