Mexican feather grass (Nasella tenuissima) is all silky goodness in the early spring, but come this time of year, what you get is mangy dog. The seeds and their once-silky plumes clump up like dreadlocks. I suppose you can comb it out. This cool-season grass will then remain a mostly blond-brown tuft for the rest of the year.
i LOVE Mexican Feather Grass and have some in my garden too.
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Happy Summer!
Becky
I guess mange can be appealing in its own way? Hmm.
ReplyDeleteDo you consider cutting out the mange?
ReplyDeleteActually I don't grow N. tenuissima because of its invasive ways and what I consider a shabby summer appearance. My friend planted one plant and two years later, his gravel-mulched yard was engulfed. Every crack in the sidewalk, every spot in the yard, and even the neighbor's yard across the street grew this grass. It is also a short-lived grass, and although plants are easily replaced with the gazillion seedlings produced, it involves a tedious digging out of the ratty old clumps of thatch which develops quickly. From what I've seen around town, plants are best replaced at least every 2-3 years when the thatch builds up, or maybe the old plants dug out every year after they seed. Yes, the mange can be combed out with a coarse-toothed comb, but I've just preferred to grow something else with a better summer appearance. I don't mean to denigrate those who appreciate the grass, since it IS quite beautiful for those few weeks in the spring, and there are certainly many plants that I grow that others think are garbage. Maybe if my yard's design were different, or if I liked feather grass monoculture...
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