Bulbous ryegrass (Arrhenatherum bulbosum 'variegatum') is a subspecies of French ryegrass (not to be confused with chaff ryegrass (Lólium). Favorite cereal plant of landscape designers: it has an unusual look (you can even get a ball shape) and aggressiveness is low (root system for the season) not spreading, nearby cultivated plants are not oppressed).
Bulbous ryegrass: description
Ornamental cereal refers to perennials. Its root system lies shallow, almost at the surface of the soil, consists of small nodules (the plant is therefore called bulbous ryegrass), tightly pressed, almost attached, to each other. It is from them that narrow linear striped white-green silky leaves grow up to a height of 30 centimeters. Earing (release of the stem with a future spike) occurs in late May and early June. It blooms in June and July. At this time, if the summer is very hot and dry, bulbous ryegrass loses its inherent decorative effect of both leaves and form. Very quickly (a week) after pruning, the plant regains its beautiful shape and color.
Content Features
Although rye grass is perennial, it is difficult to winter in the middle zone of the Russian Federation: its root system is located close to the soil surface, new growing nodules tend to be located above the main ones, old ones, after almost three years they lie on the ground surface.
The plant is photophilous, although it can grow without light, when planting it needs to be allocated a sunny place. Bulbous ryegrass without the sun loses its decorativeness, becomes almost completely green.
Cereal is drought tolerant, does not lose its qualities if forgotten to water it.
It requires minimal watering, and with an excess of moisture it can completely get wet.
Care
Onion ryegrass is one of those plants that do not require great attention and care. Cereal needs a decorative haircut (closer to the roots) three times per season. If you do not do this, the ryegrass is pulled out, the tips and bases of the leaves turn yellow, the plant from a soft, silky becomes tough.
He needs moderate watering as the soil surface dries. Excess moisture is harmful, corms begin to be inhibited, soak.
The container content of the plant requires a fairly intense complex organic-mineral feeding twice a month. When ryegrass is planted in the ground (light loamy soil), feeding is moderate, preferably with diluted compost once a month and before wintering.
In the case of using the plant in open ground plantations, ryegrass should be prepared for wintering. Before the onset of stable cold weather, the plant must be trimmed, sprinkled with compost, covered with spruce branches during the onset of stable frost with a temperature of 2-3 degrees. In winter, be sure to sprinkle with snow.
Container content allows you to clean the ryegrass in greenhouses, covering it with just compost.
Breeding
Decorative ryegrass (photo in the article) is propagated exclusively by dividing rhizomes (bulbs). You can do this even in the first year after purchase. And if you do not divide the plant, then in three years all the bulbs will lie on the ground and simply dry. Cereal will lose its decorative appeal.
You can grow bulbous ryegrass from seeds. But getting a stable turf of the right density requires a special approach and patience.
In order to create landscape solutions usually buy plants in containers. And in the middle zone of the Russian Federation they don’t even want to transplant them, since in winter decorative ryegrass can freeze out. Spring return frosts are also scary for him.
Landscaped ryegrass
Cereal plants attract the attention of designers by the fact that they fit very easily into compositional solutions without requiring huge maintenance.
Bulbous ryegrass meets all the requirements for creating complex and not very garden compositions.
If it is placed in the foreground, it beautifully sets off the bright juicy greens of bushes and conifers.
Placed among roses, its gray hair ryegrass emphasizes the vibrant beauty of roses and peonies.
Daffodils become even more tender and whiter against its background.
Adorable tulips placed behind ryegrass.
Large-flowered perennials and ryegrass easily fit into landscape compositions.
The gentle swaying and rustling of ryegrass leaves after the breeze gives a feeling of merging with pristine nature.