Pampas grass: decoration of your site

People who have their own plot of land and use it not only for a utilitarian purpose, should be very interesting pampas grass - the photo clearly demonstrates how decorative this plant is. Scientifically, it is called cords. At home - in South America and the Pacific islands - pampas grass has more than twenty varieties. But in our latitudes and longitudes only one species is grown - Cortaderia selloana.

Description of cordage

Pampas grass - a herb, and perennial, which is attractive for gardeners - do not have to update the planting yearly. It grows to three and a half meters, has long, curved leaves with arched leaves. Most of the foliage is painted in matt green, but there is a pampas grass with leaves that have cream or white stripes. But especially cordage is valued for autumn flowering, when fluffy panicles appear, sometimes reaching a meter in length. By winter they do not fly around, and throughout the dull winter they decorate the garden.

Using cortaderia in phytodesign

When planning the flower beds on the site, it is necessary to take into account the growth and splendor of the plant. Usually it performs an architectural role: creates a pronounced vertical line. Most often pampas grass is planted in the background of mixborders or tapeworms - in fairly wide open areas. If there is a natural or artificial water body on the site, it looks great in the design of the shoreline. Cordiera quite comfortable feels near walls or fences, which is often used to enhance their decorativeness. In small areas, its natural growth is not very appropriate; In addition, a three-meter pampas grass will suppress the remaining plants. In such cases, regular pruning and formation are carried out.

Verbena, Echinacea, Cosmia, Yarrow, Rudbeckia are suitable as companions for cordage - in general, high cereals.

Conditions for survival

Than good pampas grass - its unpretentiousness. It can be planted in the places chosen by you, and not taking into account the vagaries of the plant. The cordage is very tenacious, it does not care about the acidity and fertility of the soil, its excessive dryness or, on the contrary, the swampiness of the site. Pampas grass will survive even in a rocky terrain - if only not solid granite, so that the roots can strengthen and penetrate deeper into the soil. It is desirable that the chosen location was as sunny as possible - in this case you are guaranteed a particularly lush bloom. However, with diffused light, and in the penumbra pampas grass will bloom, just the brush is formed not so long and in a smaller amount.

Care for pampas grass

Uncomplicated cordage affects the characteristics of care. It does not even need regular watering and can survive a prolonged drought. However, decorative in harsh conditions is somewhat lost: the foliage becomes less vivid, and in the absence of water at the right time, pampas grass can "abandon" flowering. Therefore, closer to August a couple of times a week, it is better to water the cordage, and recently planted, not yet adapted and not fixed plants - to feed.

On the other hand, pampas grass is not susceptible to disease and does not suffer from pests, so from the role of its doctor you are exactly insured. By and large, all care is reduced to the formation of a bush, if you do not intend to allow the cordage to grow arbitrarily, and to cut off the panicles before the start of the new season.

Security measures

No matter how effective the pampas grass was (photo), it is in some ways unsafe. Its scientific name it received from the Spanish cortar, which translates as "cut". The edge of the leaves is hard and sharp, it's very easy to cut about it. Therefore, it is necessary to plant the cordon away from the tracks, and especially from the playgrounds. When forming or cutting brushes, gloves are mandatory and are desirable - safety goggles.

Cordarea can "threaten" not only people, but also plants. What is dangerous for them is pampas grass - its reproduction can become uncontrollable. In native lands, it is considered almost a weed; In order to get rid of the misfortune the steppes are often burned out. In order not to face such an attack on its site, the place reserved for cordon is protected by deeply digged slate or metal sheets. Alternatively, it is possible to chop off the growing roots in spring, although this method is less effective - you will not be tracking all the processes.

Something about seeds

If on your site there was still no pampas grass, the reproduction of seeds probably does not represent much labor: germination is almost 100%. The problem is that the planted seeds will produce shoots in the same year, but the flowering will have to last five years. On the other hand, if you already have pampas grass, the seeds can be useful for refreshing and updating landings - the existing specimens will decorate the site until new ones grow up.

In this regard, new cordon plantations usually form purchased seedlings, and the existing ones are expanded by dividing the bush.

Planting pampas grass

First of all, decide what kind of pampas grass you like. Reproduction by seeds, used in nurseries, gives buyers the opportunity to choose seedlings that will give the brush the preferred color - pink, silver or golden. If you have already decorated flower beds, this can be important. Bought "bush" should be planted almost immediately; Pampas grass will successfully survive at the end of March. The pit for planting should be scooped somewhat wider than the root system of the plant. At the bottom it is desirable to pour the compost - so Cordareter will master faster. You can not overtreat the plant - the underground part can begin to rot.