27 grasses as a privacy screen for pots and buckets

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table of contents

  • Bamboos
  • Chinese reed
  • Pampas grass
  • Pipe grasses
  • Riding grass
  • Sedges
  • More privacy protection grasses
  • frequently asked Questions

To with grasses and Ornamental grasses To get a privacy screen in buckets, these should grow tight and, depending on the height of the bucket, at least one meter. The most popular and beautiful specimens are listed below.

In a nutshell

  • winter, summer and evergreen grasses available
  • often no reliable privacy protection in winter
  • almost all specimens need protection from the cold despite winter hardiness

Bamboos

Umbrella bamboo (Fargesia rufa)

Grasses in tubs: umbrella bamboo (Fargesia rufa)
  • Growth: very dense and wide; upright
  • Height: between 200 and 300 centimeters
  • Flowering: very rare; then the plant dies
  • Location: partially shaded; tolerates sun, slightly acidic, well-drained, nutrient-rich and humus-rich soil
  • Special features: evergreen; hardy; fast growing; Use at least 40 liter buckets

Zigzag bamboo "Spectabilis" (Phyllostachys aureosulcata "Spectabilis")

Zigzag Bamboo Spectabilis (Phyllostachys aureosulcata Spectabilis)
  • Growth: compact; tight; upright
  • Height: between 250 and 300 centimeters
  • Flowering: very rare; then the plant dies
  • Location: partial shade, tolerates sun; permeable soil rich in nutrients and humus
  • Special features: evergreen; hardy; lemon yellow foliage; Use at least 40 liter (conical) buckets

Chinese reed

Malepartus (Miscanthus sinensis "Malepartus")

Grasses in buckets: Malepartus (Miscanthus sinensis Malepartus)
  • Growth: dense; upright flowers; overhanging leaves
  • Height: between 180 and 200 centimeters
  • Blossom: changing reddish to silvery-white; August to October
  • Location: sun; sandy and humus-rich soil; pH value: 5.5 to 7.5
  • Special features: reddish stalks; yellow autumn color, fully grown from the third year

Elephant grass / jumbo grass (Miscanthus x giganteus)

Grasses in tubs: elephant grass, jumbo grass (Miscanthus x giganteus)
  • Growth: spreading; upright; slightly overhanging
  • Height: between 300 and 400 centimeters
  • Flower: red; October
  • Location: sunny to partially shaded; Substrate fresh to moderately moist, sandy to loamy; pH value: neutral
  • Special features: hardy; lime tolerant; Autumn color; only suitable for large buckets

Large fountain (Miscanthus sinensis "Large fountain")

  • Growth: dense; arched inclined; erect flower stems; very broad
  • Height: between 180 and 250 centimeters
  • Flower: silvery-white; August to October
  • Location: sunny; Fresh to moderately moist soil, sandy to loamy
  • Special features: very vigorous; deciduous; no runnings

Porcupine grass / zebra reed "Strictus" (Miscanthus sinensis "Strictus")

Zebra reed Strictus (Miscanthus sinensis Strictus)
  • Growth: dense; upright; slim shape
  • Height: between 130 and 150 centimeters
  • Flower: brown; September to October; only in warm, sheltered locations
  • Location: sunny; normal substrate with moderate moisture
  • Special features: striated green-yellow foliage; ideal for "hedge design" in pots

Pampas grass

American pampas grass / silver grass (Cortaderia selloana)

American pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana)
  • Growth: curved; upright
  • Height: between 90 and 250 centimeters
  • Flower: silvery-white; September to October
  • Location: sunny; fresh, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: hardy; needs wide tubs

Pampas grass "Citaro" (Cortaderia selloana "Citaro")

  • Growth: tight; upright flower stems
  • Height: between 200 and 250 centimeters
  • Flower: white-yellow; August to November
  • Location: sunny; fresh, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: impressive appearance; hardy

Tip: Tall ornamental grasses such as pampas grass and bamboo are almost all hardy, but they usually need protection from the cold. To do this, simply tie the leaves loosely together in a bundle.

