Decorative sedge. Sedge "Mists of the Amazon", growing from seeds. Lighting and temperature

Sedge is a perennial moisture-loving plant that grows along river banks, in swamps, in flood meadows and in shallow waters. This plant is widespread throughout the globe, and today there are about a thousand species of sedges. Sedge grass is an excellent natural purifier of water bodies; many waterfowl nest in its thickets and small waterfowl find food.

Sedge in nature is an erect plant up to one meter high with a thick creeping rhizome, a triangular stem and hard leaves with a sharp edge that wrap around the stem like a tube.

Sedge is a long-known and popular ornamental plant. The charming guest from marshy lowlands and coastal shallows has become a fixture in ornamental gardening in recent decades. Ornamental sedge has long been cultivated in Japan and was used to create elegant and laconic traditional gardens at palaces and temples. About 160 species of sedges are known in garden culture today; they are actively used by landscape designers and amateur gardeners. Compositions using sedge are constant participants in the most prestigious international flower and landscape design exhibitions. The stems and leaves of sedge are also in demand by florists to create compositions from cut plants.

Kinds

There are many types of decorative sedge: mountain, arctic, lowland, marsh. For the garden, designers choose both low-growing and tall varieties of sedge, combining them with primroses and autumn chrysanthemums or roses. They also differ in the color of the leaves: green with white and yellow stripes and edging, yellow with red splashes, almost blue, blue-green, gray-blue, golden. There are types of sedges with leaves hanging down to the bottom, and there are spherical ones with unusually shaped bright inflorescences.

In decorative gardening, sedge is used to create a “garden on the water”, to decorate the coastal zone of streams and ponds, to create borders in shady areas of the garden or to create a rock garden, as well as to place the necessary accents in a shady, damp area of ​​the garden. Sedge planted in tubs is used to decorate winter gardens and verandas.

This grass is a wonderful companion for more colorful and expressive plants in the garden. Sedge goes well with heucheras or hostas in one area. In spring it can become a worthy frame for tulips, daffodils and other bulbous plants, and in autumn for late-flowering plants.

Morrow sedge, Ice Dance
, and
Variegata sedge, for example, have bright, rich green striped leaves. By planting these varieties, you can successfully place the necessary accents in the garden or landscape a large area.

New Zealand terracotta sedge has particularly bright leaves, which become even brighter in bright light and are quite capable of playing an independent role in the garden. The New Zealand species of sedge, popular among florists, have expressive leaves in red-brown tones and may well play a solo role in the garden.

Blue Zinger sedge stands out for its tough leaves of a distinct blue-blue color, which is why it is also called “blue sedge” or “blue sedge.” It loves well-lit areas or partial shade and works great in a rock garden or combined with pebbles.

The low-growing variety of sedge Hybrida The Beatles looks interesting; when it grows, it forms a low evergreen tussock with a diameter of about half a meter. This sedge harmonizes perfectly with garden primroses.

To decorate artificial waterfalls, Buchananii sedge is used, which stands out with copper-colored leaves and harmonizes well with greenery and water, and is also planted as a background for flowering ornamental plants.

Possible difficulties

The leaves acquire a red or brownish tint and dry out.

1. insufficient watering.
2. lack of additional nutrients, which is eliminated by applying complex fertilizers.

Pale leaves.

Reason: lack of lighting.

The messy look of the curtains.

1. untimely pruning.
2. excessive growth of bushes.

Rotting of the roots, stems and leaves of the plant.

1. excess moisture.
2. severe waterlogging of the soil.

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In gardening, sedge finds different uses - around a decorative pond or in an artificial swamp, in rockeries, in mixborders, and in a shady garden.

The beauty of sedge lies in the grace and coloring of the leaves, and some species have interesting inflorescences and fruits - they provide beautiful material for making winter bouquets.

Caring for decorative sedge

Planting and caring for decorative sedge in the garden does not require much work and can be done even by a novice gardener. It is necessary to adhere to several simple rules for caring for this plant and not to forget that sedge is a fast-growing species, and therefore can crowd out other flowers from the flowerbed in a relatively short time:

• in order for the bush to look neat, dry leaves must be cut off in the spring, this is especially true for evergreen species;
• Vigorously growing bushes must be thinned regularly. To do this, feel free to cut off the excess part of the bush with a garden shovel and don’t worry - the sedge will recover very quickly;
• summer-green types of sedge must be pruned at the root in spring;
• in early spring, the sedge must be fertilized with compost;
• in the hot season and during drought, sedge requires regular and abundant watering;
• Sedge reproduces by dividing the bush.

Sedge is a frost-resistant plant, but still, there are several varieties that require special care and protection in winter. These include, first of all, a group of New Zealand sedge varieties. They are quite heat-loving, so on the eve of winter they need to be planted in tubs and hidden indoors. The sedge Buchananii Viridis, which is distinguished by its pale green leaf color, also requires shelter in winter.

Whatever types of decorative sedge you choose - from the most common and ordinary to rare exotics, all of them, with little time and effort, will become a worthy decoration for your garden, artificial pond or flower garden.

Decorative sedge is increasingly used in landscape design, many types of which can create a unique atmosphere in the garden. Perennial grasses from the sedge family can be found in almost all climatic zones. There are about 2000 species that have different characteristics.

