Weed grasses are the scourge of gardeners and gardeners, and they spend most of their time fighting them. However, there are pleasant exceptions. So, a strong and tenacious weed meadow soddy learned to use for decorative purposes. Each of you saw this plant in the meadows, it also grows willingly along the rivers, resembling a small hummock from which a cereal panicle grows.
general description
Today you can buy the seeds of this plant and plant beautifully on your site, forming your own landscape. But if you take a walk along the riverbank or a wetland, then you will surely find dozens of adult "pikes" from which you can collect seeds. The soddy meadow is a surprisingly tenacious, beautiful and interesting plant. They form dense sods and bumps. They like wet meadows and shores of ponds, fields and pastures. The soddy meadow, with all its decorative features, is a harmful weed.
Characteristic
The main advantage of this species (if we consider it as a decoration of the garden) is vitality. Seeds germinate under almost any conditions, and an adult soddy meadow is unpretentious. The roots of the plant go deep into the ground. In the meadows they can reach 70 cm, and in the swamps about 20 cm. The stems are straight, up to 100 cm. The inflorescence is presented in the form of a beautiful multi-spike panicle that fits very nicely into any landscape. The panicle is spreading, large, about 25 cm in length.
Soddy meadow ("pike") belongs to the cereal family. The inflorescence consists of spikelets of small size. Spikelet scales are uneven, at the base they can be purple, and yellow or green along the edges. Whisk can be used to make dry bouquets. They look very elegant at home in the winter, especially if you choose the right vase.
Spring shoots
At a relatively low temperature in the early spring, the first seedlings begin to appear; this is a soddy meadow coming out of the ground. The description would be incomplete, if not to say about an amazing gift, exceptional vitality. If you are going to grow a "pike" in your area, then you can sow it in the winter. Seeds will undergo a natural stratification, and in the spring you will get strong and friendly shoots.
Bloom
A soddy meadow ("pike" soddy) begins to bloom in early summer, releasing a luxurious whisk. It is on it that numerous seeds ripen, which already by mid-summer will begin to crumble. Of course, you don’t need to trim a beautiful whisk. It is enough to know one rule, seeds do not germinate when planted in the soil for 5 cm or more. That is, in the autumn it will be enough to dig the land on the site, and in the spring you will not have a friendly shoot.
Plant development
In the first year of life, the "soddy pike" grows. The gardener can control this process, constantly cutting off the excess. Otherwise, as a result, the plant forms dense turfs, which gradually turn into spectacular bumps. Only in the second year does a panicle appear, now a “pike” can blossom and bear fruit. The stems grow at high speed, new shoots appear.
It is this property that causes the damage to the plant. The formation of hummocks leads to a change in the surface of the soil in meadows and pastures. It becomes bumpy and unsuitable for mowing. Leaves of old plants are unsuitable as hay. That is, the "pike" displaces other herbs, and itself is useless as feed.
Using the "pike"
This is a very beautiful, ornamental cereal plant. It is often used in the design of a summer cottage. This is a very convenient plant, as it grows quickly, requiring virtually no care. But landing cannot be ignored. The fact is that the plant develops very quickly, so the extra stems and foliage need to be removed in a timely manner, otherwise you will get an ugly bump.
But even after the flowering period has ended, flexible and long leaves and straws can be used to stuff mattresses and pillows, and some craftsmen weave various crafts from this raw material.
Perfect condition in any area
This is one of the main reasons why the "little thing" has become a favorite of gardeners. It feels great on almost any soil, from marshy to sandy, although the latter is not typical for its growth. Thanks to various, especially variegated, varieties, she became a favorite among gardeners. In summer, at temperatures above +25 degrees, the plant hibernates, while fully preserving its decorative effect.
"Pike" turned out to be a convenient and fertile material for breeding new forms and varieties. Their main differences are the length of leaves, shades of spikelets, the height of peduncles and other indicators.
Agricultural technology
"Pike" prefers to grow on moist soil, at moderate temperature. If there is a plot near the garden pond where constant dampness and does not want to take root more, then this is an ideal place for this weed. Too high temperatures can cause a loss of decorativeness, especially with insufficient soil moisture.
Prefers to grow in the sun, but it will feel good in partial shade, however, in this case it blooms not so abundantly. If the plant was planted on sandy soils, then it needs constant watering. In swampy lowlands, you can not moisturize additionally. In the spring you can feed with nitrogen or universal fertilizers.
Varieties
Goldtau soddy meadow is the largest of all that exists today. It reaches a height of up to 170 cm, and the width of the bush is up to 50 cm. A very elegant cereal, forming a dense bush. The leaves are thin, not dying for the winter. Spreading panicles are golden yellow. The plant blooms in June and July. The winter hardiness zone is 4. This means that the plant calmly tolerates frosts up to -35 degrees. Drought-resistant, but requires frequent watering at temperatures above +25 degrees.
Goldschleier
Goldschleier soddy meadow is another popular plant form that is often used to decorate gardens. The height of the cereal is up to 1 meter, the width of the bush is up to 50 cm. It keeps the shape of the bush well, since it grows quite slowly. Especially beautiful during flowering, at this time the inflorescences are golden yellow. Gradually they fade and become grayish. Do not forget that the plant is large, so you need to choose the right place for planting.
Northern Lights
This variety is suitable for those who need to emphasize the beauty of a small pond that does not want to be covered with large bushes. Height is about 30 cm, does not bloom. This is a minus and plus, the lack of seeds does not give him the opportunity to encroach on the rest of the garden. Leaves are green, with a white longitudinal strip. In cool weather, it can turn pink. By autumn, the leaves become brownish. Winter-hardy, can grow in partial shade, any soil, but necessarily moist.