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True grasses belong to a vast plant family which includes bamboos.  They are native throughout the world.  A few grasses are commonly used as lawn grass, but many others are utilized for their stately habit, feathery inflorescence, or for their colored leaves.  Some have decorative seed heads, often suitable for drying.

True grasses belong to a vast plant family which includes bamboos.  They are [[native species|native]] throughout the world.  A few grasses are commonly used as [[lawn grass]], but many others are utilized for their stately habit, feathery inflorescence, or for their colored leaves.  Some have decorative [[seed heads]], often suitable for drying.

==What constitutes grass==

==What constitutes grass==

==Cultivation==

==Cultivation==

Most grasses need little maintenance once established.  The usually prefer full sun and like moist, poorer soil that drains well.  Feeding is not often needed.  Some prefer damp soil and do well near a [[water feature]].

Most grasses need little maintenance once established.  The usually prefer [[full sun]] and like moist, [[poorer soil]] that drains well.  [[Feeding]] is not often needed.  Some prefer [[damp soil]] and do well near a [[water feature]].

Hardy, container grown grasses can be planted year-round.  Tender grasses should be planted in the [[spring]].  In places with heavy rainfall, very well draining, gritty soil is important, and stone chips over the soil make a good winter top-dress.  Bamboos ought to get freely watered until they are established.

Hardy, [[container]] grown grasses can be planted year-round.  [[Tender Plants|Tender]] grasses should be planted in the [[spring]].  In places with heavy rainfall, very well draining, gritty soil is important, and stone chips over the soil make a good winter [[top-dress]].  Bamboos ought to get freely [[watering|watered]] until they are established.

Vigorous and invasive grasses can be grown in containers to restrain them, or barriers such as thick plastic sheeting can be placed in the soil around them as a barrier.  Otherwise, cutting back invasive roots with a spade in spring (when new grow comes), then once more in mid to late summer may work.  Cut perennials to ground level in autumn or in early winter unless they have decorative leaves or seed heads in which case you can wait to late winter.  Tender grasses should be cut back in the spring.

Vigorous and [[invasive species|invasive]] grasses can be grown in containers to restrain them, or [[barriers]] such as thick plastic sheeting can be placed in the soil around them.  Otherwise, cutting back invasive [[roots]] with a [[spade]] in spring (when new grow comes), then once more in mid to late [[summer]] may work.  Cut perennials to ground level in [[autumn]] or in early [[winter]] unless they have decorative leaves or [[seed heads]] in which case you can wait to late winter.  Tender grasses should be cut back in the spring.

Grasses can be propagated from seed, which is sown as soon as ripe, or may be divided from rhizomatous and clump-forming varieties in late spring to early summer.  Divisions can be better off in pots until established, before planting in the garden.  Use moist but well drained soil mix in a cool place with bright filtered light.

Grasses can be propagated from [[seed]], which is [[sown]] as soon as [[ripe]], or may be [[divided]] from [[rhizome|rhizomatous]] and [[clump-forming]] varieties in late spring to early summer.  Divisions can be better off in pots until established, before planting in the garden.  Use moist but well drained [[soil mix]] in a cool place with bright filtered light.

==Bamboos==

==Bamboos==

''For full article, see: [[Bamboo]]''

''For full article, see: [[Bamboo]]''

Most of these woody-culmed perennials originate either in tropical or subtropical regions, many from East Asia.  Most are frost tender, evergreen plants, though some are from temperate regions and can take a hard freeze.  Bamboos can be low-growing (like ''Pleioblastus pygmaeus'' var. ''distichus'') or very tall (like ''Phyllostachys aureosulcata'' 'Spectabilis').  Bamboos are popular as screening or hedging plants, as specimen plants, or as decorative ground-covers.  The foliage is elegant and ornamental, and is sometimes variegated with green, yellow or cream.

Most of these woody-culmed perennials originate either in [[tropical]] or [[subtropical]] regions, many from [[East Asia]].  Most are [[frost tender]], evergreen plants, though some are from [[temperate]] regions and can take a [[hard freeze]].  Bamboos can be [[low-growing]] (like ''Pleioblastus pygmaeus'' var. ''distichus'') or very tall (like ''Phyllostachys aureosulcata'' 'Spectabilis').  Bamboos are popular as screening or [[hedging plants]], as specimen plants, or as decorative ground-covers.  The foliage is elegant and ornamental, and is sometimes variegated with green, yellow or cream.

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Bamboo]]

*[[Bamboo]]

*[[List of bamboo plants]]

*[[List of bamboo plants]]