Shenandoah and Japanese Forest Grass Cold Damage

When I was covering up my plants for an April snow dusting, I didn't think the cold would affect my Shenandoah switch grass at all. I covered my new Japanese forest grass, but even with a cover it still got some cold damage. Cold damage on these grasses causes the leaves to shrivel into long thing swirls - it's actually kind of attractive if it weren't such a bad sign.

Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' cold damage and shriveled leaves

I also realized that this Japanese forest grass 'All Gold' is very much all gold, the leaves are solid neon green and very bright. My other Japanese forest grass has variegated leaves - it will be nice to compare the two when the smaller one finally makes a comeback from the rabbits.

Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold'

Using buckets to cover my plants during an April cold snap

Cold damage on Shenandoah switch grass

Shenandoah Switchgrass - My $1 MVP

I still can't believe I got this ornamental switchgrass for $1 last July, on sale at Lowe's because it had a fungal infection. I cut it back and it re-grew just fine, and even put out some signature maroon leaves in late summer.

Now, in Spring 2016 it's my first ornamental grass to wake up. It's got the heart of a champion, and I'm sure in no time it will be hiding my electric meter and providing vertical interest in my side yard.

On a side note, I wonder why my Northwind switchgrass is a warm weather grass that doesn't wake up until later in the summer, but this one is already up and running in March!

Shenandoah already awake in March

Shenandoah Switchgrass Natural Red vs. Fungus Rust

Shenandoah switch grass has a natural maroon red hue to it, which makes it a beautiful ornamental grass. But can you tell the difference between the natural maroon red tint on leaves, and a fungal infection that looks like rust?

I got this Shenandoah on sale for $1 because it was tiny and infected, I cut it all the way back and now it's thriving and free from fungus. It's even beginning the bloom, and develop some nice maroon leaves. Awesome!

Shenandoah switch grass healthy maroon purple leaf color

Rust fungal infection on Shenandoah switch grass

Let's take a look at the before and after from my $1 Shenandoah. This thing is a fighter, and it's getting lots of good growth in before the winter. These two pictures show 1 month difference. I am pretty optimistic about this bargain buy!

Rust Fungus Disease on Shenandoah Switch Grass

At first I couldn't tell if this was rust on the switch grass or if it was just the Shenandoah variety turning red. Ok, it's obviously diseased with some type of rust fungus and that's probably why it was on sale in the $1 bin. However, after about a week I noticed these new shoots coming up on the sides. It's not a goner! I just need to let these shoots grow without getting infected themselves. I cut all the rusty leaves off and hopefully these new shoots won't catch it.

It doesn't look pretty, but if this thing grows in next year it will have saved be about $12.

Fungus disease called rust for obvious reasons growing on Shenandoah Switch Grass

New rust-free shoots are growing - I decided to cut everything else back to prevent the spread of the disease (hopefully) and these new shoots still have half a summer to grow

Say Hello: 4th of July New Additions

Welcome home new additions! I got a back seat full of plants coming home from my parents' house. Lots of new fun for the shade garden in the side yard, and some Shasta daisies to help hide the utility boxes in the front. I got up at 7am today and did 3 hours of yard work - whew!

Ostrich fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris

Ostrich fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris

Got a clump with 2 heads from my dad. I put them in my side yard in the place where a Hosta died last Fall. It's a little floppy, and I don't like that it touches the house, but hopefully when it puts up new fronds they are more upright. When a few more of these come in, it will definitely make the side yard look more like a nice forest floor.

Shasta Daisy - Leucanthemum × superbum 'Becky'

Shasta Daisy - Leucanthemum × superbum 'Becky'

Got 2 clumps from my dad to take home with me. I planted them on the neighbor's side of the utility box with their permission (they pretty much said I could do whatever I want). They are nice and tall and don't require staking. They spent the night in a garbage bag so hopefully they root in before the weather gets too hot. It should be upper 70's low 80's all week, so I think they've got a shot.

Japanese forest grass - Hakonechloa macra

Japanese forest grass - Hakonechloa macra

This little sprig doesn't look like much now, but hopefully by next year it will be a nice 3 foot wide bushy bamboo-ish grassy clump. I want to use Japanese forest grass in several places around my side yards, and it all starts with this bunch I got from my dad. It's not much to look at now, but it's alive!

European wild ginger - Asarum europaeum

European wild ginger - Asarum europaeum

I'm really excited to see what this European wild ginger does in a couple years. I got this clump from my parents' house. It was all over their side yard - I guess it pops up all over the place - here's hoping it naturalizes and mixes in well. So far my side yard plants are all neatly plopped down, and I'm trying to get used to the idea of them touching and overlapping and blending in to create an overall lush bed.


Shenandoah Switch Grass - Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'

Shenandoah Switch Grass - Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'

Got this for $1 from Lowe's sale table, looked like shit, fungus on leaves, only 4 stems, planted in part shade to hopefully hide electric meter. It's worth a shot for only a buck! I won't get too attached until I see that it's growing again. It probably should be planted in full sun, but if I can get it rooted and up to 3 feet it'll do wonders for hiding the meter. It's a little more out in the open right by the garage so not really deep shade. 

Cut a tiny piece off the larger of the two Karl Foerster for the back side and moved the iris to block the shorter Comcast box

Moved some more Siberian iris to the backyard for full sun rehab

Side yard looking much more lush with the fern. Just need a few coral bells to mix in. Thinking about hiding the AC with a boxwood.

Other side of the wet shade garden, hoping to add some astilbe next year