Sabrina Hahn: The best low-maintenance new grasses to plant including Carex Moon Falls and Feather Falls

Following on from the popular Carex Feather Falls, Plants Management Australia has developed another Carex called Moon Falls. It has variegated yellow and green foliage that curves at the tips of the leaves. It looks quite funky cascading over beds, in pots or as a feature plant in a large bowl. Carex are incredibly tough and very low maintenance. They are drought, frost and heat tolerant, with the ability to grow in all soil types. Moon Falls is a tidy, maintenance-free and compact ornamental grass that is perfect for mass plantings, border displays, baskets and even vertical walls. Moon Falls and Feather Falls are used on slopes to prevent erosion because of their dense rooting habit, which holds the soil in place. Better still, they don’t require pruning as they have a naturally clean and compact habit. The variegated foliage adds a different texture to the garden and brightens up dark areas. Carex will grow in dappled light, shade or full sun. They make a great verge plant because of their limited height and width of 40cm. When planting out into the ground, improve the soil with compost and a wetting agent with a slow-release fertiliser. If Carex are being used as a border plant, space them 1m apart to prevent overcrowding. Being a grass, seed-eating birds will love the seeds — ideal for people with an aviary. Grasses lend a softness to the landscape and when mass planted add an entirely different texture to gardens. Gardeners seem to either love or hate variegated plants; they look more appealing if repeat planted throughout the garden. All grasses can be divided up once they are established. A two-year-old Carex Moon Falls can be divided up into at least 10 plants. Prune plants back to 15cm before digging up and dividing. Soak the plantlets in water before planting into prepared ground or pots. Tip If Carex becomes too large for an area, it can be pruned down to 10cm high with hedging shears or a whipper snipper. Three Jobs to Do 1. Sweet potato can be planted now, either from shoots that have emerged from the tuber or half a tuber buried in the ground. 2. Cosmos, impatiens, lobelia and cornflower annuals will attract insects into the garden and pollinate plants. 3. Spray cucumber with milk and water when seedling size to prevent powdery mildew.