design element Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses add texture, movement, and seasonal interest with minimal maintenance. Used intentionally, they enhance paths, borders, and focal areas, helping residential landscapes feel layered, balanced, and visually engaging throughout much of the year.
Layered ornamental grasses blend with perennials in this Lincoln garden, creating texture, depth, and a natural flow that evolves beautifully through the seasons.

style, form, and placement

Ornamental grasses are a versatile design element that bring texture, movement, and seasonal contrast to residential landscapes. Upright forms, fine blades, and soft plumes complement both traditional New England homes and contemporary architecture. Grasses are used to frame paths, define edges, soften stonework, and create rhythm within planting beds. Many varieties shift from spring green to summer gold and fall bronze, extending interest beyond flowering plants.

When grouped or massed, grasses add structure without heaviness, keeping landscapes layered and open. Their movement in wind introduces a dynamic quality that static plantings cannot match.

common ornamental grass questions

1. Are ornamental grasses high maintenance?
Most ornamental grasses are low maintenance. They typically require seasonal cutting back in early spring and minimal watering once established, making them a practical option for homeowners.
2. Do ornamental grasses work well in the New England climate?
Yes. Many ornamental grasses are well suited to New England’s cold winters and warm summers. Proper species selection ensures they perform reliably through freeze-thaw cycles and seasonal changes.
3. How do ornamental grasses affect drainage and soil stability?
Grasses have fibrous root systems that help manage surface water and reduce erosion, making them useful along slopes, paths, and transition areas within the landscape.
4. How do you choose the right ornamental grass for your property?
Selection depends on sun exposure, space, desired height, and seasonal appearance. A landscape professional can recommend grasses that align with your home’s style and maintenance goals.
Fountain grass borders this backyard in Needham, creating a soft visual edge, improving circulation, and adding motion that makes the space feel relaxed yet intentional.

see examples of our ornamental grasses

Ornamental grasses planted near a stone wall entry in Lincoln soften hard edges and introduce movement without overwhelming the structure.
Ornamental grasses anchor this entry garden with upright form and soft texture, adding seasonal structure and movement while scaling the foundation planting without overwhelming the home.
Mixed ornamental grasses and perennials layer texture and color in this Lexington garden, keeping planting beds visually rich beyond peak bloom season.
Massed fountain grass defines this formal Weston garden, balancing crisp structure with soft texture for a refined look that holds interest from summer into fall.
Layered ornamental grasses are planted along the foundation to buffer ocean exposure, adding soft texture, movement, and seasonal color while protecting the home without blocking views.
Ornamental grasses along this garden fence in Carlisle add privacy, movement, and a natural buffer while blending seamlessly with edible plantings.
Structured garden borders pair ornamental grasses with boxwood in Dover, balancing crisp lines with soft texture for a polished residential landscape.
Soft green ornamental grasses edge this pool in Wellesley, cooling hard surfaces, improving safety, and adding movement without blocking views or requiring heavy upkeep.
Ornamental grasses planted along the patio edge add soft texture, movement, and muted green tones, creating a relaxed coastal feel while gently framing the space without blocking views.
Low, flowing ornamental grasses frame this poolscape in Dover, softening stone edges while providing year-round structure with minimal maintenance.
Fine-textured grass seed heads catch light in this Weston garden, delivering fall interest, movement, and visual warmth with little maintenance.
Grasses ease the transition from lawn to garden in this Wellesley property, adding softness, structure, and low-maintenance definition.
Tall ornamental grasses form a fall meadow with golden seed heads, creating natural screening, warm seasonal color, and gentle movement that softens the landscape through late autumn.
Fountain grass softens a modern stone terrace in Weston, adding motion, contrast, and a refined transition between architecture and landscape.
Ornamental grasses line the curved driveway edge, adding soft texture and seasonal color while reinforcing structure and visibility. The flowing border elevates curb appeal at this Weston home.
Tall ornamental grasses form a soft screen in this Lincoln yard, filtering views while adding movement and long-lasting seasonal interest.
Feather reed grass lines a pea stone path in Lexington, adding texture, movement, and durability while reinforcing a natural garden rhythm.
Golden grass plumes define this backyard in Weston, creating privacy, warmth, and dynamic texture through fall and winter.
Mass-planted grasses bring order and durability to this Newton landscape, offering strong form, seasonal color shifts, and reduced long-term upkeep.
Grasses woven into a formal parterre in Wellesley soften boxwood edges, adding contrast and seasonal interest without disrupting symmetry.
Naturalistic grasses stabilize a hillside in Concord, softening stone steps while improving erosion control and adding movement to a sloped New England landscape.
Repeated fountain grass plantings reinforce symmetry in this Weston property, delivering elegant structure, wind movement, and consistent seasonal color.
Foundation grasses at this Brookline entry enhance scale and texture, softening architecture while keeping sightlines clean and maintenance manageable.
Deep purple fountain grass planted in clean lines adds bold contrast and modern structure to this Weston landscape while staying low-maintenance and seasonally dynamic.

