Growing nicely: The grasses around the lil house

Outdoor Living, The Lil House in Germany

High grasses outside a modular home — **Autumn 2024**

A couple of years ago, my dad & I planted the first round of grasses outside the lil house—just a small batch with no grand vision other than to soften the edges and add a bit of movement to the garden:

They did really well and survived the winter so we decided to add some more the following year:

Grasses planted outside a modular home — **These went into the ground 9 months ago (autumn 2024)**

We’ll pop in another round of grasses shortly, because apparently I can’t stop. I’m hoping this third wave will bring even more softness to the edges and tie the front and side together a bit better. This is where they’ll go:

Rough sketch of where more grasses will be planted outside a modular home

But what about the other side?

There’s still one bit that needs attention. Just outside our bedroom, there’s a little seating area we love for slow starts and quiet coffees. It’s a lovely spot—but it’s also a bit bare. And there’s a small drop from the deck that makes it feel a bit unfinished (and possibly unsafe if you’re still half asleep and heading out with a cuppa). Take a look here:

Rough sketch of where plants will be planted outside a modular home

So now I’m wondering: do we carry on with more grasses for continuity? Or go for something different—maybe something with a bit of colour or scent? Some lovely flowering bushes? Either way, it needs to be low maintenance, obviously, and work with the slightly sloped ground. But mostly, I just want to make that little corner feel as nice as the view from it.

We’ll see. For now, I’m just happy that everything’s finally looking a bit more intentional—and a lot less bare.

Why did we plant grasses?

I reckon they’re seriously underrated.
Grasses are:

Perfect for tying things together – especially when your planting style is, let’s say, more relaxed than formal.
Tough & hardy – they don’t sulk when the weather’s all over the place. They put up with dry spells, wind and the odd bit of neglect.
Low effort – no deadheading, no faffing. Just a chop once a year.
Good-looking all year – they’ve even got charm in winter when everything else gives up.
Great gap-fillers – they can help connect more formal planting with the looser bits and they just make everything look a bit more deliberate, even when it’s not.

Discover more about the our lil holiday house in Germany here.