Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Need advice on growing ornamental grasses

I'm planning a small bed at the front of the house for next year, which I'm planning on filling with grasses, dotted with heleniums and verbena boniarensis. I think. Anyway, I've never grown grasses before, and the effect I'm going for is fairly dependant on keeping the clumps of different grasses as just that - clumps. What's the best way to achieve this? Am I right in thinking that grasses are likely to self seed and spread, meaning that in a few years all the different clumps have formed one mess of various grasses? I would grow the grasses in individual pots and create a display that way, but as it's the front garden (and right next to a path with no fencing) I think they'd probably go wandering fairly quickly!

Does anyone have any ideas? Also, any suggestions for attractive types of grass are welcome.

Thanks

• 11 Sep, 2010