- Do ornamental grasses necessarily need fertilizer?
- In case of deficiency symptoms it is better to fertilize
- The right time
- Suitable fertilizers for ornamental grasses
- Less is more
Ornamental grasses - whether pampas grass, bearskin, Japanese sedge, fountain grass or another type, these plants are not very demanding in terms of care. And yet they resent one or the other mistake. What about fertilization?
Most ornamental grasses do not necessarily require fertilizer
Do ornamental grasses necessarily need fertilizer?
Most ornamental grasses do best in poor soil. They don't need a lot of nutrients and still grow splendidly. It is therefore not absolutely necessary to fertilize ornamental grasses several times a year.
In case of deficiency symptoms it is better to fertilize
If your ornamental grass grows sluggishly, if it often suffers from diseases or if other signs of a deficiency appear, such as yellowing stalks or a loss of flowers, fertilization makes sense.
The right time
Ornamental grasses should already receive compost when planting. Fertilization is not only advisable when planting. It is also worth fertilizing ornamental grasses in subsequent years. The best time for this is before the new shoots in spring.
In addition, you can fertilize your ornamental grass a second time a year just before flowering. Most of the ornamental grasses bloom in midsummer. Give the fertilizer between June and July! But be careful not to fertilize ornamental grasses too late! Otherwise they become vulnerable to frost.
Suitable fertilizers for ornamental grasses
Organic fertilizers should be used for ornamental grasses. They are quickly damaged by artificial fertilizers, as rapid growth robs them of their stability. The following fertilizers are suitable for the slightly acidic to slightly alkaline and permeable soil in which they should grow:
- compost
- humus
- liquid manure
Ornamental grasses in tubs should be fertilized more frequently. If you want to use liquid fertilizer for green plants, dose it in half the concentration and add it to the irrigation water.
Less is more
Do not fertilize your ornamental grasses too generously! If ornamental grasses receive too much nitrogen-rich fertilizer, they will quickly grow tall. However, their stems are then less resistant and thin. The stability suffers enormously. In addition, too much fertilizer makes them more susceptible to diseases such as rust. Therefore, it is better to fertilize sparingly!
tips
Particularly fast-growing ornamental grasses such as bamboo, Chinese reed and pampas grass can also be equipped with a thick layer of bark mulch.