- Which Chinese reed is best for a hedge?
- How do I plant a Chinese reed hedge?
- How do I care for a Chinese reed hedge?
Hedges are becoming increasingly popular as property boundaries or as privacy screens for neighbors. It is not always necessary to use relatively rigid and high-maintenance bushes for this, you can also plant a decorative hedge from Chinese reed.
Chinese reed is an unusual hedge plant
Which Chinese reed is best for a hedge?
Some varieties of Chinese reed form long runners, so-called rhizomes, and sometimes spread far and wide in the garden. If you use one of these varieties for a hedge, it will be difficult to control. For this, you absolutely need a rhizome barrier, which is best placed in the ground when planting. Therefore, clumpy growing Chinese reed is better suited for a hedge.
How do I plant a Chinese reed hedge?
Chinese reed needs a relatively large amount of space, depending on the variety. You can find the relevant information on the plant label. In order to ensure that the hedge is adequately protected from view, you should place the individual reed plants a little closer together than recommended on the label. Don't worry, the Chinese reed grows quite quickly and will soon fill in the existing gaps.
How do I care for a Chinese reed hedge?
Chinese reed is generally considered to be very easy to care for, which also applies to a hedge. Once the plants are well established, they do not need any special attention during the entire vegetation phase, provided they are in an optimal location. During a longer dry period, however, the Chinese reed is happy about some water.
In the spring, you should cut your Chinese reed about ten centimeters above the ground as usual. After this pruning, the reed drives out new fresh stalks and leaves. Spring is also the time to fertilize. A small portion of full or slow release fertilizer should do the trick. In particularly nutrient-rich soil, you can even do without fertilization altogether.
The essentials in brief:
- choose clumpy Chinese reed or set a rhizome barrier
- keep a slightly smaller planting distance than with solitary planting
- Water the reeds well before planting
- Water adequately when dry
- supply with complete fertilizer annually
- Prune hedges regularly in spring
tips
a hedge made of Chinese reeds offers you a privacy screen without appearing compact.