Although some plants are suitable in the garden as a hedge-like privacy screen, fast-growing varieties such as the giant bamboo are extremely unsuitable for cultivation on a balcony. The zebra grass, on the other hand, with a maximum height of about 180 cm, is quite suitable as an attractive and natural privacy screen for the balcony.

Zebra grass grows quickly and densely and is therefore well suited as a privacy screen

Select sufficiently large planters

It is common knowledge that ornamental grasses usually have rather sprawling root systems. The zebra grass is no exception in this respect and can only deliver really satisfying growth results with enough space in the pot. After all, this type of plant quickly takes up larger areas outdoors if it is not planted with an appropriate root barrier. Normal balcony boxes (€109.00) may be large enough for geraniums and other typical balcony plants, but you should use zebra grass in much larger planters. This goes hand in hand with the fact that when used as a privacy screen along the balcony parapet, it is essential to ensure that the planters, some of which are very heavy, including the earth material, have sufficient fall protection.

Don't skimp on the irrigation water

In its natural distribution areas, zebra grass prefers a semi-shady to sunny location with constantly moist soil. Therefore, when caring for it as a container plant, the zebra grass should be watered extensively every day, especially in summer. This is all the more true for balcony locations, where the strong sunlight and the incomparably stronger wind attack constantly cause the substrate in the plant pot to dry out. Nevertheless, zebra grass (like most plant species) can only deal very poorly with roots that are constantly in water. Therefore, despite the generally high water requirement, the plant pot for the zebra grass on the balcony also needs sufficiently large drainage holes for excess irrigation water.

Overwinter zebra grass properly on the balcony

Since the zebra grass is frost hardy down to about minus 20 degrees Celsius, specimens planted in the garden usually have no problems even in severe winters. Unfortunately, this statement cannot be transferred quite so easily to potted plants on a balcony, since the root balls can be attacked much more easily by sub-zero temperatures than in closed soil. You should therefore take the following protective measures in good time before the start of winter:

  • Never cut the zebra grass before winter, but tie it together
  • Wrap the plant pot in bubble wrap or an old sleeping pad
  • water on frost-free days

The water supply on frost-free days is very important, since hardy reed and bamboo species are often not damaged in winter by the frost, but by dryness in the root area.

tips

Since zebra grass grows in clumps, rings can form around bald spots over time. This is a natural process and may need to be compensated for by digging up, dividing and rearranging the plants in the planter.

Category:

Vegetable garden