Festuca glauca or blue fescue is an ornamental grass with very distinctive, blue to blue-grey culms and a dense, clumpy habit. The plant occurs in central and northern Europe primarily in barren, mountainous locations and is therefore used to cold and uncomfortable winters. The blue fescue is also very hardy in the home garden, provided it feels comfortable in its location.
Blue fescue in the balcony box should be protected from frost
Additional protection is not necessary in winter
Actually, the blue fescue grass is a very hardy and extremely robust plant that does not need any protection even in very cold winters. Nevertheless, many gardeners report that the clumps have frozen back after the cold season and do not sprout again. This is rarely due to the fact that the blue fescue has not tolerated the frost, as a rule the chosen location is the reason for it dying.
Choosing the right location
Although the blue fescue is quite robust, it can quickly take offense to an unsuitable location. Ideally, choose a sunny to full sun, dry spot with a nutrient-poor, sandy to gravelly substrate. Excessive moisture in particular causes problems for the grass, so that the stalks quickly begin to rot. Instead, the blue fescue grass is wonderfully kept in a heath or rock garden.
Blue fescue in a bucket or balcony box
Provided you ensure good drainage, blue fescue also feels very comfortable in the window box and can stay there over the winter. The distinctive grasses are particularly pretty in combination with the also hardy bud heather - a great way to conjure up a few splashes of color on the balcony or terrace even in the cold season. However, you should provide blue fescue in the bucket with a light winter protection, as the roots are not sufficiently protected from frost due to the small amount of substrate. For example, you can wrap gardener's fleece around the planter.
Caution: Do not cut back blue fescue in autumn
In order to keep the blue fescue healthy over the winter, you must not cut it back in the fall. This weakens the plant so that pathogens (especially fungi) have an easy time. In general, it is not recommended to cut back the ornamental grass. Only yellow or faded stalks should be plucked out.
tips
If you want to be on the safe side, you can cover the nests with a layer of leaves or fir branches in winter.