Tall Growing Grass – Your Ultimate Guide To Creating Stunning Garden

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Have you ever looked at a bare fence or an empty corner of your garden and thought, “It just needs… something?” You want to add height, movement, and a touch of natural elegance, but you’re not sure where to start. Maybe you’re dreaming of a living screen that offers privacy without the harshness of a solid wall.

If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. I promise this guide will demystify the world of ornamental grasses and show you exactly how to use tall growing grass to transform your landscape. We’ll explore everything you need to create a garden that’s not just beautiful, but also full of life, sound, and year-round interest.

Get ready to dive in! We’ll cover the incredible benefits, help you choose the perfect varieties for your space, and walk you through a complete tall growing grass guide from planting to seasonal care. Let’s grow something amazing together.

Why Choose Tall Growing Grass? Unpacking the Amazing Benefits

Before we dig into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” Tall ornamental grasses are so much more than just… well, grass. They are design powerhouses that offer a unique combination of function and beauty. Here are just a few of the benefits of tall growing grass that I’ve come to love in my own garden.

  • Effortless Privacy: Forget waiting years for a hedge to mature. Many tall grasses shoot up in a single season, creating a soft, natural screen that blocks views and buffers noise without feeling like a fortress.
  • Dynamic Movement and Sound: There’s nothing quite like the gentle rustle of grass blades in the breeze. Tall grasses bring your garden to life with constant, soothing motion and sound, adding a sensory experience that other plants can’t match.
  • Four-Season Interest: While flowers fade, tall grasses stand strong. They offer lush green texture in spring and summer, glorious plumes in the fall, and frosty, sculptural beauty that catches the low winter light. They truly work hard all year long!
  • Low-Maintenance Attitude: Don’t worry—these plants are perfect for beginners! Once established, most tall grasses are incredibly self-sufficient. They are often drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and require very little fertilizer. Their biggest demand? A single haircut once a year.
  • A Haven for Wildlife: The seed heads provide food for birds in the winter, and the dense clumps offer shelter for beneficial insects and small critters. It’s a simple way to create a more eco-friendly tall growing grass habitat.

Our Top Picks: The Best Tall Grasses for Every Garden Style

Walking into a nursery can be overwhelming, but choosing the right grass is easy when you know what to look for. Nearly all the popular ornamental grasses are “clump-forming,” meaning they grow in a neat bunch and won’t spread aggressively like lawn grass. Here are a few of my tried-and-true favorites.

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’)

If you need a tall, narrow, and impeccably well-behaved grass, ‘Karl Foerster’ is your plant. It has a very upright, architectural habit that looks fantastic in formal designs, modern landscapes, or planted in rows to create a “see-through” screen.

It’s one of the first grasses to send up its feathery, wheat-colored plumes in early summer, and they remain standing tall straight through winter. It’s a true garden superstar. Grows 4-6 feet tall.

Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis)

For a softer, more graceful look, Maiden Grass is an excellent choice. It forms a beautiful arching mound of fine-textured leaves, topped with silky, fan-like plumes in late summer and fall. Varieties like ‘Gracillimus’ are classic, while ‘Morning Light’ offers stunning variegated foliage.

Give it plenty of space to shine, as its rounded shape makes a gorgeous standalone specimen. Grows 5-7 feet tall.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Switchgrass is a North American native, making it an incredibly tough and sustainable tall growing grass option. It has a sturdy, upright form but with an airier feel than Feather Reed Grass. What makes it special is its fantastic fall color.

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Varieties like ‘Shenandoah’ and ‘Northwind’ turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and purple as the weather cools. It’s a fantastic choice for adding a splash of late-season color and tolerates a wide range of soils. Grows 4-6 feet tall.

Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)

When you want pure, unapologetic drama, you plant Pampas Grass. Known for its enormous, fluffy white or pink plumes that can reach over 10 feet tall, this grass makes a bold statement. It’s perfect as a focal point at the back of a large border.

A friendly word of caution: Check local regulations before planting, as it can be invasive in some warmer climates (like California and parts of the Southeast). Also, the leaf blades are extremely sharp, so plant it away from pathways where people might brush against it.

Your Complete Tall Growing Grass Guide: From Planting to Thriving

Alright, you’ve picked your favorite grass. Now for the fun part! Getting your new plant in the ground is simple. Following these steps for how to tall growing grass will set you up for years of success.

Step 1: Choose the Right Spot

This is the most important step! Almost all ornamental grasses need full sun—at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day—to grow strong and straight. In too much shade, they can become weak and floppy. Also, consider their mature size. Read the plant tag and give them room to grow into their full, glorious shape.

Step 2: Timing is Everything

The best time to plant tall grasses is in the spring after the last frost has passed. This gives them the entire growing season to establish a strong root system before winter arrives. In milder climates, you can also plant in early fall, at least 6-8 weeks before your first expected frost.

