Owners of private houses or dachas want to decorate their plots with various ornamental plants to give them a more aesthetic look. For this, there are a large number of different specimens that bloom and retain their beauty for more than one year. Blue fescue also belongs to the elements of living decor.
Description of blue fescue
Blue fescue is a perennial plant that reaches a height of 20 to 60 cm. It has a spherical shape in appearance, and needle-like leaves are painted in a pleasant bluish hue. Even in winter, such a plant does not lose its attractiveness.
From the beginning of summer, fescue begins to bloom. It has panicle inflorescences that rise high above the bush. Even when they fade, they retain their decorative functions. But if desired, they can be cut off so as not to deplete the plant.
Fescue tolerates winter well, but it happens that mature bushes freeze slightly. To prevent this from happening, it is worth dividing the bush. Otherwise, this ornamental grass is undemanding, so it is perfect for decoration.
You can decorate the most nondescript places of the site with the named plant, as on dry and stony soilsblue fescue grows well. You can choose different varieties that will differ in shades from the bluest to azure and silver.
Planting blue fescue
The blue fescue ornamental plant, planting and caring for which does not require much effort, is suitable even for beginner gardeners. It is grown from seeds that are medium in size.
You can plant it immediately in open soil, from April to early May, or in late autumn:
- Make a nest for planting, you need to place about four seeds in it. This method is the most effective, as it allows you to grow a decorative bump in the first year.
- Dig holes for planting at a distance of 15-20 cm. After placing the seeds in the hole, cover with a thin layer of soil and water abundantly.
- In two weeks you will see the first shoots of fescue. This plant loves the sun, dry or temperate soil. It is necessary to regularly loosen the surface of the earth, but water infrequently.
It is not necessary to plant the plant under the open sun, in partial shade it can also give a good decorative effect. Moreover, with such lighting, the color of the leaves takes on a more saturated shade.
You can see what fescue looks like. Her photo is presented in our article.
Care Secrets
Blue fescue seeds take root very quickly, and after germination require the same care as a lawn. Soil moisture needs to be monitoredfertilizer as needed, and divide the plants every two or three years. Planting is necessary so that the plants do not get used to the soil and do not die off.
After the winter period, it is required to remove old dead leaves.
To get the largest increase in ornamental grass, it is worth propagating it through planting, and not through seeds. And it is also possible, when planting from seeds, to germinate them first. To do this, they are planted in a box in early March and kept at room temperature.
Pay close attention to watering, do not over-moisten the plant. Therefore, take into account the weather conditions, the type of soil and its moisture level.
If properly cared for, blue fescue panicle inflorescences will decorate your garden for a long time.
Comfortable conditions for fescue
Blue fescue is a representative of an extensive family of ornamental cereals. Refers to the kind of lovers of the sun. To succeed in growing, you need to choose the warmest or even hottest area in the garden. Even the most intensely lit south facings will work well. If you plant the fescue in a place that is too dark, then you will not get a bluish tint of the sheets.
These plants do not put forward special requirements for the soil, so even in completely dry areas their spherical shape will decorate the site. You should not choose a site where moisture can accumulate, they do not like the described plants and highly nutritious soils. It is believed that the most beautiful fescue grows on the rocky soil of rock gardens and rockeries.
All species of this plant are resistant to frost, so they do not need protection in winter. But it's still worth buying varieties already acclimatized to your climate zone.
They also have a drawback - a rather rapid extinction of curtains. After 2-3 years, the center of the sod gradually dries up in the plant, so they need to be constantly rejuvenated and divided.
The fescue has a particularly strong growth in width, not in height, so it will fill the required area well.
Other types of fescue
Not only the blue fescue, the photo of which you see in the article, can decorate your site, but also other varieties of ornamental grass.
Amethyst fescue originating from the mountains of Transcaucasia and Central Europe. This is a large blue fescue that grows up to 60 cm in height. The leaf looks like a needle, but it has a pleasant texture. This evergreen plant ranges from bluish green to blue-gray.
Blossoms in June and the flowers rise high above the foliage. Grows well in light, poor, sandy soils.
Glacier fescue comes from the Pyrenees. It is up to 30 cm in height and creates hemispherical bushes near the glacier zone. Planted in rock gardens. Although the plant freezes slightly in the harsh winter, it has a quick ability to recover.
Panicled fescue refers to the low version - up to 15 cm in height. The color is light green, it also blooms at the end of June. It can also be planted in shady areas of the garden. If after winter most of the foliagedies off, then you just need to get rid of it, and the bush itself will quickly recover.
Sheep fescue has thin stems that end in triangles. The foliage is silky and long, and the color is light green. Paths and curbs are decorated with it, and it grows well under pine trees.
But the most interesting is still blue fescue (grey-gray), due to its unnatural color. She will be especially good at decorating your yard.
Tips for choosing and planting blue fescue
Blue fescue is great for dry soils. If you have places on your personal plots where nothing grows, because they are too dry, then you can fill them with just such an ornamental grass.
This is a perennial evergreen that is not afraid of the cold. If dry leaves form after winter, they just need to be removed.
When choosing seeds for planting, pay attention to the fact that they are acclimatized to your region.
It is necessary to plant in nests four seeds in one. Watering is not plentiful after planting, as well as in the process of growing. And do not choose those places where water can accumulate.
Grows best in the sunniest spots. Since it does not require special care, even a novice gardener can perfectly cope with the cultivation of such a decorative element.
Possible difficulties
Over the years of observation, experts have come to the conclusion that blue fescue is not afraid of the vast majority of diseases. It is not affected by rot and tolerates cold well. Eveninsect pests bypass this ornamental grass.
Therefore, you will not encounter any difficulties, except for waterlogging of the soil, when growing it.
