Are you bothered by the prying eyes of your neighbors? Or do you just want to lie down undisturbed on your terrace? How about an ornamental grass giant that serves as a privacy screen?
Pampas grass is ideal as a privacy screen
Which types are suitable as privacy screens?
Basically, it should be said that ornamental grasses cannot serve as a year-round privacy screen. Only in summer are they big enough to act as a natural privacy wall. With luck, the privacy screen will remain in place through the winter.
So that ornamental grasses keep looks away, they should be planted in several specimens at a small distance. Note the growth width of the respective species. Among others, these ornamental grasses (at least 150 cm high) are suitable as privacy screens:
- Chinese reed
- garden bamboo
- pampas grass
- giant sedge
- pile pipe
Chinese reed and pampas grass - the most popular privacy grasses
Depending on the variety, the achievable growth height differs. From the Chinese reed, which needs a nutritious and moist soil, these varieties are considered proven and huge:
- 'Aksel Olsen': 300 cm
- 'Malepartus': 200 cm
- 'Silver Feather': 220 cm
- 'Silver Tower': 300 cm
The pampas grass looks beautiful with its fluffy flowers. But it only gets really big with them. Recommended cultivars include the White Pampas Grass (250 cm), as well as 'Pink Feather' (200 cm) and 'Sunningdale Silver' (250 cm).
Choose a sheltered location
You should always choose a sheltered location for such tall ornamental grasses. Otherwise, strong gusts of wind could break their long stalks. This makes the ornamental grasses susceptible to diseases and they no longer look beautiful. Species like the giant sedge are even suitable for shady locations.
The right care
The tall ornamental grass species should be tied into a tuft before the onset of winter. In spring they are cut down to the ground and fertilized. Sharing is also an important part of care. To ensure that your privacy screen made of ornamental grasses does not get holes over the years, you should divide the ornamental grasses every 4 years.
tips
While it is advisable to create a root barrier for bamboo, Chinese reed does not need this as it does not spread via its rhizomes.