Switchgrass ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips

Characteristics

• Scientific name: Panicum virgatum
• Family: Sweet grasses (Poaceae)
• Growth type: perennial
• Growth habit: upright, clump-forming
• Growth height: 50 cm to 250 cm
• Leaves: stalks
• Leaf color: fresh green, blue-green, red-brown
• flowers: terminal panicles
• Flowering period: July to September
• Roots: rhizomes
• Hardiness: hardy
• Use: ornamental grass, privacy screen

blossoms

From July one rises from the leaf clump Switchgrass richly branched, filigree panicles of flowers. Characteristic of the inflorescences on sweet grasses are numerous spikelets that gather into long panicles. The airy veil of blossoms adorn the garden until September. In autumn, mature spikelets release their seeds for self-sowing propagation. Important to note for the small garden is that the seeds of most varieties are dormant and will not germinate.

leaves

The grandiose garden effect of switchgrass is primarily due to the spectacular autumn colors of its leaves. In dense clumps of leaves, taut, upright stalks take center stage and arch overhanging over the course of the summer. When the fluffy panicles of flowers tower over the stalks, a firework of colors begins. The following table provides an overview:

root

Switchgrass spreads with underground rhizomes. In contrast to other sweet grasses, such as bamboo (Bambusoideae) or pampas grass (Cortaderia), switchgrass is not prone to invasive spread in the garden.

digression

Perennial of the year 2020

plant switchgrass

In the bed, switchgrass is suitable for a representative individual position or a group planting with a privacy function. Combined with the right plant neighbors, the colorful straws come into their own. Compact varieties adorn the balcony in the tub. Read the following sections to find out where and how to best plant switchgrass.

Location

At this location, switchgrass unfolds in all its glory:

• Sunny to shady location (at least 6 hours of sunshine daily)
• normal garden floor, preferably moderately dry to freshly moist, well-drained, nutritious

Optional locations: open space, perennial bed, flower borders, rock garden, gravel bed, front garden, balcony, terrace, roof garden.

Plant

The best planting time is in spring. When the soil warms up, the switchgrass can immediately start growing the roots. Before planting, soak the potted root ball in water. Plant the water-soaked, now potted plant deep enough in the ground that its buds are flush with the soil surface. If the location is near the garden pond, line the planting hole with a root barrier to protect the pond liner from the rhizomes.

For planting in tubs, we recommend a structurally stable substrate without peat. Mix up a few handfuls expanded clay, sand or lava granules(€14.00 at Amazon*) under the potting soil to improve permeability. Use a planter with holes in the bottom for water drainage. Ideally, cover the bottom of the jar with a 5 to 10 cm layer of expanded clay pebbles or grit(€14.00 at Amazon*) as drainage.

Combine switchgrass

With its late sprouting, switchgrass acts as the perfect backdrop for early bloomers. The deciduous culms with a blue shimmer harmonize impressively with colorful perennials. A symphony of colors shines in the fall garden when you combine switchgrass with fall bloomers. Be inspired by these ideas:

• early bloomers: daffodils, tulips, bluetongue leek (Allium karataviense)
• summer bloomers: speedwell (Veronica teucrium), Flame Flower (Phlox), coneflower (Rudbeckia)
• autumn bloomers: Autumn-aster (Aster dumosus), Monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii), Winter Aster (Chrysanthemum hortorum)

Maintain switchgrass

Switchgrass is very easy to care for. Fertilize you don't have to use the ornamental grass. Important care measures are regular watering and pruning at the right time. Regardless of a robust winter hardiness, simple protective measures for the cold season make sense. It is worth taking a look at the following care instructions:

Pour

An even water supply is the guarantee for the picturesque autumn colours. Water switchgrass when the soil in the bed or tub feels dry. In the planter on the sunny south-facing balcony, watering is required more often than when planted out in fresh, moist garden soil. Because waterlogging reliably kills the magnificent ornamental grass, check the moisture content in the substrate with a finger test before each watering.

hibernate

Switchgrass is good as a perennial perennial hardy. Biting cold cannot damage ornamental grass. Rather, problems in winter are caused by permanent wetness and snow pressure. In the tub, the root ball of a switchgrass is vulnerable to frost. How to overwinter Panicum correctly:

• Tie the late autumn stalks together in a bun with sisal cord.
• In the bed, pile up the root disk with leaves and fir fronds or needle brushwood
• Place planters on wood and with garden fleece or wrap bubble wrap

