Sedges ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips (Carex)

Characteristics

• Scientific name: Carex
• Family: Sourgrass family (Cyperaceae)
• Genus: sedges with 2200 species
• Origin: East Asia, North America
• Growth type: ornamental grass
• Growth: persistent, herbaceous
• leaves: triangular, narrow-flat leaf blade
• Leaf characteristic: sharp-edged leaf edge
• Flowers: spikes, panicles, racemes
• Roots: Rhizomes, with or without stolons
• Hardiness: hardy
• Use: solitary, ground cover, container plant

species

Sedges are a species-rich plant genus with evergreen and wintergreen ornamental grasses. Sedge grasses are native to cold to moderate climate regions such as East Asia and North America. Thanks to this origin, the sauergrass plants inspire as persistent and multifaceted design components for every garden situation. Whether as a solitaire in the front yard, as a picturesque filler in the perennial bed or ground cover for a sea of ​​swaying stalks; among more than 2000 species there is the right one for every hobby gardener

leaves

With their distinctive stalks and slender leaves, sedge grasses are unmistakable. A sedge can be clearly identified by these characteristics:

• straw shape: triangular, filled with creamy white pith
• leaf blade: narrow linear, 10-20 mm wide, acuminate, upright to arching overhanging
• special feature: sharp-edged leaf margin
• arrangement of the leaves: basal as a rosette and on the culms, some species exclusively basal.
• color range: in many shades of green, yellow bordered or striped, green-white variegated, bronze to fox red.

The genus name Carex refers to the sharp-edged, sometimes razor-sharp leaf edges of sedge grasses.

blossoms

In comparison to the colorful stems and leaves, the flowers are inconspicuous. Flowering time is mostly in summer. A few Carex species flower in May. All sedges are monoecious, separating sexes. Male and female flowers unfold peacefully on the stalks as terminal spikes, panicles or racemes. There are isolated exceptions, such as the morning star sedge (Carex grayi). In the following video you can admire the sedge with the probably most effective flowers and infructescence:

Morning star sedge - decorative ornamental grass with spherical flowers and bizarre fruits

root

All sedges form underground rhizomes. However, the growth and spread of the root systems are different. Some sedge species conquer their territory primarily in breadth and are useful as ground cover. Other Carex grasses thrive with their roots as local clumps without runners. Survivors for swampy banks and wet zones use thick, very long and deep root strands. Root growth and the associated question of planting with a rhizome lock is therefore closely related to the sedge species in question.

plant sedges

Autumn is the best time to plant sedges. If you miss this deadline, you can put container plants in the ground at any time of the year, as long as the ground is not parched or frozen. Ideally, plant Carex for tubs and balcony boxes in spring after the last severe frost. Where and how to plant a sedge correctly, read here:

Location

In terms of light conditions, sedges are undemanding and adaptable. With this choice of location you are doing it right:

• Sun to semi-shade: most sedge species, such as variegated garden sedge (Carex brunnea), sedges with brown, red and fox-red leaves.
• penumbra until shadow: evergreen Carex species such as Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii) and Japanese golden sedge (Carex oshimensis).

Earth

Sedges prefer to stretch out their roots in fresh, moist, well-drained soil. Are you still missing a nice ornamental grass for the sandy-dry rock garden or for the shallow water area at the pond? Then the multi-faceted sedge genus won't let you down. The palm frond sedge (Carex muskingumensis) undauntedly greens marshy, shady locations, while the Foxy red New Zealand sedge (Carex buchananii) in an elegant setting in the stony, pebbly, Mediterranean garden puts.

Commercial potting soil without peat, enriched with coconut soil as a peat substitute, compost for an extra portion of nutrients and expanded clay for best permeability.

plants in the bed

How to properly plant a sedge in the bed:

1. Place the root ball with the pot in stagnant tap water or rainwater.
2. Dig a spacious planting pit at the site in weed-free, raked soil.
3. Plant the water-soaked, potted sedge as deep as before in the container.
4. Press down the soil and water thoroughly.

