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TopofPageIn This Issue

Expand Your Palette

Experienced horticulturist John Elsley brings some old standbys to light. See his picks for underused grasses.

 

Finding Great Grasses

An estate with grasses galore and managing the devil strip in the center of suburbia. 

 

GrassSolutions Focus

A recent survey on selling grasses gives direction for the future. Do you know where grasses are going? 

  

The Latest at HNI

Walking with growers, creating a mountain bald, and figuring out herbicide questions.

 

In the News

Designing grasses with Rebecca Sweet, studying sedges with the Scott Arboretum, and discovering a fall favorite with American Nurseryman. 

 

Thinking Ahead

Need something fantastic for spring sales? Try this bright, cool-season beauty. 


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FirstArticleExpand Your Palette with Underused Grasses

John ElsleyWe recently had a wonderful conversation with John Elsley about some old grass standbys that deserve a fresh look. John has had a long and extraordinary horticultural career, including stints at the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, the Missouri Botanic Garden, and many years as Director of Horticulture at Park Seed. 

 

Although John loves new introductions, he says it's easy to overlook selections that have been around for a while. What grasses deserve a look?

 

  • Carex elata 'Aurea'
  • Chasmanthium latifolium
  • Stipa gigantea

 

To see John's comments and hear what these grasses have to offer, see the full article.

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 UnderusedFinding Great Grasses: NC Landscapes
Meadowsweet Gardens project
Photos above courtesy of Meadowsweet Gardens & Patios.

PhoThis month we turn our grass-finding eye toward two local projects. While in vastly different settings, each does a fine job of utilizing grasses.

 

First, a private estate in Orange County, North Carolina has been a delight for local design/build firm, Meadowsweet Gardens & Patios. The property owners have given them latitude to create a rich and varied landscape. Plantings near the house feature a carefully planned mix of perennials and low shrubs. These areas transition into meadows near the perimeter of the property, creating sweeping vistas and seasonal color. Runoff is handled in rocky swales lined with sweetflag, sedges, and rushes. North American natives like Mexican Feather Grass, Switchgrasses, and Little Bluestem form the backbone of mixed and meadow plantings. They recently installed a large planting of Prairie Fire Sedge, which will be wonderful to see at maturity. We're expecting photos!

 

Carex flacca at Create & Barrel

Carex flacca used to handle the dreaded "devil strip".

The second project is smack in the middle of suburbia. Crate & Barrel opened a new store this past year at the Streets at Southpoint, a large shopping mall in Durham County, NC. The contractor called us to get Blue Sedge (Carex glauca). It was specified for the "devil strip" between the sidewalk and road in the parking lot. 

 

The plants went in last fall, and we are thrilled to see that the plantings are doing so well. The photo was taken two weeks ago. The sedges are mostly on an eastern exposure, and they receive supplemental irrigation. However, this past summer has been extraordinarily hot, so it's been a good test for them. What a great way to handle that tricky spot with something out of the ordinary!

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 GSFocusGrassSolutions™ Focus: Selling Grass

Between 2003 and 2009, total sales of ornamental grasses more than quadrupled! Were you on board with that increase? The trend should continue as landscape projects require more sustainable solutions and drought continues in many areas of the country.

 

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'. Best-selling grass in a recent survey of grass growers and retailers.

The latest word comes from a survey of grass growers and retailers, and it's a great first step in understanding how to approach grass sales. Dr. Mary Meyer, Professor and Extension Horticulturist at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, wanted to know which grasses were best-sellers. She was also interested in identifying research priorities and finding out what factors limit grass sales. Results of her survey are featured in this month's American Nurseryman.

 

The main messages? 

  • For better grass sales, the public needs more and better information about ornamental grasses. 
  • Grass sellers would like to see research focus on developing new sterile grasses or those without viable seed; increasing cold hardiness is a close second.
  • The best-selling ornamental grass for this group? Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'.  

 

The first point is something we're keen to address. As Dr. Meyer notes, consumers might have more interest if they're shown how to incorporate ornamental grasses into traditional landscapes. Do consumers know what companion plants are best with the different grasses? Do you have the grass knowledge to sell to your customers successfully? We're working to expand our educational offerings and hone our design expertise so we can pass that on to you. There's an opportunity here not only to increase grass sales, but also to give people landscape solutions that are sound ecologically. A winning proposition for us all.

 

Dr. Meyer also says sedges seem underused in spite of their big pluses and popularity in Europe. You've seen sedges here in GrassSolutions™ many times, and we know there's still a long way to go in getting people familiar with them. (See a great treatment in the Scott Arboretum's blog post on sedges.) Sedges can be challenging in nursery production, so that may be a barrier for some growers. If you're having trouble with them, we have a few tips in our sedge article from last year.

 

Finally, while you may have the "best-seller" bases covered, going beyond the usual can give you an advantage. Offer a grass that's showy and tough. Offer a GrassSolution™ to a common landscape problem. You'll be educating your customers and increasing your sales.

