Buckland Nurseries

Buckland Nurseries was established as a family run garden centre business over 150 years ago. 

The business was founded by Thomas Hogg in 1865 and has continued through six generations of the Hogg family into the hands of David and Linda Hogg (pictured alongside). 

Buckland Nurseries stocks a wide range of perennials, trees, shrubs, bedding plants, roses, herbs, garden sundries, tools, turf, seeds, paving and gravels and the friendly team looks forward to giving you a lovely welcome when you next visit their traditional Garden Centre. 

August Garden Notes – Summer gardening : Spotlight on ornamental grasses

Ornamental grasses can provide you with a year-round interest of foliage, stems and seedheads. In these days of ever-increasing temperatures and less reliable summer rainfall, they are a useful option to consider for adapting to climate change.

As ever in gardening, there are a multitude of varieties and groups which will suit different conditions. Most prefer full sun and free-draining soil, so it’s best to freely spread grit underneath the roots when planting. Autumn 2024 was particularly wet, which newly-planted grasses will have hated, followed by one of the driest springs on record this year in our area – perfect conditions for grasses to thrive!

Personally, I have for many years been sceptical of the impact of grasses in garden schemes. I am now won over, mainly due to the belated realisation that they are a wonderful companion plant and their foliage will help to set off flower colour in perennials and bedding plants. There are some that will grow to 2 metres and beyond. Very happy in windy conditions, they will waft in the breeze and their gentle rustling adds a calming movement in the garden. Stipa gigantea (golden oats) ticks many boxes, and in common with many grasses will provide interest well into the winter. Leave them to give you interest and structure into the frosty months. Stipa tenuissima (Mexicanfeather grass) is a much shorter tuft-forming grass and is popular for the front of borders and in pots.

Scratch the surface of the selection of grasses and you will find an array of colours, heights and forms. Depending on position, check out Carex (notably Evergold), Miscanthus (Zebrinus and Flamingo are fascinating), and Cortaderia (pampas grass) which is ultra vigorous. Not to forget Imperata Red Baron, Lagurus ovatus  (hare’s tail grass) and many others. Enjoy exploring the possibilities!

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David Hogg
Buckland Nurseries