Pampas grass "Rosea" (Cortaderia selloana "Rosea")

Pampas grass " Rosea" (Cortaderia selloana " Rosea")
Source: Photo by David J. Rod, Cortaderia selloana Rosea 1zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habit: curved foliage; expansive
  • Height: between 80 and 180 centimeters
  • Flower: pink; September to October
  • Location: sunny; fresh, well-drained, very nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: gray-green foliage color; hardy

Pampas grass "White Feather" (Cortaderia selloana "White Feather")

  • Growth: curved; upright flower stems
  • Height: between 90 and 250 centimeters
  • Flower: silver-white; September to October
  • Location: sun; fresh, humus and nutrient-rich substrate
  • Special features: hardy with protection against the cold; silky frond stilt reed / Spanish reed (Arundo donax)

"Mother" of the pile tubes (Arundo donax)

" Mother" of the pile tubes (Arundo donax)
  • Growth: rhizome-forming; curved foliage; upright stems
  • Height: between 300 and 400 centimeters
  • Flower: delicate white; July to August; rarely blooms during hot summer months
  • Location: sun; fresh, well-drained soil rich in nutrients and humus
  • Special features: high space requirements between two and three meters, hardy

Tip: The roots of the pile tube grow enormously. Use a root barrier when planting in tubs, because otherwise the rhizomes will press so hard against the tub walls that they will break quickly.

Pile pipe "Variegata" (Arundo donax "Variegata")

Stake tube, variegated, variegata (Arundo donax variegata)
  • Habit: upright and curved foliage
  • Height: between 200 and 300 centimeters
  • Flower: brown; July to August; rarely blooms during hot summer months
  • Location: sun; fresh, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: needs a large bucket; gray-green foliage with longitudinal stripes; is more sensitive to frost than other varieties

Pipe grasses

Tall pipe grass "Windspiel" (Molinia arundinacea "Windspiel")

  • Growth: tight, upright flower stems
  • Height: between 60 and 250 centimeters
  • Flower: yellow-brownish; August to October
  • Location: sun to partial shade; fresh, moist, well-drained and nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: golden-yellow autumn color; hardy

Pipe pipe grass (Molinia arundinacea)

Pipe pipe grass (Molinia arundinacea)
Source: Stefan.lefnaer, Molinia arundinacea sl13, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Growth: like grass; minimally curved foliage; upright flower stems
  • Height: between 90 and 250 centimeters
  • Flower: yellow-brownish; July to September
  • Location: sun to partial shade; fresh to moist and nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: attractive autumn color; hardy; relatively narrow growth width

Giant pipe grass "Transparent" (Molinia arundinacea "Transparent")

  • Growth: like grass; slightly curved foliage; upright flower stems
  • Height: between 50 and 200 centimeters
  • Flower: yellow-brownish; August to September
  • Location: sun to partial shade; fresh to moist, permeable and nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: golden-yellow autumn color; hardy

Riding grass

Garden riding grass "Karl Foerster" (Calamagrostis x acutiflora "Karl Foerster")

Sand pipe " Karl Foerster" (Calamagrostis x acutiflora " Karl Foerster")
Source: Photo by David J. Rod, Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster 0zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Growth: upright; clumping; tight
  • Height: between 80 and 120 centimeters
  • Flower: yellow, red; June to August
  • Location: sun to partial shade; Sandy to loamy soil, moderately dry to fresh; pH value: neutral
  • Special features: hardy

Riding grass "England" (Calamagrostis x acutiflora "England")

  • Growth: bushy; tightly upright flower stalks, dense foliage
  • Height: between 100 and 150 centimeters
  • Flower: yellow-brownish; June to July
  • Location: sun to partial shade; moderately dry to moist, loamy-sandy and nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: hardy

Riding grass "Overdam" (Calamagrostis x acutiflora "Overdam")

Riding grass " Overdam" (Calamagrostis x acutiflora " Overdam")
Source: F. D. Richards from Clinton, MI, Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‚Overdam‘ 6 2021 Feather Reed Grass- (51264786804), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Growth: bushy; taut-upright
  • Height: between 80 and 130 centimeters
  • Flower: yellow-brownish; July to August
  • Location: sun to partial shade; moderately dry to fresh, nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: foliage has white vertical stripes; well hardy; very decorative in winter

Tip: Due to the stature heights up to a maximum of 150 centimeters, the riding grasses offer ideal privacy protection in low-lying places, such as sandpit or paddling pool.

Sedges

Cyprus grass sedge (Carex pseudocyperus)

Grasses in tubs: Cyprus grass sedge (Carex pseudocyperus)
Source: Christian Fischer, CarexPseudocyperus, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Growth: curved; tight; strong growing
  • Height: between 50 and 100 centimeters
  • Flower: green; June to July
  • Location: sun to partial shade; nutrient-rich moist soil
  • Special features: hardy; deciduous; lime intolerant

Palm frond sedge (Carex muskingumensis)

Palm frond sedge (Carex muskingumensis)
  • Habit: slightly curved, upright, grass-like, dense clumps
  • Height: between 60 and 80 centimeters
  • Flower: brown; July to August
  • Location: sun to partial shade; nutrient-rich moist soil
  • Special features: hardy; red-brown autumn colors; deciduous; ideal for planting balcony boxes

Note: Although the minimum height of one meter for a privacy screen is not given here, so you should still know that the palm frond sedge is ideal as a privacy screen for larger window boxes suitable.

