The pruning is very important with this plant
While some plants in the garden can certainly cut a good figure without caring and shaping pruning, the annual pruning for zebra grass is essential. After all, the above-ground parts of this winter-hardy plant die off over the winter and then no longer look aesthetically pleasing in spring. Old, dried-up stalks also interfere with the new shoots of the zebra grass by shielding the sunlight from the new shoots. Apart from that, the pruning of this plant does not have a particularly stimulating effect in contrast to some shrubs the growth, since the parts of the plant to be removed are already dried, dead stems and leaves acts.
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- Is zebra grass poisonous?
- Is zebra grass hardy?
Do not cut the zebra grass too early
Quite a few hobby gardeners make the mistake of cutting the zebra grass close to the ground in late autumn or at the beginning of winter in order to tidy up the garden before winter. But this is fatal because the dry leaves above the root ball:
- Keeps out excess moisture
- offers some protection from the winter cold
- provides a winter habitat or nesting material for many animals (especially insects)
The zebra grass should therefore not be sharp until spring just above the ground Secateurs be cut off. The best time to do this is when the first green new shoots appear on the plant base.
The late and somewhat more laborious pruning of the zebra grass
The zebra grass should not be cut too early, but you should not miss the ideal time for pruning either. If the new, green shoots have already grown up and into the dead material from the previous year, it may be necessary to laboriously cut out the dead stalks one by one so as not to prevent new shoots hurt.
Getting the zebra grass through the winter well
For aesthetic and practical reasons, the dry stalks of zebra grass should be tied together with a piece of string in clumps in autumn. In this way, they are not pushed apart by the snow and look much more decorative. While specimens in the garden bed usually get through the winter without further protection, potted specimens should on the balcony sometimes be protected from the worst winter cold with some bubble wrap or other protective materials.
Tips
In the case of zebra grass, the growth in size levels off by itself after a few years at the same location at a maximum height of around 1.60 meters. For the lateral limitation of the spread of these vigorous Reed species always comes with the attachment of a Rhizome barrier in the ground into consideration. Otherwise, however, it is also possible in spring to easily remove lateral outgrowths of the zebra grass eyrie with a sharp one spade cut off and replant in another place. In this way, entire hedges or Plant privacy screens made of zebra grass.
