Looking to add beauty, function, and year-round interest to your lawn or landscaping? Ornamental grasses might be the most versatile plants you’re not yet using to their full potential. These grasses bring unique texture, movement, and color, all while handling tough conditions like erosion, foot traffic, and even wet soil.
We sat down with Thom Peck, a certified professional horticulturist at Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc., to learn how ornamental grasses can enhance properties across the D.C. and suburban Maryland region.
Thom has lived and worked with plants in the D.C. area his entire life. According to him, “Ornamental grasses are more than just filler. They’re practical, beautiful, and low-maintenance. And in many cases, they solve problems that shrubs or turfgrass can’t.”
1. Hide Unsightly Utilities with Grace
Tall ornamental grasses offer an elegant solution if you’re tired of staring at your air conditioning unit or utility box. Many varieties are dense enough to screen off equipment year-round, yet have a soft, airy quality that blends into the landscape design rather than dominating it.
Top Picks for Hiding Utilities:
- Pennisetum ‘Hameln’ – This compact fountain grass reaches 18–24” in height with delicate bottlebrush-like blooms rising higher.
- Panicum ‘Shenandoah’ – A native switchgrass with green foliage that turns deep reddish-purple at the tips in fall.
- Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ – A stately, upright grass that looks stunning en masse, especially when swaying in the breeze.
These grasses maintain their form through winter and don’t need to be cut back until early spring— ideal for low-maintenance screens.
2. Create Visual Contrast with Purely Ornamental Varieties
Ornamental grasses can serve purely aesthetic roles too. Their soft textures and vibrant colors make them perfect for edging beds, softening hardscapes, or filling in garden gaps.
Top Purely Ornamental Grasses:
- Carex – Often mistaken for liriope, but with more varieties and flexibility. Some, like Carex Evergold and Blue Zinger, offer color options from gold-striped to deep green-blue.
- Erianthus ravennae – A dramatic showstopper with 12-foot plumes, great for planting below a two-story deck if you want something to look out over with a drink in hand.
- Liriope – Tough, attractive, and available in variegated forms. It’s hardy enough to survive foot traffic and even discourages dogs from marking.
These ornamental grasses offer year-round texture and often retain some color outside of winter, unlike many perennials.
3. Control Soil Erosion Naturally
If your yard has sloped areas or runoff issues, ornamental grasses are excellent for stabilizing the soil. Their deep root systems help anchor the earth while their decomposing foliage adds organic matter back into the soil.
Top Soil-Saving Choices:
- Mondograss (Ophiopogon) – Both dwarf and black varieties are slow-growing and shade-tolerant. Once established, they create a spreading mat that holds soil in place.
- Panicum and switchgrasses – With native roots (literally), they handle erosion like pros while contributing to pollinator-friendly landscaping.
Thom explains, “They fertilize themselves by bringing nutrients to the surface that turfgrass roots can’t reach, and then’ breaking down.”
4. Use as Natural Barriers
Some grasses are great for guiding foot traffic or creating low-maintenance borders. Liriope is especially effective as a barrier plant — it’s attractive and practically indestructible.
Top Barrier Grass Options:
- Liriope ‘Royal Purple’ – Grows slowly and stays where it’s planted.
- Liriope ‘Variegata’ – Forms tidy mounds that won’t spread aggressively.
- Liriope spicata – The most vigorous variety, spreading via runners. Ideal for containing erosion or covering large areas, but it can get away from you if not managed.
Used thoughtfully, these barrier grasses can define spaces, edge paths, or discourage unwanted lawn traffic.
5. Line Water Features with Marginal Grasses
Some grasses don’t mind getting their feet wet — literally. These “marginal” plants are ideal for the edges of ponds, streams, or rain gardens where occasional flooding or soggy soil would stress out other plants.
Top Recommendations for Wet Spots:
- Carex – Again, a standout. It thrives at the edges of water features.
- Cattails – A classic marginal plant that adds height and drama.
These grasses not only tolerate wet conditions, they thrive in them—helping you create natural-looking transitions between land and water.
6. Fill Out a Meadow Garden
For a more naturalistic look, ornamental grasses are perfect in meadow-style plantings. They provide movement, color, and structure throughout the year, even in winter when flowers have faded.
Why Grasses Work in Meadows:
- They keep their foliage year-round, so your garden has “bones” even when blooms are gone.
- They provide vital habitat and food for birds and insects.
- They require very little care once established.
Want a landscape that looks good in every season? Thom recommends mixing grasses with native wildflowers for a resilient, low-maintenance, and ever-changing scene.
Grasses with Purpose and Beauty
In the D.C. and Maryland climate, ornamental grasses are a smart, sustainable choice. Whether you’re hiding an A/C unit, stabilizing a slope, or creating a soft border around your garden, there’s a grass for the job — and Johnson’s Landscaping Service can help you select the right one for your space.
Ready to transform your lawn with ornamental grasses? Contact Johnson’s Landscaping Service today to schedule a consultation with one of our horticultural experts.
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