A mulch layer made of chopped leaves is advantageous. Bark mulch is not suitable for Carex grasses due to the formation of rot.

plants in the bucket

Plant a sedge grass in a bucket over a drainage lava granules,(€14.00 at Amazon*)expanded clay(€19.00 at Amazon*) or potsherds. A pouring edge of 3 centimeters prevents annoying spilling of irrigation and rainwater. As additional protection against harmful waterlogging, ideally fill the coaster with water grit(€14.00 at Amazon*) or pebbles.

digression

Carex - The ideal balcony box grass

cultivate sedges

Any sedge grass is easy to care for in the right location. The simplest is the water and nutrient supply. Water a Carex grass in dry conditions with soft water, ideally collected rainwater. From April to September add a liquid fertilizer for green plants to the irrigation water every four weeks. Pruning care and winter protection as well as propagation and rejuvenation go hand in hand. You can read important information about this maintenance work here:

Cut and overwinter

The winter and evergreen, dense clumps serve to protect the root ball from winter cold and wet. For this reason, hobby gardeners do not prescribe their Carex species pruning, as he does for deciduous ones ornamental grasses is mandatory. How to properly cut and overwinter a sedge:

• Tie the clumps of grass together loosely with string before the first frost.
• Sedge in the bed mulch with autumn leaves and needles.
• Place the bucket on wood in a rain-protected location and cover it with fleece.
• Before sprouting in spring, comb out a sedge grass with both hands.

It is important to ensure good protection against the sharp blade edges in the form of robust gloves with long cuffs.

Increase and rejuvenate

Older sedges tend to shed from the inside out. Sometimes a clump of grass becomes too large and causes space problems in the bed. Dividing the root ball fixes both problems in one go. A positive side effect is vegetative propagation. The best time is in the spring before they sprout. How to do it right:

1. Grass clump with one spade cut out all around and lift out of the ground.
2. Lay the sedge on a firm surface.
3. Halve or quarter the root ball.
4. Cut off dead pieces with a sharp knife and discard.

Plant the rejuvenated segments in loose, well-drained soil at the new location and water them with soft water.

Popular Varieties

A wide range of Carex varieties has a beautiful sedge to offer for every design wish, as the following selection demonstrates:

• aureovariegata: Premium gold-edged sedge (Carex morrowii), evergreen, creamy yellow leaf margins, arching overhanging.
• Evergold: bicolored golden sedge (Carex oshimensis) with hemispherical growth, 20-30 cm high, beautiful in the bucket.
• snowline: white-edged sedge variety (Carex conica), 10-25 cm high, representative, evergreen groundcover.
• garden sedge: Variegated variety (Carex brunnea 'Variegata'), with variegated white culms, up to 40 cm high.
• The Beatles: dainty, hairy Carex grass in fresh shades of green, height of growth 10-40 cm, tuft-like for bold accents in the bed and on the balcony.

FAQ

Which sedge grasses are suitable for shady locations?

Where light is scarce, these sedge species bring color into play: shadow sedge (Carex umbrosa), Forest sedge (Carex sylvatica), Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii) and Japanese sedge 'Bunny Blue' (Carex laxiculmis). The eyelash sedge 'Copenhagen Select' (Carex pilosa) is suitable as an evergreen ground cover for the shade garden.

What diseases and pests can affect sedges?

Properly cared for sedges are usually immune to pathogens. Carex species weakened by care errors are sometimes attacked by leaf fungi, such as the widespread rust diseases. Garlic broth (brew 150 g of chopped garlic cloves with 5 l of water) has proven itself in practice for the biological control of these fungal infections. The best way to combat ubiquitous aphids is with repeated, vigorous showers of water.

Should you prune a Japanese sedge?

You should not cut the evergreen Japanese sedge. On the contrary, pruning is unfavorable for the visual appearance, because there is a risk of brown cut edges. In the spring, simply comb out dead stems with both hands. However, if brown leaf tips spoil a Carex morrowii, this is a good reason for a cut back close to the ground. The fresh shoots will quickly overgrow the leaves with brown cuts.

Is the Japanese sedge poisonous?

No, the Japanese sedge and all other types of sedge are not poisonous. However, the sharp edges of the leaves should not be underestimated. In the family garden, the ornamental grasses should be out of reach for delicate children's hands. Please always wear gloves with cuffs when planting and tending.

My sedge gets brown leaves in winter. Why is that?

Brown leaves in winter are a typical symptom of drought stress. Winter and evergreen sedges evaporate copious amounts of moisture at any time of the year. Carex species in planters in particular should be watered occasionally in winter too.

With which plants can you combine sedges decoratively?

Sedges can be perfectly combined with other semi-shade plants. These include hosta, Purplebells (Heuchera) and elfin flowers (Epimedium). Man-high Carex species such as the giant sedge (Carex pendula) harmonize wonderfully wood anemone (anemone) as a flowering underplant or side by side with majestic forest goat's-beard perennials (Aruncus sylvestris) and ornamental spars (Astilbe).