Planting and caring for miscanthus outdoors is a snap
If planting and caring for miscanthus in the open field is correct, then the perennial will certainly delight everyone with its unusual appearance. It is a herbaceous plant that is a close relative of sugar cane. It grows in the lands of Asia, Africa and Australia.
The main types and description of plants
Another name for miscanthus is fan or pampas grass.
Miscanthus is the most popular herb among landscape designers. Thanks to its lush panicle-shaped inflorescences, the plant is able to transform any area. In landscape design, this herb is used for decoration reservoirs and lawns. Miscanthus is also often used to create dry flower arrangements. Varieties and types that are especially popular.
Miscanthus giant
It is a hybrid that is often used by gardeners. The stems of the plant are erect, pancake. They are capable of reaching 3 m in height. Leaves are colorful up to 25 cm wide. Each plate has a deep green hue with a white stripe in the middle. Flowering occurs in summer. Panicles are pinkish, which eventually turn silvery. The peculiarity of this species is that closer to autumn, the lower leaves fall off, thus exposing thin and long stems. Therefore, miscanthus giganteus is planted in the background.
Miscanthus chinese
This species grows up to 3 m tall. The root system is compact, which allows the plant to be planted in areas of different sizes. The leaves are harsh, rough on top. Their width can reach 1.5 cm. The panicles are lush and colorful. They are able to grow up to 0.7 cm long.
Miscanthus Chinese zebrinus
This variety is the most attractive. All this is due to the variegated narrow-linear foliage, which reaches a width of 10 mm. In the summer months of the year, the plates are deep green with a white transverse stripe. Closer to autumn, the leaves become burgundy yellow. This variety blooms in October. The inflorescences have a red-bronze tint. The length of ears does not exceed 1 cm. Miscanthus zebrinus is unpretentious in care. It takes root well on different substrates and does not need frequent watering.
Miscanthus strictus
This variety prefers to grow in areas that are well lit by the sun. The plant will not bloom in the shade. The perennial reaches a height of 2.5 m. The leaves are long, about 2 m. They have a green tint with yellow stripes. Flowering can be observed in the second half of September. Veernik strictus is unpretentious in care.
Miscanthus cascade
The variety is distinguished by its large size. The grass will grow up to 2 m, sometimes even higher. The flowers are light pink with a reddish tint. By the end of summer, they begin to fade slightly.
Miscanthus Chinese gracillimus is no less popular. The maximum height of the shoots is about 1.5 m. The inflorescences are lush, whitish. Blooms in the last month of summer.
Sugar-colored miscanthus: description of the species
The homeland of this species is the territory of China, Japan and Korea. At home, miscanthus sucrose is called the Amur silver grass. Plant height ranges from 1.5 to 3 m. Stems are glabrous, abundantly covered with linear leaves of a light green hue.With proper care, they are 90 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.
Sugar-flowered fan pleases with its flowers in early July. Depending on the variety, the buds take on a white, pink or silvery hue. Inflorescences are paniculate, long. They grow from 25 to 40 cm long.
This type of miscanthus includes several varieties, among which the most popular is robustus. This is the largest representative of this group. In nature, the grass grows on the banks of rivers, where it forms dense and incredibly beautiful thickets.
Planting and caring for miscanthus outdoors
Despite the fact that the plant is not demanding to care for, some rules must still be followed. Only in this way will miscanthus become a real highlight of your site.
Choosing a landing site
Planting a plant should be done only in those areas where there are no buildings and trees nearby. The optimal time for this procedure is the last week of March or the first part of May.
Do not plant miscanthus in a draft.
Soil selection
The plant thrives on any soil, except heavy and sandy. An excellent option for this herb is soil that is poor in nutrients. In such areas, the fan will develop well and bloom profusely.
Planting miscanthus
The longest seedlings should be planted. This is due to the fact that the plant has a long growing season. After planting, it is recommended to cover the specimens with polyethylene. But if the temperature outside keeps above +250 C, then making a mini-greenhouse is not necessary. In warm regions, this culture can even survive the winter.
For those who want to grow a lush bush, you need to fence off the miscanthus around the perimeter with boards or other durable material. To do this, you need to make trenches with a depth of 10 to 15 cm and install a mini-fence. Its height should be at least 7 cm. This will be quite enough so that the aerial roots do not "climb" over it.
Before planting the fan, it is necessary to make a depression three times larger than the root system itself. Put some fertile soil at the bottom of the dimple and place miscanthus on it. Then sprinkle with soil, tamp a little and pour plenty of water.
When planting, it is necessary to ensure that the roots do not look out from under the ground. This can slow down the growth of the grass.
Miscanthus: irrigation, fertilization, weed control
In order to grow a beautiful fan bush, you do not need to have special skills. It is enough to know the simple rules of care and follow them.
The best way to propagate miscanthus is by dividing the root system. The seed method is quite complicated and does not always give the desired result.
Irrigation of a plant
Fan watering is carried out taking into account the requirements:
- Young specimens require frequent and abundant glaze.
- Water for this procedure must be used only clean and at room temperature. Cold liquid can cause root disease, causing the plant to dry out.
- It is recommended to water the flower only in sunny weather. In this case, it is necessary to carefully monitor so that water does not fall on the leaves. Otherwise, the plates will get burned and covered with brown spots, which is not very beautiful.
Fan fertilization
It is not necessary to feed this plant, but if you want it to grow faster and have bright inflorescences, then it is recommended to periodically apply fertilizer. A good option is products with a small amount nitrogen... An excess of this component can cause lodging of the stems, the plant loses its erect appearance.
In the first year, you should not resort to feeding. It is best to start fertilizing a flower from the second year. The first procedure must be carried out in May. To do this, it will be enough to use a urea solution. The compost is applied in the middle of summer.In August, you will need to fertilize the fan with potassium-phosphorus preparations.
Weed removal
This is an important procedure to be carried out in a timely and proper manner. Particular attention should be paid to the plant in the first two years after planting. Weeds are then removed as needed. Also, once a season, it is worth resorting to herbicides, which are sprayed between the rows.
Preparing the plant for winter
The miscanthus plant tolerates winter quite well. However, if there is no snow outside and severe frosts are observed, the grass may simply die. Therefore, in order for the flower to winter well, it should be provided with a quality shelter. To do this, make a hut from the boards and cover it with a garden cloth, leaving small windows for air circulation.
Proper planting and caring for the plant is the key to the beautiful appearance of the flower. To get the desired result, you need to clearly follow all the rules, especially those related to wintering. After all, improper shelter of the fan can lead to its freezing or weak flowering.