COLUMN: Don't neglect your garden this month

August is usually the month when most of us go on holiday and leave our gardens to fend for themselves.

A little thought before you go and some tender loving care when you return will be enough to make sure that you can go away without worrying about all of your hard gardening work going to waste.

If you travel a fair amount, then it might be worth considering some plants that need slightly less watering but still look impressive in flower beds and borders such as ornamental grasses.

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They provide texture, character and form to any garden and develop through the seasons as bright and colour foliage is joined by graceful swaying flower heads that last well into winter.

In large borders grasses can be planted in bold groups or striking drifts, but many varieties perform well in large patio pots, positioned where their individual shape and arching form can be fully appreciated. Popular grasses for pots include compact Blue Fescue Grass or taller varieties such as Zebra Grass.

By positioning grasses close to paths and seating areas you can run your hands over their feathery foliage and flowers as you pass, and taller grasses such as the showstopper Golden Oats add movement to otherwise static displays.

Ornamental grasses offer great value and variety and are ‘Plants of the Moment’ in a large amount of garden centres around the UK this month.

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