Planning new 'grasses' path

MrsGarden

Planted daffodils in and along the edge of the lawn in Autumn, I now want to remove the lawn to make a narrow (1ft) border of grasses. This is to allow the daffodils to be disguised as they die back amongst the grasses. I want 'knee high' grass to make it fun for the children to jump over.

This is how it looks now, approx 4.5 metres (right hand side)

 This is a grass I want to use (i don't have the name) and will split it.

I have also ordered Hordeum jubatum seeds, unfortunately an annual but will look fabulous!

Q - I'm thinking of alternating these two grasses in rows of 3 or 4 each then the other. Or would it be better to have a full row of each, with the hordeum next to the path and the 'other' behind it? I'm in no great hurry and can wait until next year for the great picture to unravel.

Q - will the seeds from the hordeum be a nuisance getting into the path etc or will it be manageable? The seeds should arrive any day now and the instructions say it's ok to sow in May but it's on the late side, should I leave these till next year?

Q - Any one know the name of the grass I already have? It turns (slightly) red at times. Any other suggestions without having to spend lots, maybe another grass which I could buy one of and split?

Thanks , and sorry for all the questions.

 

Dovefromabove

I'm thinking that random groups of different numbers of grasses would look good, rather than something too organised, trying to keep a flow of shapes and textures along the path. 

I'm wondering if that grass is actually a carex?

MrsGarden

Thanks Dove,

Plant labels I have kept but not sure if it's one of these are:

Carex evergold (too much white/varigation on the pic),

Unicinia rubra (only grows to 15cm according to label),

Acorus ogon (too much white/varigation on the pic)

 

MrsGarden

Oh sorry, did you say that before? I'll have a look.

MrsGarden

Ah now I see Verdun, you sneaked in before me there!

Could be the stipa arundinacea, lots look the same to me  Discounted Hacka, prefer more upright than rounded.

Looked at a few pics and will think about what else to plant with, i'll see if I've got anything first (verbena bon?) probably more willowy than shrubby would suit I think. Will certainly try a wavy shape (not the best at planning lawn shapes though) Can't it just follow the curve in the path or do I need to think about it more, how will I incorporate the round bed under the apple tree, thinking aloud again.

Lots to decide, need to do it in stages and not get overwhelmed!

 

Obelixx

Just a word of warning.  I have a group of bronze carexes which looks really good all year but I took it into my head last autumn to liven it up with some daffs interplanted and some alliums.  It looks awful with the solid green foliage of the bulbs detracting from the finer stems of the carex and impeding their flow in the breeze.

Once the bulbs have finished I shall be digging them up and moving them.  

Elsewhere in the garden my daffs are surrounded by all sorts of flowering perennials whose new spring growth soon hides the dying foliage of my daffs whilst letting it do its work to replenish the bulb for next year's display to the maximum.

MrsGarden

obelixx! Spoiling my fun indeed!

Thanks for the heads up though.

hurumph, will give it some thought.

MrsGarden

Verdun, thought you were saying you'd sketch it for me !

Hard standing for picking won't be necessary, ooooops, should I admit this? Forget about the apples on the tree and still bring them home from supermarket.!



Gonna carry on with grass edge to grass (!) and move dafs after I've seen how it works. Will be sketching later on tonight. Other plants im considering at the moment are chives and day lillies. Somehow taking obelixx s problems into the plan.