performance, benefits, and climate considerations

In the New England climate, ornamental grasses are valued for their durability and adaptability. Many varieties tolerate cold winters, summer heat, and variable soils when properly selected and placed. Deep root systems help stabilize slopes and edges along paths, while low water needs reduce ongoing maintenance. Grasses also provide winter interest, catching snow and light when other plantings are dormant. Successful use depends on sun exposure, mature size, and seasonal cutback in spring.

Contact us to learn how ornamental grasses can be incorporated into your landscape to deliver long-lasting beauty and performance.
Ornamental grasses planted along the fence line create a soft border, adding texture, movement, and seasonal interest while defining the edge of the entry planting.

read our ornamental grasses blog posts

ornamental grasses near pool

Easy to Grow Perennials: Ornamental Grasses

Are you tired of tending to your perennials to keep them looking good throughout the growing season? What if I told you there's a plant that needs care only once a year and requires only that you cut it down? And that once established, you don’t even need to water it? Yes, it’s true, this unicorn exists! It’s not just one plant; it’s a family of plants: ornamental grasses.
read more

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what our clients say

review - a blade of grass landscape designer Boston review
“Exceptional vision coupled with practical advice. The team worked hard under difficult conditions, the job was done in a timely manner and the outcome surpassed my very high expectations.”
Kathy H.
West Roxbury, MA
“What a great company. The people we work with are responsive, knowledgeable and a delight to work with. They meet with us each year at the beginning of the season to understand our needs and they make sure they meet those needs.”
Helen S.
Concord, MA
“They listened to what we wanted and created an oasis where each month we saw different plants blooming with different colors. Our designer was a joy to work with and she truly taught us about plants and flowers through this experience.”
Jaimin P.
Sudbury, MA
“Their creative vision, thoroughness, and professionalism exceeds all expectations. Further, the Blade of Grass team is exceptionally friendly, responsive and easy-going.”
Lindsey M.
Dover, MA
“They gave me an accurate budget and timetable up front and pretty much stuck to it - much to my husband's delight. They are not pushy about their services which I truly appreciate and which is why I continue to use them for maintenance, new plantings etc. Would highly recommend them!”
Sunitha D.
Newton, MA
“a Blade of Grass was a joy to work with from beginning to end. They were focused on us the entire process from brainstorming, designing, selecting and installation. We love our new landscaped backyard and know you will too!”
Pamela D.
West Roxbury, MA
“a Blade of Grass transformed our front yard from a barren wasteland of wood chips to a stunningly gorgeous garden. In late 2012, we embarked on a major project to rebuild our backyard and add a pool and patio. The result far exceeded our expectations. Heather and her crew maintain all of our gardens throughout the year, and are very responsive to our questions and requests.”
John H.
Weston, MA
“When designing the space Tom considered every detail including privacy concerns, colors, the reuse of existing plants, our likes and dislikes, cost, placement and size of walkways and stairs, shape of pool deck and where snow would be plowed in the winter. The result is a yard we enjoy all year-round. Since its design, the maintenance team at a Blade of Grass has maintained the yard's beauty.”
Dave H.
Waltham, MA
“Joanna had an encyclopedic knowledge of every plant we looked at. The installation crew led by Joel was also terrific. In fact, despite oppressive heat, they removed some old stones in the way and used them to repair and extend a fallen wall - a really thoughtful touch that went above and beyond the plan.” 
Betty T.
Lincoln, MA

enhance your property with ornamental grasses.

Contact us today to discuss how our award-winning landscape designers, gardeners, installation, and maintenance teams can design and install a ornamental grasses on your property.
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