It’s incredible how much the Calamagrostis have grown over the past two weeks. I know the advice says to cut deciduous grasses in early March, but I just couldn’t bring myself to cut down those beautifully elegant, biscuit-coloured stems still standing. They have endured right through last autumn and winter, and I struggled to let them go to make space for the fresh new growth emerging. So I made a stand and left them. I’m resolved not to cut them down just yet.
Once I decided that, I could clearly see the grasses ready to move on too, with healthy new swords filling the crown. This marks one full year in this garden, and I’ll wait a couple more before dividing them and building more grass stock. They make a great addition to any perennial planting scheme that can take the sun all day long.
For about a month now—bearing in mind we’re into the second week of April 2025—the Scabious have been in flower, which came as a lovely surprise. They’re fabulous little plants with an enduring habit and plenty of flowers across the seasons. A charming little evergreen Stipa called ‘Amethystina’ sits alongside them—charming by name and nature, and evergreen, which is always a bonus.
This border still has a long way to go, and I’m loving the process of adding more grasses. Facing south-west, it soaks up the sun, and at the moment the current jet stream, stuck over Scotland, keeps that sunshine in constant supply.
Featured plant
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
Happy gardening!
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