If winter comes with bright sunshine and frosty temperatures, the switchgrass can dry up. In fact, winter drought stress is the most common reason ornamental grasses no longer sprout in spring. You should therefore water the leaf horst even in winter on mild days when there is neither rain nor snow.

pruning

In late winter, a pruning in the leaf clump makes room for fresh shoots. In February or March, cut back the switchgrass in good time before the first green tips of the leaves appear. How to do it right:

• Put on gloves to protect against sharp leaf edges
• Suitable cutting tool: long knife, secateurs, perennial sickle
• Hold the stalks in bunches with one hand
• Cut off the clumps of leaves a hand’s breadth above the ground

Did this year's bud break surprise you? Then put the cutting tool aside. A cut into green stalk tips leaves brown discoloration that will spoil your switchgrass. In this case, comb out the dried stalks with both hands.

propagation

Switchgrass is easy to propagate by division. In contrast to the time-consuming sowing of seeds, the variety-specific properties are retained in vegetative propagation. The best time is in spring after pruning. That is how it goes:

1. Horst with one spade dig out
2. Place the root ball on a firm surface
3. Cut into fist-sized pieces with a knife or spade
4. Plant each root ball segment as deep as before in a sunny spot
5. Water regularly on the day of propagation and afterwards

You don't have to completely dig up large switchgrass varieties. Use a freshly sharpened spade to cut off the outer parts of the leaf clump and plant the sections elsewhere. On this occasion, the mother plant is rejuvenated, which is expressed in an intense coloring of the culms.

Popular Varieties

The following selection of varieties presents you with the most beautiful switchgrass for beds and tubs:

• north wind: Column switchgrass with a growth height of 180 cm, decorative, blue-green stalks, bright yellow autumn colour.
• cloud nine: Largest switchgrass, majestic growth rate of up to 250 cm, filigree, brown panicles, culms with blue frosting.
• Switchgrass Heavy Metal: magnificent ornamental grass, shimmering metallic blue-green culms with blue-green panicles, up to 150 cm high.
• Sacred Grove: delights with bluish leaves, reddish-brown panicles of flowers and red tips of the stalks in late summer, height of growth up to 100 cm.
• Prairie Sky: ravishingly beautiful, delicate pink panicles from July, blue-green foliage up to 150 cm high.
• Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah': charming 80 cm small variety with blue-green summer culms and fluffy, pink-brownish flowers on red-brown culms from July.
• Switchgrass Sangria: compact, 100 cm tall, fresh green ornamental grass with dark red stalks and brown-red panicles in autumn.

FAQ

On which switchgrass are the stalks blue?

There are three premium varieties that draw attention to themselves with blue straws. The switchgrass 'Heavy Metal' has already received several awards in perennial sightings for its metallic-blue shimmering foliage. The 'Heiliger Hain' variety crowns its bluish culms with red tips in late summer. Switch millet 'Dallas Blue' with blue-grey summer stalks and bright yellow autumn colors is new to the market.

How fast does switchgrass grow?

Switchgrass can wait until April in regions with mild winters or May in rough locations to sprout. Then growth picks up speed. By the beginning of summer, a leaf clump has usually reached its stately height. From July it goes up again when the stalks with the inflorescences grow skyward. The speed at which switchgrass reaches its final height always depends on local conditions.

Is switchgrass suitable as a privacy screen?

The wide range of varieties has several majestic switchgrasses that are useful as privacy screens. The columnar switchgrass 'Northwind' is well-known and popular with a growth height of up to 180 centimetres. The largest switchgrass is called 'Cloud Nine' and stretches a whopping 250 centimeters into the sky. At the seat on the balcony, the switchgrass 'Warrior' protects your privacy in a bucket with a height of 150 centimetres.

Is Switchgrass Toxic to Cats?

No, switchgrass is not toxic to cats. The stalks, flowers or seeds do not contain any substances that could be dangerous for your darling. Be careful when combining switchgrass with tulips or daffodils. The flower bulbs are highly toxic to cats, even in small amounts.

When does switchgrass sprout in spring?

The sprouting of switchgrass depends on the weather. After a mild winter and a spring without severe ground frost, the ornamental grass sprout until mid-May. Cold, wet weather with delayed ground frost postpones budding until the end of May/beginning of June.

Does switchgrass need a root barrier?

Planting with is mandatory root barrier not. Over time, the leaf horst becomes wider and wider because the rhizomes spread underground. If there is a garden pond or lawn in the immediate vicinity, you can choose to have one on this side rhizome lock or occasionally cut off the clump together with the roots with a spade.