What Kind of Decorative Grass Should I Put Around My Pool?

The Basics

• Always choose clumping grass as your poolside grass. Clumping grass won't spread, whereas running grass will, which would quickly spoil your landscaping. Running grass forms underground runners that cause it to quickly move across a lawn. Clumping grass stays rooted in place. Seeds can spread, of course, but not as easily as running grass. Both annuals or perennials usually grow easily and quickly.

Popular Species

• Decorative grasses have distinct appearances and growing seasons. Fountain grass, a warm-season grass, grows in mounds in which grass sprays out from the center, creating a rounded look. Many other grasses, such as feather reed grass, grow upright. For the cool season, popular grasses include blue oat grass, fescues, tufted hair grass and autumn moor grass. Meanwhile, popular warm-season grasses include Japanese silver grass, hardy pampas grass, northern oats, switch grass, prairie cord grass and perennial fountain grass.

Native Species

• For grass that requires little upkeep, plant native species. These species thrive in your area naturally, without adding extra water. As a bonus, this will benefit the environment by conserving resources and ensuring that you're not introducing a native species. In Arizona's dry climate, for instance, blue grama grass, Arizona cottontop and bullgrass thrive. In Florida, wiregrass, purple lovegrass and Florida gama grass grow well. A university agriculture department or extension office in your area, as well as local nurseries, are excellent resources for learning about native grasses in your area. If you want to go all-natural throughout your lawn, consider a prairie grass such as blue grama grass or buffalo grass if you want a more manicured look, says High Country Gardens.

Layering

• Consider layering different types of ornamental grass to create a more elaborate look. Layer with small shrubs if you prefer, placing the shrubs in front of the grass, which will quickly outgrow them. Juniper or boxwood shrubs work well. This way your pool will still have decorative foliage around it in the winter. For year-round cover, layer warm- and cool-season grasses. Their growing seasons can overlap, says Valerie Sudol in "Ornamental Grass: A Tough, Easy Option for Yards," which is why planting one in front of the other makes more sense than planting both in the same patch of ground.