If you live in or close to Ohio, this article is a must read for your landscape ideas on ornamental grasses and groundcovers.

Get the expert opinion of low maintenance landscape designers from across Ohio on the top low maintenance ornamental grasses and groundcovers they use in their designs for front yard landscaping.

Below is a list of easy ornamental grasses and groundcovers for Ohio, followed by the contact information of these designers.

If you’re looking for front yard design ideas to create a beautiful healthy landscape without tons of yard work, reach out to them for some awesome design help!

When you’re looking to save time on yard work, the right plants in the right place can really make a difference.  When considering grasses or groundcover for your landscape, it is important to consider the growing conditions of your specific garden location, as well as the aesthetics and form of your intended planting.

Important considerations for easy perennial plants and low maintenance landscapes:

  • Know your soil type
    • Get a soil test!
    • Know your pH
    • Know your soil texture (sand, loam, silt, clay)
  • Select plants adapted to:
    • Your soil type
    • The water availability in your garden
    • The fertility level of your site
    • Other nearby plants
  • Consider aesthetics
    • Right plant form
    • Proper plant groupings
  • Consider plant growth
    • Seed dispersal
    • Growing habit
    • Spreading habit

Once you’ve considered the right conditions for your ornamental grasses, here are some awesome suggestions on what to plant!

Each of the plants listed below were recommended by two or more designers to be included.

Most of these grasses are easy perennial plants native to this region and bring a lot of beauty and texture to your landscape.  Some are short-lived perennials or self-reseeding annuals that can reseed to come back each year.  Some are non-native exotics that are well adapted to the growing conditions of Ohio without spreading profusely in the wild.

Also be sure to check out the other sister articles to this one:

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Grasses

Grasses provide wispy texture throughout the year, especially in cold seasons.  There is a wide variety of native grasses that can provide beautiful texture to your garden.  Some make great ornamental grass accents, others make a great low maintenance groundcover.

  • Bluestems
    • A native to the Great Plains and prairies throughout the United States, this tall grass brings texture and even color to a nice design. Makes a great native ornamental grass.
    • Key species and cultivars:
    • Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii )
      • Sun: Full
      • Soil: Wide Range
      • Fertility:
      • Moisture: Dry to Average
      • Height: 5 to 8
      • Bloom Time: Late Summer
      • Bloom Color: Insignificant
      • USDA Zone: 4 to 9
      • Origin: US
      • Resources:
      • Designer Solomon Gamboa says: “Big Bluestem was the dominant grass of many prairie types. It has an ability to sway in the wind more gracefully than most grasses, the challenge is getting it to not flop/not be too spoiled. Planting it with other larger plants tightly, or in poorer soils/ hot sloped soils is advisable.”
    • Bushy Bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus )
      • Sun: Full
      • Soil: Wide Range
      • Fertility:
      • Moisture: Average to Moist
      • Height: 3 to 6
      • Bloom Time: Late Summer
      • Bloom Color: Insig
      • USDA Zone: 5 to 9
      • Origin: US
      • Resources:
      • Designer Solomon Gamboa says: “The more sun the better, the moister the soil, the more likely they are to lean heavily as they put on seed. Great companion plant with shorter plants particularly those that bloom before midsummer-before it gets taller. Can handle any dry microclimate, as long as there is some soil present. Don’t cut back until March for winter interest”
    • Elliot’s Bluestem (Andropogon gyrans )
      • Sun: Full
      • Soil: Wide Range
      • Fertility:
      • Moisture: Dry to Average
      • Height: 2 to 3
      • Bloom Time: Late Summer
      • Bloom Color: Insignificant
      • USDA Zone: 4 to 9
      • Origin: US E
      • Resources:
      • Designer Solomon Gamboa says: “The more sun the better, the moister the soil, the more likely they are to lean heavily as they put on seed. Great companion plant with shorter plants particularly those that bloom before midsummer-before it gets taller. Can handle any dry microclimate, as long as there is some soil present. Don’t cut back until March for winter interest”
    • Broom Sedge (Andropogon virginicus )
  • Little Bluestem
    • Another Great Plains prairie grass. As expected, much shorter than Big Bluestem, provides a medium-height grass to the garden with plenty of texture.  Widely adaptable.
    • Key species and cultivars:
    • Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium )
  • Indian Grass

Groundcover

Designers

I want to thank the following designers for their expert input in providing this wonderful resource for easy perennial plants.

If you need help with landscape ideas from backyard landscaping to front yard landscaping ideas, consider contacting one of these designer in your area for a beautiful healthy landscape that is low maintenance and fun!

Akron

Cincinnati

Columbus

  • Amy Dutt – Urban Wild Ltd
    • urbanwilddesignandplanning@gmail.com
    • 614-547-WILD
  • Debra Knapke – The Garden Sage

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Photo Credits: Jack Holloway