Well-groomed lawns create excellent harmony in design landscapes. Against the background of a green carpet, flower beds and flower beds look vibrant and vibrant. This is much better than the most expensive tile or concrete coating. During the discussion, we will try to consider various features of meadow bluegrass as a lawn grass. Reviews of compatriots show that this plant is most suitable for the climatic conditions of our country.
The role of lawn plants
More recently, the owners of private estates tried to manage their area in a businesslike way: every small plot of land was cultivated and planted with vegetable crops.
However, in recent years, the organization of a cultural corner in its own courtyard is gaining popularity. Such a recreation area makes it possible to emotionally relax after a hard day's work and enjoy the beautiful view created by one's own hands. In addition, in this territory you can place a gazebo, barbecue and an inflatable pool for children.
Undoubtedly, arranging an aesthetic landscape in the yard is a worthwhile undertaking. Some of these designers have already appreciated meadow grass meadow as lawn grass. The reviews of many people help to see the practical value of this plant.
High-quality lawn cover can solve some garden issues. For closely planted plants, it to some extent serves as a defense. The green blanket does not allow a lot of moisture to evaporate. Due to this, the soil maintains optimal temperature and humidity, and it is less depleted. When the grass grows, weeds can no longer be remembered.
Where there are lawns, in hot weather you can feel cool and fresh. In such places, the air is clean and humid.
general characteristics
Unlike field grasses, lawn grasses have a high-speed tillering method. Both roots and stems of plants take part in this process. Along with how the lawn grass forms an elastic sod net from the roots, it also manages to release many young stems. Future buds are laid not only in the axils of the leaves, which are at the tillering stage, but also on the small hiding leaves located on the rhizomes. Thus, the plant creates a reserve for itself, and even with frequent and low mowing, the green mass is rapidly growing.
It is worth noting that the quality and appearance of the lawn directly depend on the correct choice of seeds. The lawn grass in question is considered one of the best. The following is a description of meadow bluegrass.
External signs
Those who are already familiar with the cereal culture, call it durable. She is able to create an inextricable sod layer and delight the gardener from year to year with her lively greenery.
In the wild, bluegrass looks like many field grasses. The plant that migrated to us from Australia covers the hills and grows everywhere. But after the breeders worked on it, it became suitable for decorative use. Meadowgrass meadow is characterized by dense greenery, which is practically not amenable to mechanical stress. Grass forms an abundance of succulent, bright green leaves growing vertically. Peduncles have long, inflorescences in the form of an ear of saturated green color. Sometimes there are spikelets of purple. Below in the article you can find a photo of meadow bluegrass and a description of its positive features.
Benefits
Lawn grass has a number of advantages that every designer dreams of. Of these, the following can be distinguished:
- of all cereals, the plant is the earliest;
- the growth rate of the root system;
- unpretentiousness to the composition of the soil;
- resistance to climatic conditions;
- excellent decorative look;
- the possibility of vegetative propagation;
- ability to create quality coverage;
- lack of lumps on the surface soil layer;
- not affected by pests;
- resistance to fungal diseases;
- a duration of existence that can last more than 30 years;
- vitality in severe frost and drought.
Description of meadow bluegrass with its botanical characteristics:
- The root system is powerful, well developed. Most of the processes are localized in the upper soil layer. The roots are tightly intertwined and fastened together, thereby forming a strong turf.
- The intensive growth of the plant is determined by the presence of many vegetative roots that penetrate deeper into the soil deeper than the main root system. Thanks to this, a considerable number of new stems grow, forming a separate root structure. This root structure allows the bluegrass to receive moisture from the deeper layers of the soil in dry weather.
- But for such a development to occur, grass (meadow grass meadow) needs time. In the first year, it grows slowly, and its aerial part is not yet distinguished by the density of green mass.
- The plant has linear narrow leaves, whose height is about 30 cm and a width of 4 mm. Peduncle length - 80 cm, spikelet inflorescence.
A photo of meadow bluegrass - grass used in landscape design, can be seen in the article.
Breeding
Although bluegrass can grow in a vegetative way, which was described above, to use it in full would be impractical. For quick and high-quality registration of landscape design, the seed propagation method is very convenient. Already 14 days after sowing, seedlings can be observed. Some gardeners use a film under which the seeds of lawn grass sprout much faster. Bluegrass meadow in this case emerges within 7 days.
To seedlings were uniform, it is better to check the seed material. The most famous way is to fill the seeds with water. Unsuitable, as a rule, turn out to be light and float up.
By conventional germination, the percentage of seed suitability over the entire batch acquired can be determined. When sowing, it will be necessary to compensate for the approximate amount of unfit planting material. For germination, the seeds are placed in a thin, damp cloth or gauze, wrapped in polyethylene and left in a warm place.
Special seeders are used for sowing, but you can sow manually. The seeds are mixed with sand and portioned to charge the seeder. Sowing is carried out first in the transverse, and then in the longitudinal direction. After this procedure, a rake is carried out around the site to cover the seeds remaining on the surface in the soil. They need to be deepened by 1 cm.
Compatibility with other cereals
Since the grass grows slowly in the first season, it is advisable to sow it in combination with other types of lawn plants. The best concomitant herbs for bluegrass are: meadow fescue, thin white woodland, pasture ryegrass, red fescue.
