Owners of private houses or summer cottages want to decorate their plots with various decorative plants to give them a more aesthetic appearance. For this, there are a large number of different specimens that bloom and retain their beauty for more than one year. Blue fescue also refers to the elements of living decor.
Description of Blue Fescue
Blue fescue is a perennial plant that reaches a height of 20 to 60 cm. In appearance it has a spherical shape, and the leaves in the form of needles are painted in a pleasant bluish tint. Even in winter, such a plant does not lose its attractiveness.
Since the beginning of summer, fescue begins to bloom. Has panicle inflorescences that rise high above the bush. Even when they fade, they retain their decorative functions. But if desired, they can be cut so as not to deplete the plant.
Fescue tolerates winter well, but it happens that mature bushes freeze. To prevent this from happening, it is worthwhile dividing the bush. Otherwise, this decorative grass is undemanding, so it is perfect for decoration.
It is possible to decorate with the named plant the most ordinary-looking places of the site, since blue fescue grows well on dry and stony soils. You can choose different varieties that will differ in shades from the bluest to azure and silver.
Blue fescue planting
A decorative plant, blue fescue, planting and care for which does not require much effort, is suitable even for beginner gardeners. It is grown from seeds that are of medium size.
You can plant it immediately in open soil, from April to early May, or in late autumn:
- Make a nest for planting, it is necessary to place about four seeds in it. This method is most effective, since it allows you to grow a decorative bump in the first year.
- Dig holes for planting at a distance of 15-20 cm. After placing the seeds in the hole, sprinkle out a thin layer of soil and pour plenty of water.
- Within two weeks you will see the first shoots of fescue. This plant loves the sun, dry or moderate soil. It is necessary to regularly loosen the surface of the earth, but not often watered.
It is not necessary to plant the plant in the open sun, in partial shade it can also give a good decorative effect. Moreover, with such lighting, the color of the leaves takes on a more saturated shade.
You can see how the fescue looks. A photo of her is presented in our article.
Care Secrets
Blue fescue seeds take root very quickly, and after germination they require the same care as the lawn. It is necessary to monitor soil moisture, fertilize as needed, and also divide the plants every two or three years. Planting is necessary so that the plants do not get used to the soil and do not die.
After the winter period, it is required to remove old dead sheets.
To get the largest increase in ornamental grass, it is worth propagating it through planting, and not through seeds. And also, when planting from seeds, they can first germinate. To do this, they are planted in a box in early March and kept at room temperature.
Especially carefully monitor the watering, you can not overmoisten the plant. Therefore, consider weather conditions, soil type and its moisture level.
If you carry out the right care, the inflorescences of the panicle of blue fescue will decorate your garden for a long time.
Comfortable conditions for fescue
Blue fescue - a representative of an extensive family of ornamental cereals. Refers to the mind of sun lovers. To succeed in growing, you need to choose the warmest or even the hottest plot in the garden. Even the most intensely lit southern sides are well suited. If you plant fescue in a too dark place, you will not get a bluish tint of sheets.
These plants do not put forward special soil requirements, so even in completely dry areas their spherical shape will decorate the site. You should not choose a site where moisture can accumulate, the plants described and the highly nutritious soils do not like it. It is believed that the most beautiful fescue plants grow on the rocky soil of rock gardens and rockeries.
All species of this plant are resistant to frost, and therefore do not need protection in winter. But you should still buy varieties that are already acclimatized to your climatic zone.
They also have a drawback - rather rapid extinction of curtains. After 2-3 years, the center of the turf gradually dries up in the plant, so they need to be constantly rejuvenated and separated.
Especially strong growth is the fescue is wide, not high, so it will fill the necessary area well.
Other types of fescue
Not only the blue fescue, the photo of which you see in the article, can decorate your site, but also other varieties of decorative grass.
Amethyst fescue, originating from the mountains of Transcaucasia and Central Europe. This is a large blue fescue, which grows to a height of 60 cm. The leaf looks like a needle, but it has a nice texture. The color of this evergreen plant varies from bluish-green to gray-blue.
It blooms in June, and flowers rise high above the foliage. It grows well on light, poor, sandy soils.
Glacial fescue comes from the Pyrenees. It is up to 30 cm high and creates hemispherical bushes near the glacier zone. Planted in rock gardens. Although the plant freezes during a harsh winter, it has a fast ability to recover.
Panicle fescue belongs to the low version - up to 15 cm in height. The color is light green; it also blooms in late June. You can plant in shaded areas of the garden. If after the winter most of the foliage dies, then you just need to get rid of it, and the bush itself will quickly recover.
Sheep fescue has thin stems that end in triangles. The foliage is silky and long, and the color is light green. It is decorated with paths and borders, it grows well under the pines.
But the most interesting is still the blue fescue (bluish), due to its unnatural color. She will be especially good at decorating your yard.
Tips for choosing and planting blue fescue
Blue fescue is perfect for dry soils. If you have places on personal plots where nothing grows, since they are too dry, then you can fill them with just such decorative grass.
It is a perennial evergreen that is not afraid of the cold. If dry leaves formed after winter, they simply need to be removed.
When choosing seeds for planting, make sure that they are acclimatized to your region.
It is necessary to plant four seeds in one nest in a nest. Watering is not plentiful after planting, as in the growing process. And do not choose those places where water can accumulate.
It grows best in the sunniest areas. Since it does not require special care, even a novice gardener can perfectly cope with the cultivation of such an element of decor.
Possible difficulties
Over the years of observation, experts came to the conclusion that the blue fescue is not scary for the vast majority of diseases. She is not affected by rot and tolerates cold well. Even insect pests bypass this decorative grass.
Therefore, you will not encounter any difficulties except waterlogging of the soil when it is growing out.