Among them there are moisture-loving and drought-resistant ones, growing in the shade and preferring open places with bright sunlight.

Description

Sedge is a genus of herbaceous annual plants and perennials of the Sedge family. Its unpretentious and hardy representatives (more than 2000 varieties) grow throughout the globe, in temperate climates.

IN THE PHOTO: Sedge is able to take root even in conditions that are difficult for other plants.

Due to the fact that Sedge prefers moist soil, it is most often found on the banks of reservoirs and in wetlands. This fundamentally distinguishes it from other grass-like plants that grow mainly on dry soil.

There are two morphological groups of sedges:

1. Sprawling . These include black sedge, sharp sedge, water sedge, nosed sedge, pointed sedge, shore sedge and bladder sedge. The rhizomes of species of this group are long, with rosettes extending from them, taking root within the growing area. As they grow, such plants create green clumps, loose or dense.
2. Hummock-forming. These are drooping sedges, millet sedges, sedge-like, tall, fox-like, turfy. Their rhizomes are short and dense. They form clear and dense hummocks.

The height of sedge stems can vary depending on the type and variety. For example, the stems of some forms of high Sedge can reach 100 cm in height, in Capricorn Sedge they do not exceed 70 cm, and in the low-growing Bohemian Sedge - 30 cm.

The length of Sedge leaves reaches 30 cm. Their color varies from green (with a wide range of shades) to bluish-blue, with a border of different tones. The width of Sedge leaf blades is from 2 to 15 mm. The shape and arrangement of leaves on the stem are varied: in some species they are erect, in others they are curved into an arc.

The spikelets of inflorescences can be low-colored and low, like those of the turfy sedge, or, conversely, high, lush and large (this is how black and vesicular sedges differ).

IN THE PHOTO: Spikelets of palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis).

The color of Sedge inflorescences ranges from light tones of green to black-olive, brown and black. Narrow-cylindrical, cone-shaped or drooping spikelets give sedge clumps a special decorative effect. The fruits of plants of the genus - diaspores - are slightly biconvex or triangular in shape.

Popular varieties

Morrow sedge is usually grown on window sills, balconies and terraces, especially the varieties 'Ice Dance', 'Variegata', 'Fisher's Form', 'Goldband'. and brownish sedge, which is also graceful. Very interesting forms of the latter type are 'Jenneke', 'Jubilo', 'Lady Sunshine', 'Sophia'.

IN THE PHOTO: Sedge Morrow 'Ice Dance' variety, popular in Russia.

Winged sedge looks spectacular in the garden: the 'Knighshaye's Form' variety with bright yellow leaves, the golden-green bushes of 'Bowle's Golden', the sophisticated 'Aurea' with a yellow border. For single plantings, the “morning star” with large inflorescences measuring 2.5 cm is well suited. - Gray's sedge 'Morning Star'. The creamy white border on the leaves of the rusty-spotted sedge 'Island Brocade' gives this variety an elegant appearance.

IN THE PHOTO: Gray sedge with unusual inflorescences 'Morning Star'.

Landing

Garden types of decorative sedge feel great in the rays of sunlight, but in partial shade they will look no less decorative. For planting, it is better to choose soil that contains sand or peat. It must be taken into account that the root system of sedge develops quickly; adventitious roots can spread over a fairly large distance over a season, forming many shoots. It is for this reason that you should limit the area in which the herbaceous perennial will grow or regularly remove excess rhizomes and shoots.

Watch the video: decorative sedge.

Sedge is considered an ideal decoration for any garden; it forms beautiful green carpets and is a perennial. Sedge is quite unpretentious in care and can grow in almost any soil, open areas, both in the shade and in direct sunlight. Most often, subspecies of this plant can be found along the coastline of reservoirs and in marshy areas; they resemble cereals in appearance, but the significant difference is the triangular stem with sharp or rounded ribs.

What other features does decorative sedge have - propagation, planting and caring for the plant for high-quality and rapid growth on the site? You will learn from our article not only about this, but also about what you should be careful of when growing decorative sedge and what benefits the plant can bring to your to the owner.

Care

To maintain the most attractive appearance in the summer, you should not forget about frequent watering. If there is a lack of moisture, the tips of the grass will dry out and the bush itself will be less dense. Varieties with non-uniform leaf colors may lose their decorative qualities during drought. It is best to feed decorative sedge with organic fertilizers. Natural ingredients stimulate bush density and growth.

In autumn, all shoots and leaves die. Only the rhizome overwinters, which does not require shelter. In spring, last year's dry remains of the plant must be pruned. This must be done before the young shoots begin to grow.

Location

The plant reacts differently to light, soil and moisture. Some species love the sun, others love the forest twilight. Some require moisture and peaty soils, while other types of sedges grow only in dry places. Gray's sedge, sharp, is suitable for damp places.

Hanging sedge, two-stamen sedge, black sedge, and hairy sedge can be used to decorate a pond. Low European species are suitable for rockeries, for example, mountain sedge - with narrow green leaves in dense bunches. Black sedge and plantain grow well in the shade.

Sedge propagation

A simple way to propagate any species is to divide the rhizome. Do not separate too small parts, as they may not survive or will take a long time to develop. To achieve the best result, you need to dig out a part of the rhizome with several stems. It is recommended to divide the bush in the spring during the period of active growth.