In herbal mixtures, bluegrass seeds account for 40-50%. Thanks to these proportions, the potential is laid for the next years of development of a quality coating for lawns. The best combination is considered a mixture of two species of fescue and bluegrass. They can grow on any soil, with the exception of marshy places.
People with experience in decorating lawns are advised to buy meadow bluegrass seeds without impurities. Although such planting material comes out more expensive, over time it pays off. The presence of a quality certificate gives a reliable guarantee for good germination of seeds.
Directions of use
In what areas does meadowgrass as a lawn grass find its application? Reviews indicate the multifaceted use of this practical plant.
First of all, mixes of forbs in combination with bluegrass are used for lawns and design landscapes. But some find other uses.
Lawn grass can hide flaws on problem plots - all kinds of hollows and crooked places. The recesses of such a plan are filled with the roots of the plant, and visually the territory looks aesthetically pleasing.
Gardeners sow grass throughout the garden. In order to take care of the trees, the places around the trunks are fenced with decorative stones or other beautiful material.
Where else can meadowgrass be used as lawn grass? Reviews of some parents show that it is a suitable option for the design of playgrounds. In the first year, special attention must be paid to caring for the grass and freeing it from other weeds. In subsequent years, you can not make much effort and feel free to stomp on the green carpet.
Bluegrass is used for the production of rolled lawns. It is the main planting material in the mixtures used. With the help of ready-made rolls, they arrange places for sporting events.
Stripes are created from lawn grass to separate traffic and traffic.
For the design of lawns, there are several types of this plant.
Meadowgrass varieties include: Broadway, Connie, Platini. These are often used types of ornamental grass, characterized by the density of growth of stems. Because of this feature, the lawns on which these varieties are used have almost no voids.
There are other varieties of cereal crops. On sale you can find the following types: Compact, Midnight, Sobra, Balin, Dolphin and Geromino. When buying a certain variety of decorative grass, you need to familiarize yourself with the information on the package, since each plant has its own purpose.
Preparing a place for lawn grass
The area reserved for the lawn should be cleaned of debris and excess objects. You need to choose large pebbles and slivers.
When digging, you need to try to clean the soil as much as possible from the roots of weed grass. Lumps should also be thoroughly crushed to create an optimal soil structure.
If the fertile soil layer is thin, then you need to add sand and fertilizer. The cereal crop prefers slightly acidic soil, so liming should be done. It would be good to add peat for additional loosening of the soil. It is important to know that the plant should never be planted on salty soils.
Then the area is leveled with a rake and compacted with a special roller or wooden board. It is necessary to check the surface for the presence of recesses and immediately level them.
Before sowing bluegrass, the meadow area under the lawn needs to be loosened a little.
If you plan to treat the plot with herbicides, then it must be carried out a month before sowing the lawn. An effective drug is Roundup.
In total, it takes a year of time to design a decorative corner using meadow bluegrass as a lawn grass. Preparatory work begins in early spring, and sowing is carried out in late August. Before the cold weather they fertilize the plot and, as soon as the snow melts, they are waiting for young shoots.
Subtleties when leaving
Bluegrass meadow like lawn grass is a very convenient plant. In particular, it can bloom only once a year. This greatly facilitates the work of gardeners and frees from frequent cuts. However, under too suitable conditions for it, it blooms repeatedly. In this case, you will have to make an extraordinary mowing.
When cutting, as a rule, leave 3-5 cm from the surface of the soil layer. After this procedure, the grass releases thick stubble from new shoots. If there are land islands on the lawn, bluegrass very quickly covers them.
Lawn care starts from the moment of sowing seeds. So that they germinate well, daily irrigation should be carried out.
When the meadow plant shows the first seedlings, then they need to be watered as necessary. In hot weather, the lawn needs increased moisture.
In the first month, while the grass is small, it is better not to walk on it.
The meadowgrass meadow plant responds well to top dressing. The green mass after such procedures looks much livelier and denser. After autumn mowing, organic fertilizers are scattered in a thin layer on the lawn.
If extensive bare spots have formed on the site, then additional sowing of meadow bluegrass should be carried out. Reviews gardeners contain valuable information on this subject. Some manage to fill the voids with the help of new parts from the turf strata. If there is such an opportunity, then this is the best way to get rid of unwanted islets.
It is important to know that bluegrass is sometimes affected by rust and powdery mildew. To combat rust, fungicides are used. Frequent and low cuts eliminate this problem. Mowed grass should be removed immediately from the site. To defeat powdery mildew, reduce watering and the rate of nitrogen fertilizers.
Summer residents complain that the integrity of the cover turf may be disturbed due to the activity of moles. Since a method for controlling such pests has not yet been found, the damage has to be repaired mechanically or by sowing the seeds.
Conclusion
In the article, we examined what service the lawn grass meadowgrass can provide. Photos of lawns perfectly illustrate the positive features of this plant. Perhaps, having familiarized themselves with the above information, the owners of private houses will wish to cultivate their personal plots. Since the lawn is an important element in gardening, why not introduce such an innovation into your landscape design ?! Against this background, flowers and trees take on sharper outlines, and their appearance is significantly transformed.