Weeds 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 has seen this plant in the meadows, it also grows willingly along the rivers, resembling a small tussock from which a cereal panicle grows.
General Description
Today you can buy the seeds of this plant and plant it beautifully on your site, forming your own landscape. But if you walk along the river bank or wetland, then you will surely find dozens of adult "pikes" from which you can collect seeds. Soddy meadow is a surprisingly tenacious, beautiful and interesting plant. They form dense sods and bumps. They love wet meadows and banks of reservoirs, fields and pastures. Soddy meadow, for all its decorativeness, is a harmful weed.
Characteristic
The main advantage of this species (if we consider it as a garden decoration) is vitality. seedssprout under almost any conditions, and an adult soddy meadow is unpretentious. The roots of the plant go deep into the ground. In meadows they can reach 70 cm, and in 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, which fits very elegantly into any landscape. Panicle spreading, large, about 25 cm long.
Soddy meadow ("pike") belongs to the family of cereals. The inflorescence consists of spikelets of small size. Spikelet scales are uneven, they can be purple at the base, and yellow or green at the edges. The whisk can be used to make dry bouquets. They look very elegant at home in winter, especially if you choose the right vase.
Spring shoots
At a relatively low temperature in early spring, the first shoots begin to appear, this is a soddy meadow coming out of the ground. The description would be incomplete, if not to say about the amazing gift, exceptional vitality. If you are going to grow "pike" on your site, then you can sow it before winter. Seeds will undergo natural stratification, and in the spring you will get strong and friendly seedlings.
Flowering
Soddy Meadow ("Pike" soddy) begins to bloom in early summer, releasing a luxurious panicle. It is on it that numerous seeds ripen, which by the middle of summer will begin to crumble. Of course, you don’t need to trim a beautiful panicle. It is enough to know one rule, seeds do not germinate when planted insoil by 5 cm or more. That is, in the fall it will be enough to dig up the ground on the site, and in the spring you will not have a friendly overgrowth.
Plant development
In the first year of life, the "turfy pike" bushes. The gardener can control this process by constantly trimming the excess. Otherwise, as a result, the plant forms thick turfs, which gradually turn into spectacular bumps. Only in the second year a panicle appears, now the "pike" can bloom and bear fruit. The stems grow at a high speed, new shoots appear.
It is this property that causes harm to the plant. The formation of tussocks leads to a change in the soil surface in meadows and pastures. It becomes bumpy and unsuitable for mowing. The leaves of old plants are unsuitable as hay. That is, the "pike" displaces other grasses, and is itself useless as a feed.
Using a pike
This is a very beautiful, ornamental cereal plant. It is quite often used in the design of a summer cottage. This is a very convenient plant, as it grows quickly, requiring almost no care. But landing cannot be left without attention. The fact is that the plant develops very quickly, so the extra stems and foliage must be removed in a timely manner, otherwise you will get an ugly bump.
But even after the flowering period is over, flexible and long leaves and straws can be used to stuff mattresses and pillows, and some craftsmen weave variousdiy.
Perfect condition anywhere
This is one of the main reasons why the "pike" has become a favorite of gardeners. She feels great in almost any soil, ranging from marshy to sandy, although the latter is not typical for her growth. Thanks to various, especially variegated, varieties, it has become 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 the leaves, the shades of the spikelets, the height of the peduncles and other indicators.
Agrotechnology
"Pike" prefers to grow on moist soil, at a moderate temperature. If there is a plot near a garden pond where constant dampness does not want to take root anything else, then this is an ideal place for this weed. Too high temperatures can cause loss of decorative effect, especially if the soil is not moist enough.
Prefers to grow in the sun, but it will also feel good in partial shade, however, in this case it does not bloom so abundantly. If the plant was planted on sandy soils, then it needs constant watering. In swampy lowlands, you can not moisten additionally. In the spring, you can feed with nitrogen or universal fertilizers.
Varieties
Goldtau soddy meadow is the largest of all existing 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 that forms a dense bush. The leaves are thin, do not die off for the winter. Spreading panicles are golden yellow. The plant blooms in June-July. Winter hardiness zone - 4. This means that the plant calmly tolerates frosts down to -35 degrees. Drought-resistant, but requires frequent watering at temperatures above +25 degrees.
Goldschleer
Goldschleier Soddy Meadow is another popular plant form that is quite often used to decorate gardens. The height of the grass 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 rather slowly. It is 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 a good 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 about 30 cm, does not bloom. This is a plus and a minus, the lack of seeds does not give him the opportunity to encroach on the rest of the garden. The leaves are green, with a white longitudinal stripe. In cool weather, it can turn pink. By autumn, the leaves become brownish. Winter-hardy, can grow in partial shade, any soil, but always moist.