Seed propagation is also possible, but this process is labor-intensive and lengthy. Seeds can be sown for seedlings both in open ground before winter and in early spring at home. In the first year of life, young plants will form a sparse bush, but in the second year they will be more decorative and dense.

Growing conditions for indoor sedges

Finding a place for sedge in the house is not so easy. It requires a special status and the correct selection of temperatures and lighting, but it adapts much better to the conditions of living rooms than one would expect from such a garden cereal. Despite the love for coolness, care can compensate for its absence. True, not in winter.

Lighting and placement

Sedge does not like direct sun or strong shade. It adapts to all other conditions, sometimes partially or completely losing color in stronger shade. For this indoor herb, bright places with diffused lighting and partial shade of varying intensity are quite suitable.

If varieties with variegated or colored leaves are grown, more intense light will be needed to preserve them. But even such plants cannot tolerate direct sun.

If the sedge is compensated for the reduction in lighting in winter (by moving the plants to more illuminated places or organizing additional lighting), it may not go through a dormant period at all and will only slow down its growth.

Sedge can be placed not only on window sills; it feels good on northern, eastern and western windows. A small distance from windows is quite acceptable, and in rooms with a southern orientation, sedge grows well in the middle zone of the room.

When choosing a place for sedge, it is worth considering that when grown in separate containers it requires a lot of space. In order for the turf to develop normally and become more luxuriant, it should not “butt up against” either neighboring plants or walls.

Sedge is placed as a solo plant or in a series in identical pots, placed in a row or in a group at some distance, giving each bush more space. It grows well on chests of drawers and room dividers, and can be used together with stands or furniture to effectively delimit space.

Sedge is one of the best plants for group compositions - creating indoor flower beds and mixed plantings in large containers. It is used to highlight the beauty of other plants and place textural accents, but it should be taken into account that sedge grows in breadth and not all neighbors can withstand its pressure. When planted in groups in wide and floor containers and in winter gardens, sedge can also be used as a lush ground cover plant.

Brownish sedge 'Variegata'. © lejardindeau

Temperature and ventilation

The main secret to growing indoor sedge is a cool winter. Temperatures of about 10 degrees from November to February are the ideal environment for preserving sedge from year to year. Permissible temperature deviations are from the minimum 8 degrees that the plant can withstand to the maximum 15 degrees Celsius.

At the same time, sedge does not require any other care - it changes only according to changes in the rate of soil drying. During a warm winter, the plant inevitably quickly loses its decorative effect, and the clumps begin to dry out. Even increasing air humidity and ventilation will not stop this process. But when dividing and separating healthy parts and transplanting into new soil, the sedge recovers well.

During the period of active growth, from March to October, sedge feels good at any room temperature. It grows more actively when it is not hot and retains its decorative appearance much longer, but if all compensation measures are taken and careful care is provided, it will not suffer even at elevated temperatures.

The ideal temperature range for growing this cereal is considered to be +18…+22 degrees. But regular and frequent ventilation (or constant access to fresh air) and increased humidity compensate for any heat.

Sedge is characterized by both a dislike of drafts and a love of fresh air. The plant requires regular and frequent ventilation, grows well in rooms with windows that are always slightly open and is perfect for decorating balconies, terraces and seating areas in the garden, provided you choose places with dim lighting.

Even in winter, ventilation should be frequent. But placing the sedge so that it is constantly exposed to air currents is still not worth it.

Varieties of decorative sedge

short

Low-growing varieties that are capable of forming a continuous green carpet are used as ground cover plants and for planting in rock gardens.

Conica is an evergreen ornamental sedge with rich green foliage, reaching a height of no more than 15 cm. It develops quite quickly and does not require special care.

Morrowii is a variety whose bush height is 20 cm. A beautiful evergreen plant forms a thick cover. Some specimens can reach a diameter of 35 cm. This variety has a leaf color that is not uniform - a white stripe along the edge of the leaves gives it a special decorative appearance. In single and group plantings, this perennial looks great and can be a wonderful decoration and decoration.

Hybrida The Beatles is one of the most beautiful hybrid varieties of garden sedge, which forms a tussock of narrow leaves, the length of which can be no more than 15 cm, while the diameter reaches 40 cm. Since this plant is evergreen, it perfectly retains the quality of the leaves after winter . This property makes it possible to use it in group plantings with garden primroses.

Unpretentious and drought-resistant forms include the Flacca variety, which is characterized by a bluish foliage color. Small plants, no more than 15 cm high, are able to grow in any soil, even poor soil. It is widely used as a ground cover plant, but is characterized by aggressive growth and intensive spread over large areas.

The Firma Variegata variety is also extremely unpretentious and can grow in any light - from scorching sunlight to partial shade and shade. Its height barely reaches 10 cm. Dense cushion-shaped hummocks are ideal for growing in rockeries and shady areas of the garden. The color of the leaves can vary depending on the conditions, but in bright light they are most often whitish-yellow.

Tall forms

Buchananii - an unusually beautiful hybrid with copper-brown leaf color, develops bushes up to 75 cm high. This species will look great near a garden or waterfall. In addition, it can be used as a background plant for flowering ornamental crops.

