When, with what and how often?

Do ornamental grasses necessarily need fertilizer?

Most ornamental grasses do best in poor soil. They don't need a lot of nutrients and still grow nicely. Therefore, it is not necessarily necessary to fertilize ornamental grasses several times a year.

If you have symptoms of deficiency, it is better to fertilize

If your ornamental grass has stunted growth, it will often suffer from disease or other symptoms If there is a deficiency such as stalks turning yellow early on or a loss of flowers, it is fertilization sensible.

The right time

Ornamental grasses should be given compost when they are planted. Fertilization is not only advisable when planting. It is also worth fertilizing ornamental grasses in the following years. The best time for this is before the new shoots in spring.

In addition, you can fertilize your ornamental grass a second time a year just before flowering. Most of the ornamental grasses bloom in midsummer. Apply the fertilizer between June and July! But be careful not to fertilize ornamental grasses too late! Otherwise, they'll be prone to

frost.

Suitable fertilizers for ornamental grasses

Organic fertilizers should be used for ornamental grasses. You can quickly take damage from artificial fertilizers, as rapid growth robs them of stability. The following fertilizers are suitable for the slightly acidic to slightly alkaline and permeable soil in which they should grow:

• compost
• humus
• Manure

Ornamental grasses in the bucket should be fertilized more often. If you want to use liquid fertilizer for green plants, dose it in half the concentration and add it to the irrigation water.

Less is more

Do not fertilize your ornamental grasses too generously! If ornamental grasses are given too much nitrogen-rich fertilizer, they will quickly grow in height. However, your stalks are then less resistant and thin. The stability suffers enormously. In addition, too much fertilizer makes them more susceptible to diseases such as rust. So fertilize sparingly!