Step 3: Prepare the Soil

Most ornamental grasses aren’t fussy about soil, which is great news! They generally prefer well-draining soil. If you have heavy clay, amend the planting hole with a little compost or grit to improve drainage. Avoid adding too much rich compost or fertilizer, as overly rich soil can lead to weak, floppy growth.

Step 4: Planting Your Grass

This part is easy, I promise!

  1. Dig a hole that is about twice as wide as the pot the grass came in, and just as deep.
  2. Gently remove the grass from its container. If the roots are tightly circled (root-bound), use your fingers or a small knife to gently loosen them up.
  3. Place the plant in the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
  4. Backfill the hole with the soil you removed, gently tamping it down to remove air pockets.
  5. Water deeply and thoroughly to help the roots settle in. Applying a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base (but not touching the stems) will help retain moisture and keep weeds down.

Mastering the Art of Care: Tall Growing Grass Best Practices

You’ve planted your grass, and now you get to watch it grow. The good news is that your job is mostly done! This tall growing grass care guide is refreshingly short, focusing on a few key tasks that will keep your plants happy and healthy.

Watering Wisdom

For the first growing season, you’ll want to water your new grass regularly (about once a week, or more in extreme heat) to help it establish a deep root system. After the first year, most tall grasses are remarkably drought-tolerant. You’ll likely only need to water them during prolonged dry spells.

To Feed or Not to Feed?

Here’s one of the best tall growing grass tips: put away the fertilizer. These grasses thrive in lean soil. Feeding them, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizer, often results in weak, lanky growth that flops over in the wind or rain. A single application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring is plenty, and often not necessary at all.

The Annual Haircut: Pruning and Division

This is the main maintenance task. In late winter or early spring, before new growth begins to emerge, cut the old, brown foliage back. You can use shears, hedge trimmers, or even a string trimmer. Cut the entire clump down to about 4-6 inches from the ground.

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Every 3-5 years, you might notice the center of the clump dying out. This is a sign it’s time to divide the plant! Simply dig up the entire clump in early spring, use a sharp spade to divide it into smaller sections, and replant the healthy outer portions.

Solving Common Problems with Tall Growing Grass

Even the toughest plants can have an off day. Don’t panic if you see something amiss! Here’s how to troubleshoot some of the most common problems with tall growing grass.

Help, My Grass is Flopping Over!

This is the number one issue gardeners face. Flopping is almost always caused by one of three things:

  • Too much shade: The grass is stretching for light. The only real fix is to move it to a sunnier spot.
  • Too much water: Overwatering can lead to weak root systems. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
  • Too much fertilizer: As we mentioned, excess nitrogen causes weak, leggy growth. Stop fertilizing!

Why Isn’t My Grass Getting Tall?

Patience, my friend! Many ornamental grasses follow the old gardener’s maxim: “The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap!” It can take a few seasons for a plant to reach its full, mature height. As long as it looks healthy, just give it time.

What About Pests and Diseases?

Honestly, these are rare. Most grasses are incredibly resilient. Occasionally, you might see some rust (orange spots on the leaves), especially during humid weather. The best prevention is to ensure good air circulation by giving plants adequate space. Most pest issues are minor and don’t require any intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tall Growing Grass

How fast does tall growing grass grow?

Most ornamental grasses are fast growers, often reaching their full height in a single season. However, it may take 2-3 years for the clump to reach its full width and density. Perennials like these focus on root growth in their first year.

Do I need to cut back tall ornamental grass in the fall?

It’s better to wait until late winter or early spring. Leaving the foliage standing provides crucial winter interest in the garden and offers food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects. The dormant foliage also helps protect the plant’s crown from harsh winter weather.

Can I grow tall grass in a container?

Absolutely! Many varieties, like Feather Reed Grass, do beautifully in large containers. Just be sure the pot has excellent drainage and is big enough to accommodate the root ball (at least 18-24 inches in diameter). Potted plants will also require more frequent watering than those in the ground.

Is tall ornamental grass invasive?

The vast majority of popular ornamental grasses sold in nurseries are well-behaved clump-formers and are not invasive. However, it’s always wise to check your local extension office or nursery about specific varieties, like Pampas Grass or some types of Miscanthus, which can be problematic in certain regions.

Your Garden, Transformed

You now have all the knowledge you need to confidently select, plant, and care for stunning tall grasses. You’re ready to create that private oasis, add that missing texture, and design a garden that moves and whispers in the wind.

Embracing tall growing grass is about more than just filling a space; it’s about adding a dynamic, living element that brings your garden to life throughout the year. So go ahead, pick a spot, and get planting.

You’ve got this! Happy gardening.

Rimon Chowdhury
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