Buchananii Viridis is common in southern latitudes and can overwinter with light shelter in warm regions, but in the central part of Russia and to the north it will not be able to withstand frost. The color of its leaves is pale green.

Comans is a hair-like variety up to 60 cm high. Its thin drooping leaves of olive green color form herbal clumps of original shape. Used for borders and in group plantings with delicate flowering crops. Due to its drooping foliage, hairy sedge is often grown in containers as a hanging plant. Tolerates winter cold well without additional insulation.

Elata is a moisture-loving species that is perfect for planting along a pond. There are several varieties of this hybrid that have an extremely decorative color. Golden-yellow, yellow with green edging and yellow leaves form plantings no more than 60 cm high. These varieties are quite rare on sale. You can purchase exotic ornamental sedge only in some nurseries and from collectors.

It must be said that sedge is not a grass, although at first glance it looks very similar. It belongs to a separate sedge family. And in the genus Sedge, according to various sources, there are up to 2000 species. It grows almost everywhere except Antarctica. But most species occur in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. If you read Wikipedia, it becomes clear that sedge occupies a very prominent place in the nature of our planet.

The origin of the name “sedge” (carex) is interesting. In all languages, it is somehow connected with the concepts of “cut”, “trimmed”. The fact is that sedge leaves have sharp edges due to the presence of very small sawtooth teeth.

For gardening, the most interesting is decorative sedge, that is, the species with which you can decorate your summer cottage. From a huge variety of species, you can choose a plant for any summer cottage. Below are the most common ones. Most types of sedge prefer damp and damp places. For decorative purposes the following can be suggested.

Drooping sedge (Carexpendula) grows in dense turf from 70 to 150 cm in height. The stems are strong, the top is slightly drooping. The leaves are bluish-green. Blooms in May. Prefers partial shade. Looks good in single plantings on the shore of a pond. Does not like stagnant water. In terms of winter hardiness, it is more suitable for southern regions.

Pseudocyperus sedge (C. pseudocyperus) grows in small sods from 40 to 80 cm high, without creeping roots. The leaves are braid-like, longer than the stems. Fruits in May - June. Grows well along the banks of water bodies. In nature, it is distributed in North America, North Africa, Asia, throughout Europe from the northern regions, except the Arctic, to the Mediterranean.

Gray's sedge (C. grayi) is native to North America. It forms loose turf with a height of 30 to 60 cm. The leaves are hard, grow almost vertically, and are yellowish-green in color. It is distinguished by its original fruits in the form of an almost spherical star with a diameter of about 1.5 cm. It prefers moist, rich soil. Loves partial shade, but grows well in the sun. Frost-resistant from zone 3.

Fan sedge (C. muskingumensis) is native to North America. It grows in tussocks up to 70 cm high. It is decorative due to the fan arrangement of leaves at the ends of the stems. It goes under the snow in a green form. Feels good both in the sun and in the shade. Frost-resistant in zone 4. There are varieties that winter in the 3rd zone.

Morrow's sedge (C. morrowii) is native to Japan. Forms a continuous cover up to 30 cm high. The leaves are dark green; the Variegata variety has creamy white stripes along the edges. Prefers partial shade. Frost-resistant from zone 5 and warmer. Used as a ground cover plant.

Forest sedge (C. sylvatica) in nature in Russia is found in many areas of the European part and Western Siberia. It forms a turf with erect shoots from 30 to 100 cm in height. It blooms in May-June. It goes under the snow in a green form. Prefers partial shade and loves rich and moderately moist soil. Quite frost-resistant in the middle zone.

Sedge palmate or bird's foot (C. ornithopoda) is an evergreen perennial, in Russia it grows in the European part. Forms a small bump. It has narrow dark green leaves. It blooms in the form of three spikelets arranged like a bird's foot. Prefers partial shade. Frost-resistant. Variegata variety with a creamy white stripe down the middle of the leaf.

Buchanana sedge (C. buchananii) is native to New Zealand. In Russia it can only be grown in the southern regions. Interesting with hair-like copper-colored leaves. The young bush is erect and slightly falls apart over time. Prefers moderately moist soil and sunny places.

Mountain sedge (C. montana) in Russia is distributed in many regions of the European part, in the Urals, and in Western Siberia. It grows in low bushes up to 30 cm, forming dense turf. The leaves are narrow, pubescent on top, bright green. By autumn they turn slightly brown. Prefers dry and sunny places. Suitable for decorating rock gardens.

And this is only a part of the types of decorative sedge used to decorate gardens.

For damp places on the shore of a reservoir, meadowsweet and loosestrife will be good neighbors for sedge. In shady places, partners can be ferns, astilbe, hosts, and loosestrife. In the sun - low-growing bells, sunflower, saxifrage.

This choice is also approved by landscape designers, who do not advise choosing exotic species with “flashy” coloring. Although it is sometimes difficult to understand simpler seedlings, there are a huge number of them on offer. decorative sedge is

what varieties are best accepted in the country.

Botanical certificate

Sedge is extremely diverse, in the wild there are up to two thousand species, and on the territory of Russia - about four hundred, including arctic and mountain ones; All of them have the following properties in common:

• Herbs of the sedge family are widely represented on all continents; they grow in both wet places and dry areas.
• The name comes from a root meaning “to cut.” It is believed that the matter is in the cutting abilities of the sharp edge of the plant leaf.
• All plants have a developed root system with adventitious roots, but different species can look completely different. Externally, they form groups, carpets or original pillows.

