In this video, Debi Holland shares a simple step-by-step guide to potting up ornamental grasses, perfect for adding height and texture to your container displays. From prepping the compost and choosing the right pot, to planting and mulching, Debi makes it easy to give your grasses a great start.
How to plant grasses in pots
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Ornamental grasses look striking on their own in a pot. They also add height and texture to a display with flowers and trailing plants.
Water the root ball and prepare the new pot. Dunk the nursery pot in a bucket of water until it stops bubbling, then lift it out to drain. Use a container with a drainage hole and cover the hole loosely with a stone or crock so the compost stays in the pot.
Mix a free-draining compost. I hydrate a block of Richard Jackson’s peat-free Easy Compost, break it up by hand and add grit and sand. Half-fill the new pot with the mix.
Make an imprint with the old pot. Set the grass, still in its nursery pot, at the right height in the new container. Fill around it with compost and lift the nursery pot out to leave a planting hole the size of the root ball.
Plant and finish. Squeeze the old pot if needed to release the grass. Tease out the roots, put the plant in its new home and firm the compost. Top up if needed and add a little mulch to help hold moisture in.
