Thanks for the response, I suppose evergreen is not an option. I plan to plant the OG on lateral 4 feet of mulch and hop between the grass and mulch I don’t get any more encroachment.

Will have to look up what trimming and dividing the grass means, it looks to me to be the cheapest option available since I am just screening the crap in the township area, not necessarily looking for height.

Varieties of Miscanthus grass will do what you want in your climate.

MIscanthus needs to be cut back to the ground every spring. So effective screening will be limited primarily to the summer months, although the grass can remain in place over winter but will look like straw :-) And will need to be divided about every 5 years.

And it will not keep the township weeds, etc from encroaching........that will require work on your part to keep the area cleared

Does NJ have a tick problem like PA does?

Despite its winter color, miscanthus is your best bet in NJ.

Thanks everyone for your useful suggestions.

Will look into the Miscanthus.
How is a tick problem relieve baby ?

Does anyone have any other suggestions to do this and hope the area is kept maintainence free ? I know I could plant large trees that deer will not eat and would also prevent week around it, perhaps I should just spend the money and plant the trees over two to three years...

Btw, while this threat is active...any suggestions for trees in cnj that will not become deer food ?

Other transition plants to buffer the woodland that resist deer in central Jersey:

Bayberry, mahonia, rose mallow, butterfly bush, Ilex opaca Maryland, Meserve Hollies, potentilla...

Your "best bet" is a matter of opinion. The clumping bamboo would be far superior to the miscanthus in terms of height, density of the screen, is evergreen and with the least amount of maintenance required.

Green Giant arborvitae grow fast, are quite dense if planted somewhat closely and are largely ignored by deer.

Ticks like rough, low weeds and grass and are present in the sort of unkempt areas it sounds like the township property features. And they are major carriers of Lyme disease.

Having lived in NJ for many years...I am familiar with the area. Clumping bamboo does night provide a winter presence in central jersey. The poster asked for good options for ornamental grasses.

Yep, gardengal explained why I asked if NJ has a tick problem. You were thinking about mulch. Ticks do not like to cross over mulch. If you want you can plant your grass or what ever you decide to plant and put 4 ft of mulch in front as a tick barrier.