• Plants of the temperate zone differ in height and have long thin stems and leaves, small flowers are collected in spikelets. The stems of sedges, unlike cereals, are not hollow and, as a rule, triangular in cross-section.
• Sedge has long been beneficial to humans. It was fed to livestock, stuffed into mattresses, and used as an insole in shoes. In Asia, especially large varieties with strong fiber are still used today for making ropes and wickerwork: bags, baskets, mats.

Decorative sedge for the garden is usually divided into low-growing and tall forms. Low-growing varieties are particularly decorative. Their ability to cover the soil with a continuous carpet is used in landscape design (for example, when creating an alpine slide). Among the low-growing plants stands out:

• Morrowil sedge. A common evergreen perennial with arched dark green leaves edged with a creamy white stripe. Morrowil comes from Japan, its height reaches 30 cm, the diameter of the bush is up to 35 cm. It loves moderately moist soil and is used in gravel gardens and rock gardens.

• Gray (Carex flacca). Can grow in poor dry soils, reaching 15 cm in height. The plant has thin, evergreen foliage with a characteristic bluish color, which harmonizes especially well with grasses (feather grass). It is aggressive and can be used to strengthen slopes.

• Cushion-shaped (Carex firma). The white-yellow variety Variegata has become widespread. The plant comes from the mountainous regions of Europe, has the appearance of dense cushion-shaped tussocks 5-10 cm high. It is unpretentious to the soil, loves sun and partial shade, and looks impressive on an alpine hill, retaining wall or scree.

Tall decorative sedge in landscape design is represented by the following original species:

• Winged (Carex elata). It grows naturally in the Caucasus and Eastern Europe. It loves flooded banks of reservoirs, reaches a height of 60 cm, and is used as a garden aquatic plant. Valued for the special decorative properties of its thin but hard leaves. The Knighshaye's Form variety has completely yellow leaves, while the Aurea variety has yellow leaves. Bowle's Golden has yellow foliage with a thin green border.

• Droopy (Carex penduia). The plant comes from Southern Europe, is found in the Crimea and the Caucasus, reaches a height of 0.7-1.5 m. It is distinguished by bluish-green leaves and characteristic drooping inflorescences, and loves partial shade. Single plantings near water or in a dry stream have a spectacular appearance; it can also be included in the composition when making dry bouquets.

• Hair-like (Carex comans). The plant originates from the interior of New Zealand; its characteristic feature is its hair-like soft, drooping leaves. This sedge grows up to 60 cm. The Frosted Curls variety has olive green and white foliage that appears to be covered with frost. The Brown Form variety has dark brown leaves, while the Bronze Form variety has golden brown leaves. Suitable for single planting and growing in containers.

Varieties of decorative sedge

If you thoroughly study nursery catalogs, you can count about 150 different varieties of this plant. They can be divided into two groups: tall and short. “Representatives” of both types are successfully used for garden decoration.

Among the short ones

The most popular lines are:

• Beatles (listed in catalogs as Hybrida The Beatles).
  One of the most spectacular species - rather long (up to 15 cm) narrow leaves are collected in a dense rounded tussock with a circumference of 30 - 40 cm. The leaves retain their color even after winter.
• It grows to a maximum of 15 cm and is distinguished by the rich green color of its leaves. It grows quickly without requiring careful care.

Tall
are not inferior to them , among which stand out:

Did you know?
Landscape design in its current form appeared only in the twentieth century.
Before this, people also decorated their plots and gardens, but only 50-60 years ago this hobby received a powerful impetus for development - city dwellers wanted to be closer to nature “without interruption” from their home or dacha. Once you have your bearings on the varieties, do not forget about the species classification. The fact is that the selected sedge can belong to one of four directions - arctic or swamp, lowland or mountain. Both the growth pattern and the size of the plant itself depend on this. It is advisable to clarify this point before purchasing.

Types and varieties

Today the range of sedges is very large. In various nurseries, catalogs describe over 150 species, as well as varieties.

Most of the sedges come from Europe and the Far East. Sedges from New Zealand are increasingly entering the garden culture.

With such a large assortment, you can choose those that are suitable for any garden. Some sedges form small dense cushions, others form shrubs or emerald carpets.

Sedge flowers are monoecious or dioecious, consist of spikelets, they can be bisexual, female or male.

Sedge is decorative during flowering with its anthers hanging on thin threads.

Application in landscape design

Noticeable and at the same time “natural” in appearance, decorative sedge is actively used in landscape design.

Of course, the main area of ​​its application is the design of reservoirs.

The plant is readily accepted on the banks, and the slightly lowered tops of tall varieties only emphasize the natural appearance of a lake or canal - at such moments it seems that nature is “thinking.”
An excellent option would also be to plant along the path leading to the pond. But sedge is not limited to “water procedures” alone - many varieties take root well in drier “patches”. In an open country house or garden, perennials can be used for the following purposes:

• Designs Particularly impressive in this regard are low-growing ground cover lines covering the soil between the stones. For a better effect, you can plant a couple or three taller sedges closer to the center or along the edges of the composition.
• Layouts of a large area Here the location can be angular, so as not to obscure smaller species planted in the neighborhood.
• Decorative sedge is also ideal for decorating shady areas of the garden. Most often, low-growing varieties are planted nearby, which visually complement their foliage with their greenery.
• Evergreen lines are suitable for joint planting with primroses. This creates the impression of constant growth. The only thing is that the sedges should not dim the light supply to the neighboring young growth.