Giant forest sedge (Carex pendula)

Grasses in buckets: Giant forest sedge (Carex pendula)
  • Growth: bushy; slightly bent; very close; strong growing
  • Height: between 40 and 120 centimeters
  • Flower: green-brownish; June to July
  • Location: partial shade to shade; fresh, moist, loamy soil; like calcareous
  • Special features: hardy; evergreen

More privacy protection grasses

Feather bristle grass / Pennisetum (Pennisetum alopecuroides var. viridescens)

Grasses in tubs: Feather bristle grass, lamp cleaner grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides var. viridescens)
Source: Photo by David J. Rod, Pennisetum alopecuroides Viridescens 1zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Growth: upright; Overhanging foliage
  • Height: between 60 and 120 centimeters
  • Flower: black-brown; August to October
  • Location: sun; sandy-loamy, humus and nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: yellow autumn color; deciduous; hardy

Fluff feather grass (Stipa pennata)

Fluff feather grass (Stipa pennata)
  • Growth: upright; slightly bent
  • Height: between 25 and 100 centimeters
  • Flower: silver-white; June to July
  • Location: sun; moderately dry, well drained soil
  • Special features: evergreen; Wrap the bucket with fleece in winter; undemanding; ideal for tall buckets

Nest blue grass (Sesleria nitida)

Grasses in tubs: nest blue grass (Sesleria nitida)
Source: 阿 橋 HQ, Sesleria nitida - 巴黎 植物園 Jardin des Plantes, Paris- (9229787096), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Growth: forming nests; declining stems and leaves
  • Height: between 50 and 80 centimeters
  • Flower: light green; Early April to late May
  • Location: sun to partial shade; moderately dry, humus-rich substrate
  • Special features: very decorative due to filigree stalks; slightly sensitive to frost; very popular bucket grass

Switchgrass "Northwind" (Panicum virgatum "Northwind")

Grasses in tubs: switchgrass " Northwind" (Panicum virgatum " Northwind")
Source: Photo by David J. Rod, Panicum virgatum Northwind 3zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Growth: stiffly upright; declining stems and leaves
  • Height: between 120 and 140 centimeters
  • Flower: brown; July to September
  • Location: sun; well drained, sandy-loamy soil
  • Special features: yellow autumn color; easy-care; robust; hardy; blue-green foliage color; summer green

Forest bluegrass (Poa chaixii)

Forest bluegrass (Poa chaixii)
Source: Daderot, Poa chaixii - Berlin Botanical Garden - IMG 8535, edited by Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Growth: arching inclined; upright stems
  • Height: between 80 and 100 centimeters
  • Flower: yellow-green; June to August
  • Location: sun to partial shade; Low-lime, humus and nutrient-rich soil
  • Special features: evergreen

Forest Zwenke (Brachypodium sylvaticum)

Grasses in tubs: wood twinks (Brachypodium sylvaticum)
Source: Stefan.lefnaer, Brachypodium sylvaticum (subsp. sylvaticum) sl18, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Growth: slightly curved; upright flower stems
  • Height: between 40 and 130 centimeters
  • Flower: green; June to October
  • Location: partial shade; sandy-loamy, well-drained soil
  • Special features: deciduous; hardy

frequently asked Questions

Why do grasses in the bucket need protection against the cold?

Because they lack the protection against the cold through thick layers of earth. The cold penetrates faster and easier through the walls of the tub. In addition, ground frost rises unfiltered through the bottom of the tub. This means that the cold quickly reaches the roots, which can subsequently freeze.

Can several types or types of grass be put in one bucket?

That depends on whether you can keep the necessary planting distance between the grasses and whether the bucket is accordingly large enough.

How can a high grass privacy screen be achieved from the ground?

If you want to create a kind of privacy screen with grass in buckets, you should choose buckets with straight walls that you can place next to each other without gaps. It is best to place broad-growing grasses in the tubs, where the stalks grow into the neighboring grasses - just like a hedge. It is important that you adapt the size of the tubs to the space required by the grass. If the stalks get in each other's way too much, you can cut / correct them as you wish.