 

Newer varieties come along all the time, and finding the ones that best fit you and your customers takes a little experimentation. Not sure? Give us a call and see what's new (or what's not on the survey list and is worth trying).

 

Get the full article in the September 2011 issue of American Nurseryman.  

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TheLatestThe Latest at HNI

Grower walk at Hoffman NurseryGrower Walks

Our Sales Team works hard to be on top of what's happening with crops at the Nursery. To help stay current, they walk the houses each week with a different grower. The growers talk about the crops they're caring for and point out what's prime. It's part of educating our staff and increasing communications among our departments. It's easy to get disconnected from the plants if you're working in an office most of the day. This gives our Sales Team a chance to pick up the plants, see the roots, and understand what's going into each crop. So when you have a question, they're better equipped to give you the scoop.

 

Tom Ranney planting his mountain bald
Dr. Tom Ranney planting the new mountain bald with Hoffman Nursery grasses (while sporting his Hoffman Nursery t-shirt).
Creating a Mountain Bald

It's an ambitious and intriguing project. Dr. Tom Ranney, Professor of Horticultural Science at NC State, is creating a mountain bald. These rocky, mountain summits are covered with thick, low-growing vegetation. Tom lives and works in the Appalachian region, just south of Asheville, North Carolina and wanted to emulate this unusual ecosystem.

 

We've been working with Tom to produce a Miscanthus that won't self sow. He turned to us for the native grasses for the new bald, including Danthonia spicata and Carex pensylvanica. It's not a project for the faint of heart, but we're confident Tom is up to the challenge. His Hoffman Nursery t-shirt (but mostly the grasses) should help!

 

 

Dr. Neal compares height on treated grasses
Dr. Joe Neal compares heights on grasses in an herbicide trial he's conducting at Hoffman Nursery.
Bring On the Weed Science

Last year we served as a trial site for herbicide studies that were part of the IR-4 program (read more about the program in this July 2010 article). Dr. Joe Neal, a weed scientist with the NC State Dept. of Horticultural Science, is helping identify herbicides that are safe for ornamental grasses. His work continued this summer, with a trial for herbicides that are in current use. His team is evaluating the effects of various preparations on container grown grasses. He'll present his findings in a few weeks at the IR-4 program meeting. We're eager to hear the results.

 

 

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IntheNews In the News

Several recent news items captured our attention, so we're sharing them with you.

 

Perfect for Every Situation 

California-based garden designer and author, Rebecca Sweet, loves grasses:

 

"...Yes, grasses are all the rage and for good reason.

Why? Generally speaking, grasses will grow in just about any type of soil, most are drought tolerant, and diseases and pests aren't usually an issue."

  

She gives a quick, lush look into designing with grasses in her recent blog post, Gorgeous Grasses in the Garden. The photos are smashing, so don't pass up this one!

 

Carex pensylvanica at HNI

Nursery cat, Cuddles, watches over a lush stand of Carex pensylvanica in the Hoffman Nursery shade garden.

The Study of Sedges

The Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College uses sedges extensively as lawn alternatives and low-care, pest-resistant groundcovers. Their Garden Seeds blog tells the sedge story.

 

The Epitome of Fall Grass

With fall coming on, the seed heads of river oats are gems in the garden. American Nurseryman's September Field Notes highlights the subtle joys of this fabulous native grass.

 

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 NewFeatureThinking Ahead: Striped Tuber Oat Grass

Fall is upon us, which means cool season grasses are coming on. Do you have something fantastic to offer your customers in early spring? Try this cool season beauty. It's hard to say, but easy to love.

Arrhenatherum elatius ssp. bulbosum 'Variegatum'  
Arrenatherum eliatus ssp. bulbusum 'Variegatum'

Striped Tuber Oat Grass

 

Why is it called Tuber Oat Grass? Because of the bulbous storage organs at the base of its stems. But the real plus of this plant is the brightly variegated foliage. It appears almost white in the landscape, and gives a real boost to shady areas. 

 

It performs best with dry summers and cool nights. Under those conditions, it will flower and stay fresh-looking. In climates with hot nights and high humidity, it will go fully dormant as the heat increases. Try it in mixed plantings where other perennials can take the spotlight during midsummer. Or, brighten a porch or patio by placing in containers that can be swapped out seasonally. 

 

We're expecting a beautiful crop of Striped Tuber Oat Grass in late winter. Get them in, pot them up, and be ready for early spring sales. They'll grow quickly in cool temps and give your customers something to break the chill! 

 

Quick Facts: 

  • White & dark green variegation
  • Low growing (8" tall)
  • Prefers shade/part shade & dry conditions
  • Cool season 
  • Zones 4-8
  • Best in cooler climates 

 

For detailed growing and marketing tips, see the Hoffman Nursery Arrhenatherum Grass Guide.

 

Call (800-203-8590) or email us for more information or to book your order.

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