Did you know?
The legendary Versailles Park covers an area of ​​600 hectares.
It is noteworthy that at the beginning of its “career” (XVII century) the massif occupied much more - about 1700 hectares. But then came the era of urbanization, and some of the plantings died. If you don’t have enough time for such large-scale redevelopment, don’t despair: perennials can be planted in pots or containers. By placing them in a dense group, you will also achieve a good visual effect. The main thing is not to make a mistake with the container. A pot will suffice for a low bush, while a tall bush that will wilt over time will need a larger container.

Selecting a location

When choosing a site for planting, you need to remember the characteristics of a particular variety. Marsh sedges will grow only on moist soils with the presence of sand. Other lines will also work on drier soil (of course, it will have to be moistened regularly).

It’s not a bad idea if the soil has been fed with peat since the fall, or so it will be easier for the plant to get used to it.

There are also lighting requirements. Not everyone is able to provide an ideal light regime, but that’s okay - light partial shade will be a kind of compromise.

It's the same story with the wind. Arctic species tolerate strong and prolonged winds well, but others need a calmer place in this regard.

When planning planting, take into account the fact that sedge roots grow very quickly,

which can literally reach the rhizomes of other plants within a season. Therefore, they try to keep them at a distance.

Growing

Cultivated sedge can grow in greenhouses, gardens, on the banks of domestic ponds, in rock gardens and on lawns, in group plantings and living borders. Outdoors, it is better to plant the plant in a well-lit place, but under no circumstances in direct sunlight.

For black sedge, coastal and bubbly sedge, light shading is desirable. But strong shading is harmful for any variety of sedge, since it is worth remembering that the plant is a cereal that prefers well-lit areas.

The ideal soil for garden sedge is neutral (pH 6.0–7.0) or slightly acidic (pH 5.0–6.0), with a high level of humidity. Boggy soil is only suitable for certain types of sedge (leaved or coastal). Graceful and drooping sedges do not tolerate stagnant swamps.

IN THE PHOTO: Group planting of sedge bushes in the garden.

This plant needs to be fed once every two weeks (except for the winter “rest” period). Our article “Types of fertilizers and their features” will help you choose the right fertilizer for sedge in open ground or in a container.

Planting and propagation

Planting sedge in open ground is very simple - anyone can do it. The work progress will be as follows:

Important!
Clay pots are suitable as containers - plastic may be too toxic for young sprouts.

• After slightly moistening the holes, you can fill them with a thin (0.7-1 cm) layer of sand or peat.
• After this, the seedlings or seeds are placed in the furrow and sprinkled with earth, not forgetting to compact it tightly and moisten it.

The planting scheme provides for an interval between young seedlings of 25-30 cm. For older specimens, this gap is increased.
This procedure is carried out at the end of April or beginning of May, when there is no risk of repeated frosts. Some people also practice pre-planting, which means this is more complicated:

• At the end of February or early March, a spacious pot is taken. It is filled with a mixture of leaf and turf soil, peat and fine river sand (all this is added in equal parts). In order for such a substrate to “breathe”, add a little
• At the same time, the achenes are placed in boiled water for 12 hours (swamp varieties will require a day). The water in such “baths” is changed every 2 hours.
• After these manipulations, the seeds are placed on the soil and sprinkled with a thin (0.5-0.7 cm) layer.
• The pot itself is immediately covered with glass or film. They should not touch the ground. It is placed on a radiator or boiler - bottom heating and constant +22°C are required.

Did you know?
If we compare the appearance of noble estates at the beginning of the twentieth century with the current “canons” of landscape design, we will find an almost complete coincidence. The combination of utilitarian and decorative species with the obligatory pond was even then considered a sign of good taste.

• The substrate is kept moist; until shoots appear, a spray bottle is used for such purposes - “direct” pouring is currently prohibited.
• Periodically, the seeds are ventilated by removing the film for 1-2 hours. This will prevent them from rotting.
• The sprouts may “fight back” in a month or two. The grass that has gone into growth must be picked up and placed in another container. By the beginning of May, the roots will have become stronger, and replanting to the site will be successful.

A simpler propagation method - This method is well known to experienced flower growers, and it will not present any difficulties for beginners:

• In the spring, during active growth, a plant with several powerful stems is dug up.
• Having washed away the clod of soil from the rhizome, carefully examine the “pad” itself - it should be healthy, without ulcers or spots of rot.
• If the central root is healthy, it is divided into several parts with a sharp knife. The lateral growths are separated with the same method (although you can carefully tear them off with your hands). You shouldn’t “crush” the root too much - too small buds run the risk of not being accepted.
• Places of cuts are sprinkled with charcoal in powder form. In this way, rot is prevented from developing. Some people make do with activated carbon - it is also suitable for disinfection.
• The resulting seedlings can be placed on the ground immediately or after a 10-day “quarantine” in separate pots. All this time, the container is kept cool and in the shade, watering the substrate abundantly.

