They say good fences make good neighbours, but fences aren’t the only way to create a little privacy. Cedars make great year round privacy screens and many shrubs are useful as hedges. If you’re looking for something a little less ordinary consider a living screen of grasses or bamboos.

Ornamental grasses are as popular as ever for use as focal points in the garden, but they also make a great living screen to provide privacy. The Miscanthus varieties especially are very well suited to our climate and are easy to grow in any sunny location. Most varieties grow about six or seven feet tall, although shorter and taller types are available. Grasses grow from the ground up every spring, getting to full size by mid-summer. From late summer to fall plumes will emerge and gradually fill out to their full fluffy size. These will stay on the plant all winter for a decorative display. While the grass does turn beige over winter, they remain very sturdy and usually bounce right back after a freezing rain. Keep the clumps until spring and then cut them back to about six inches from the ground. I you see signs of new growth, cut just above this. If you’re using grasses as a living screen, remember that from April to late-June it is growing and will not offer much privacy.

Bamboos are a completely different plant. The clumping bamboo (Fargesia) is a well-behaved bamboo that reaches about seven to nine feet high. Unlike grasses, these are evergreen making them excellent plants for use as a living screen. Shoots (called culms) emerge in spring or summer and grow their full height in about six weeks. After this season these canes will never get taller or wider. With each passing season more culms grow and as the clump gains in size new culms may get taller than those of previous seasons. After four or five years the clump may be divided to increase the length of your screen. Fargesia prefer a moist and partly shaded site. They can wilt somewhat during summer heat in a fully exposed site. There are several varieties available but the one with the best winter foliage and sun tolerance is Fargesia robusta.

Miscanthus

This is the tall grass that our customers sometimes call wheat or pampas grass but is neither of these. Miscanthus is a large group of grasses which grow from three to ten feet tall, although most types are in the six to eight feet tall range. Miscanthus grasses produce plumes in a range of shades starting late-August and into September. These gradually fill out and will turn a beige or silvery colour. The clumps and plumes stay up nicely all winter and are cut down in April before the new growth starts. Some varieties include:

Miscanthus purpurascens Flame Grass This grass will grow about 5-6’ and turn a coppery shade in fall.	Miscanthus giganteus As the name implies, this is a large grass, up to ten feet tall. It makes a terrific privacy screen but plant it where it is a little sheltered from high winds.	Miscanthus gracillimus A finely textured clump up to 6 feet tall and plumes in fall and winter.

Miscanthus Gold Bar A newer variety and one of the shortest at 2-3 feet, it commands attention with boldly striped foliage.	Miscanthus malepartus A large clump 7-8 feet tall with showy plumes in fall and winter.	Miscanthus Huron Sunrise A beautiful grass with plumes emerging pinkish before they turn color for winter.

Calamagrostis

Calamagrostis are our second most popular group of grasses. Commonly called Feather Reed Grass, these are very hardy grasses that can be grown in zone 4 and warmer. They are equally happy in containers or the garden. Feather Reed Grass grows in a tight columnar form making them perfect for tighter spaces. They produce plumes starting about July. Varieties include:

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster
This beautiful grass can be massed for great effect or privacy or grown as a specimen. Grows about 5-6’ tall.

Calamagrostis brachytricha
Korean Feather Reed Grass Plumes emerge pinkish and fade to silver. Grows 4 feet tall and tolerates shade.

Other Useful Grasses

Panicum Switch Grass These grasses grow 3-4 feet tall and are fairly upright. There are several varieties including Shenandoah (shown) which develops red tips in late summer, and Heavy Metal which has metallic blue foliage.	Pennisetum Hameln Fountain Grass These decorative rounded clumps produce masses of plumes in summer that last well into winter. There are several varieties aavailable, although Hameln is one of the hardiest.

Hakonechloa aureola It might be hard to pronounce, but Japanese Forest Grass belongs in every shady garden. This elegant grass grows about a foot or so and will brighten shady corners.	Saccharum ravenea Northern Pampas Grass This is a huge grass growin 10 to 12 feet tall. It produces showy plumes in fall.