Prairie home companion: grasses and perennial mix

Planting and maintenance:

Plant into most soils, excluding waterlogged. This collection should be planted together for full impact. If this is the case, the scheme should cover 6 - 8 sq metres. Remember to consider adding structural plants or even a small tree as mentioned above - doing this will obviously increase the size of the area covered. Plants should be arranged informally rather than on a grid, with all the plants equally distributed amongst each other and no two plants of the same type adjacent. Plant into well weeded soil in a sunny or partially shady spot and take care to keep it weeded while plants fill in. This will ensure the plants get off to a good start. The soil should be relatively free-draining and fertile, though it can be fairly heavy clay. After planting mulch the soil between the plants with fine grade bark mulch or other garden compost - this will keep down weeds, protect the soil from the elements and break down into the soil to improve its fertility and structure. Keep well watered through any dry spells. At the end of the year, or even in early spring, cut down all discoloured foliage and stems to only a couple of inches above ground level. This goes for all plants except the Stipa gigantea, whose foliage may be 'combed' (ie tidied of messy or dead growth, but not cut down). This is also a good time to give the bed a 'spring clean' and remove any weeds, as well as to top up with new compost or fine-grade bark mulch.

All planting schemes come with a planting list, planting instructions and maintenance advice.

Plants in this scheme:

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