Important!
When planting sedge near the path, the seedlings are placed so that in the future it will not scratch passers-by with its hard stems.
The first season after such a division, the seedling will only be getting used to it, and the expected riot of colors is not always observed. But next year he will quickly return to normal.

As you can see, decorative sedge is relatively simple in terms of planting and growing, and the same can be said about seasonal care.

Description

Ornamental sedge is a perennial herbaceous plant that usually has a well-developed root system; it has a huge number of subspecies that grow in various areas from mountainous to arctic. Rhizomes can be either long or short. Prefers peat bogs, sandy, clayey and marshy soils, moist meadows and coasts. For the first time, sedge was noticed in the East and Europe. Most often, the plant is used to decorate plots, gardens, greenhouses and greenhouses. There are various forms of growth of decorative sedges; they can grow in dense pads, shrubs or racks of emerald hue.

Flowers are found both monoecious and dioecious. The shape of the inflorescences is spike-shaped with hanging graceful anthers located on thin threads. Sedge grows and spreads very quickly; on average, the plant can reach about 50 cm in height. The plant is suitable for growing at home and also feels organic in the wild. Its main decorative feature is considered to be the beauty of the color of the leaves and, in some cases, the originality of the fruits and inflorescences, which makes the plant an excellent material for composing various flower arrangements.

Reproduction and planting of decorative sedge

Depending on the subspecies, sedge can reproduce by seeds, by dividing a bush, or by creeping rhizomes.
This process must be carried out in the spring. If transplantation occurs by dividing the root. Then you need to make sure in advance that there is no damage and that all parts of the rhizome are sufficiently developed. Otherwise, there is a risk that the plant will not be able to take root fully and correctly for its further development. After the root has been examined and selected for transplantation, it must be divided into several equal parts and placed in pots or soil for further growth. If the creeping rhizome method is used for propagation, then well-developed healthy roots should be placed in a container with water, after first separating the root part from the stem. Water must be added periodically. Another option: place the creeping roots in a moistened substrate and wait until they sprout.

It should be taken into account that some subspecies may contain a fairly large amount of silicon in their leaves; planting such varieties of sedge in the area of ​​accidental contact with the human body is not recommended - this is fraught with unpleasant cuts and scratches.

For good development, the plant needs a temperature of 19-25°C in summer and 10-16°C in winter. When growing at home, it is important to remember that the minimum room temperature for sedge can be no lower than 8°C, otherwise there is a risk of death of the sedge due to freezing. Also, for comfortable growth, sedge must be in a room with high air humidity.

The lighting a plant needs depends on its subspecies. Sedges growing in forest thickets and swamps prefer to be in relative darkness; meadow and garden sedges easily tolerate direct sunlight. It is necessary to protect the plant from strong wind and rain; in such weather, it is better to bring the plant that grows in a pot or other container under a canopy.

When caring for sedge, it is important to take into account some nuances; if the leaves curl, this means that the plant does not have enough moisture in the air; in this case, it is recommended to water it more often and spray it with organic substrates. If a yellowish tint appears on the leaves, it means that feeding should be stopped. And if rust appears on the sedge, then you need to wipe the plant with an alcohol solution and transplant it into another container.

Features of care

The maintenance of sedge in the country house or in the garden comes down to all the usual work. But despite their simplicity, they are associated with some nuances that are worth recalling.

Watering

The main condition is abundant and frequent watering.

It is undesirable for the soil to dry out and become crusty and cracked. In the summer months, the perennial is moistened 2-3 times a week. One bush can require a 10-liter bucket of water.

If you skip a couple of scheduled waterings, the result will be visible immediately - the leaves instantly turn yellow at the edges, and growth is inhibited. In addition to this, the roots begin to weaken.

With specimens growing in containers, the matter is somewhat simplified - the tub is often placed directly in water, making sure that the roots do not become waterlogged. A separate topic is water quality

. Sedge is extremely sensitive to it: too hard, chloride or technical liquid (which is often served at dachas) can destroy the root. In such a situation, it is better to use settled water. Within a week, harmful compounds will settle at the bottom of the barrel, and the water can be used.

Did you know?
The fashion for decorative mini-gardens came to us from Japan.
Many plants also “migrated” from there. Distilled and melt water are also suitable. Boiled is also okay, but for a large array of plants this is a rather expensive option.

Top dressing

It is carried out every 2-3 weeks, simultaneously with watering.

Usually, organic compounds like rotted or rotted are added. Use also gives a good effect. But such means must be comprehensive - for example, an advantage to the side

This perennial or annual herbaceous plant is common in many climatic zones of the globe, which indicates its high adaptability. Sedge

grown in winter gardens, in open areas or indoors, as a ground cover plant.

Botanical description

Sedge

or carex (lat. Carex) belongs to the
sedge
(lat. Cyperaceae).
Life form is grass. In the culture of home gardening, the most elegant sedge
(syn. Brunne sedge) (lat. Carex elegantissima) is known.

Height

the plant reaches 30 cm. The leaves of the plant, which have an elongated lanceolate shape and are colored green, lemon-yellow, are decorative.

In some forms of the plant, the leaves are decorated with longitudinal white stripes.

