Desert Grass Landscapes

Desert Grass Types

• Grasses belong to the Poaceae, also known as Gramineae, family. Grasses have jointed stems that are round or flat, but never triangular. The plants have simple flowers called spikelets. Desert grasses do not grow as tall as prairie grasses, usually reaching 2 to 4 feet in height. The flowers of desert grasses range in color from beige to pink, white and blue. All desert grasses move in the wind, providing visual interest in desert landscapes.

  Common desert grasses for use in landscape planting include sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa), deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) and Mexican thread grass (Stipa tenuissima), according to "Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert," published by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association. Other related grasses, such as bluestem and fountain grasses, make attractive plants in water-wise desert landscapes, suggests the Texas SmartScape program.

Landscape Ideas

• Grasses form part of a desert landscape that may also include native rocks, wildflowers or dry streams. Decorative objects, such as yard art, pottery shards or decorative container plants, add color and interest. Rather than turf grasses, the ground around desert landscape plants is generally covered with pebbles or small rocks, often in alternating colors to create visual divisions of lines and curves.

Planting Landscape Grasses

• Purchase desert-landscape grasses in containers from local nurseries or separate existing grass clumps for propagation. Plant at a depth equal to the container or cover the roots with 1 inch of soil. Plant in cool weather and add water to help the grass plants become established. Leave enough room between grass plants for air to circulate. Adding mulch around the plants helps maintain soil moisture.

Grass Maintenance

• Drip irrigation systems provide a water-wise solution to keeping soil moisture during the summer. Grasses need only a small amount of supplemental water, similar to ground covers rather than turf grass. Cut back grasses close to the ground at the end of winter or every 3 years to promote spring growth and rejuvenate grass plants.