Glorious grasses

AT this time of year, when you think about planting partners for late-summer flowers, it’s hard not to think of grasses. The fillers that hold together a border of perennials, they will temper hot colours and harmonise clashing ones, providing soft pillows of foliage and flowers.

Grasses add movement, shape and colour to a garden, and are one of the few groups of plants that can be touched without damaging them (watch out for the sharp-leaved pampas grass!), which makes them ideal for sensory planting. Little wonder they are now so popular.

According to Neil Lucas, owner of specialist grass nursery Knoll Gardens, they’re easy to grow, too. “Grasses offer more wow and less work,”