The leaves themselves

curved in the form of a small arc. The Karex bush is very lush and covers a sufficient area of ​​soil around it. This must be taken into account if sedge is used in garden design.

You also need to remember that sedge

There is a dormant period that falls in the autumn-winter period. At this time, sedge should be protected from dry air and kept away from central heating radiators.

It is best if it is possible to move the sedge

on a glazed balcony or in a winter garden.

For carex

rooms with a cooler climate than our usual indoor conditions are suitable. This is an excellent plant for landscaping non-residential premises with low air humidity.

Bloom

Some types of sedges, in addition to decorative leaves painted in unusual colors, bloom quite beautifully. An inflorescence is formed on all reproductive shoots. Some species form erect flowers, others drooping flowers. Flowering occurs at different periods depending on the species and climatic zone of detention. Ripened seeds can be collected and sown for seedlings.

Lighting and temperature

Place sedge

possible in the southeastern or eastern parts of the room. Bright and diffused light has a very good effect on the growth rate of carex.

This is especially important for plant forms with variegated leaves. The intensity of the color directly depends on the amount of light falling on the plant.

Temperature

for sedge, moderate with temperatures of +22 +24 °C is suitable. It is also necessary to remember that from the end of October until March, the sedge goes into a period of forced dormancy. This is due to a decrease in daylight hours.

At this time, it is important to create low temperature conditions for the plant with indicators

+8+15 °С. If you ignore this rule, the sedge will gradually lose its blooming appearance. This can subsequently lead to the appearance of pests and diseases.

Humidity and watering

Humidity

for sedge has a high value. It is worth spraying Karex more often than watering. To do this, use a fine spray or humidifier. Too dry air causes the tips of the plant leaves to turn black.

With humidity

air 65%, you can water the sedge moderately and not often. The soil in the pot should always be slightly moist. Stagnation of water in the pan leads to rapid rotting of the root system. It is better to spray Karex three times than to overfill it once.

During the dormant period, watering is reduced

twice.

Benefits and harms

Sedge is used as furniture stuffing. In Altai, pillows, blankets and mattresses are stuffed with sedge. In rural areas, hunters and fishermen place grass in their soles. It helps prevent calluses from rubbing.

Large specimens have a powerful, dense structure. Thanks to durable fiber, needlewomen weave bags, baskets and mats. Sedge can serve as fixatives on mountain slopes.

Dry grass is a fattening feed for cattle. Fish and birds also feed on sedge. The plant is rich in vitamins and microelements. Humans can use sedge as silage.

Soil and fertilizer

The soil

for sedge it should be predominantly light, neutral or slightly acidic, loose, well permeable to air and water, fertile. Sedges are replanted every two years in spring or summer.

For sedge

select wide clay pots of medium height. It is desirable that they be unfired inside. This condition allows you to additionally control the level of soil moisture.

Porous

The clay structure absorbs excess moisture well. And if necessary, it gives it back to the ground. Due to the simple but important physics of the container material, the carex can be further protected from waterlogging.

Reproduction

Reproduces

carex from seeds or by dividing the rhizome. If you start the life cycle of sedge from a seed, you can only get plants with a green color. And in order to preserve the color characteristics of the leaves, for example, plants need to be propagated only vegetatively.

Seeds

sown in prepared ones and placed in mini-greenhouse conditions with air temperature and humidity of +22 ° C and 55%. After a few weeks, you can observe the growth of the first carex leaves. And after two months, young plants can be transplanted into separate containers.

With vegetative

When propagating sedge by dividing the rhizome, it is necessary to ensure that when divided, each new plant has part of a formed root system and more than three stems. During the adaptation period of the plant, it is important to protect it from direct sunlight and waterlogging of the soil.

Plant propagation

Sedge propagation is carried out using several methods:

• dividing the bush;
• seeds.

In the first case, it is worth initially checking whether the root system is sufficiently developed and whether there is any damage. If the root is underdeveloped or its integrity is damaged, then the bush will die and will not take root.

You can plant the cuttings immediately in a permanent area or plant them temporarily in a flowerpot for rooting and strengthening the roots. Some experts place the cuttings in a jar of water for a couple of days, this allows them to enhance the growth of the root system.

It is worth remembering that sedge grows quickly, if you do not take care of it, the bushes will become dense and not so attractive, moreover, the plant will take up most of the site and will disrupt the originally intended design. Dividing the bush at the same time will allow you to thin out the crop and at the same time propagate the plant.

Diseases and pests

Sedge

very sensitive to high dry air and waterlogging of the soil in the pot. For these reasons, it is more likely to occur.

The result

violation of the rules for caring for sedge at home will result in blackened edges of the leaves and rotting of the root system. Against this background, Karex can be chosen by or.

Advance

taking care of the plant, creating good drainage, cool temperature conditions and high humidity in the room will protect the sedge from subsequent diseases.

And for those who like to know more, we suggest you watch the video about sedge

Diseases, pests and problems in growing sedge

Indoor sedge very often suffers from rot, which threatens it with any waterlogging, but it cannot be called invulnerable to pests. Without spraying, this cereal, when grown in very dry air, can suffer from both spider mites and scale insects.

It is better to fight rot by emergency replanting, removing damaged parts of the clumps and reducing the moisture content of the substrate (until restoration). But pests can only be controlled with insecticides and corrective care.