stickandgrass

Stickandgrass is a term used in landscape practice to describe a minimalist, nature-inspired technique and aesthetic that combines natural sticks with grasses to create groundcover, edging, and microhabitats. The approach emphasizes local materials and low-impact methods, with an emphasis on texture and ecological function.

Practitioners gather slender branches and grass plants or seeds and arrange them in loose grids or clusters. Sticks may be driven into the soil as small stilts or laid horizontally to form ridges, while grasses are planted or allowed to colonize between the wooden elements. The resulting structure can help slow water flow, reduce erosion, and provide habitat for insects and tiny invertebrates in urban or restoration settings.

Benefits include low cost, use of renewable materials, ease of adaptation, and potential biodiversity gains. Limitations include variable durability, seasonal changes in appearance, ongoing maintenance, and limited suitability for high-traffic or fire-prone sites.

Origin and usage of the term are informal; stickandgrass does not represent a standardized method in major horticultural literature. It overlaps with techniques such as brush layering, living mulches, and other naturalistic landscaping approaches used to stabilize soil and support wildlife.

See also: brush layering, living mulch, bioswale, habitat gardening, naturalistic landscape design.