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Gardener Suze's New OAP Garden

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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited 31 January
    @:Lizzie27 It is difficult to ID them from a distance and I am not sure. The fact that they are still standing suggests C Karl Foerster.Miscanthus sometimes have red in the base of the stems at this time of year. You would need to use secateurs to cut the large ones. With Calamagrostis a pair of shears would do the job. Hope that might help.
    Happy Holiday.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited 31 January
    I think there's too much volume at the top of those grasses to be C. Karl Foerster @Lizzie27. At this time of year the Calamagrostis in my garden have lost all their seeds and the flower stalks look literally like stalks, as below. I'm sure other guests have admired them and the hotel staff may well know the ID. I'm curious to know!


    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Thanks for your thoughts @GardenerSuze and @Plantminded.  Sorry, I never thought to ask at the hotel and we're back home now. The grasses may be too short to be C. Karl Foerster after all - I was just impressed at how they were still standing upright facing the sea after the recent storms we had! I've now got a gap in our terrace screening where something like that would fit the bill.

    Sorry @GardenerSuze, I didn't mean to hijack your thread.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    edited 31 January
    They look like Panicums to me ( the tall ones )  @Lizzie27 Panicum Shenandoah or maybe squaw / other , its not easy to judge the size of the picture . How dense they are and the tops of a few ( especially the one to the far left ) make me think its possibly a panicum 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have been to a National Trust property today. Lots of different grasses. I did take a look at what I believed to be C Karl Foerster the flowers were very taperd and thin but standing beautifully tall. Yes just like your photo @plantminded
    There were also Molinias these had taked a hit from winter winds but amazingly a few flowers were still standing.

    @Lizzie27 Perhaps we will never know for sure unless you are planning a return visit?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Very probably @GardenerSuze, we liked the hotel/town very much and it's nearer to us for a quick break than some of the other places down the coast.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Panicum was my other thought @Perki, so it’s good think I might have been on the right track! They are really undemanding grasses @Lizzie27, I wish I had more space in my garden to experiment with them!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited 1 February
     I am looking at the border where I am going to plant Calamagrostis Karl Foerster wall beyond east facing open and sunny am.
    The question is how would you lay out the plants to start with?
    I have either five or six I can use. One in each corner and one in the middle or three rows of three or just a randon planting? The idea is it will be a dense area of just this grass. It measures 120cm deep 170 cm wide Thanks Suze 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @GardenerSuze, I would check the label first to see if it gives a maximum diameter when mature, then work out your spacings from that?

    If you can fit five in, then I would plant them in a zig zag pattern along the border.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    What size pots are they in at the moment @GardenerSuze?
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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