Do the neighbors' curious looks bother you? Or do you just want to lie down on your terrace undisturbed? How about a giant ornamental grass that serves as a privacy screen?
Which ornamental grasses are suitable as privacy screens?
Ornamental grasses such as miscanthus, pampas grass, garden bamboo, giant sedge and post cane are suitable as privacy screens from a height of 150 cm. They should be planted close together and placed in sheltered locations to avoid wind breakage.
Which species are suitable as privacy screens?
Basically it should be said that ornamental grasses cannot serve as a year-round privacy screen. Only in summer are they large enough to act as a natural privacy barrier. With luck, the privacy protection will remain in place until the winter.
So that ornamental grasses keep people away, they should be planted in several specimens at a short distance from one another. Please note the growth width of the respective species. Among others, these ornamental grasses (at least 150 cm high) are suitable as privacy screens:
- miscanthus
- Garden bamboo
- Pampas grass
- Giant sedge
- Pile pipe
Miscanthus and pampas grass – the most popular privacy grasses
The attainable height varies depending on the variety. These varieties of miscanthus, which need nutritious and moist soil, are considered proven and huge:
- ‘Aksel Olsen’: 300 cm
- 'Malepartus': 200 cm
- 'Silver Feather': 220 cm
- ‘Silver Tower’: 300 cm
The pampas grass looks beautiful with its fluffy flowers. But it's only with them that things really get big. Recommended varieties include white pampas grass (250 cm) as well as 'Rosa Feder' (200 cm) and 'Sunningdale Silver' (250 cm).
Choose a protected location
You should always choose a protected location for such tall ornamental grasses. Otherwise, strong gusts of wind could cause their long stalks to break. This makes the ornamental grasses susceptible to diseases and they no longer look beautiful. Species such as the giant sedge are even suitable for shady locations.
The right care
The tall types of ornamental grass should be tied together in a clump before the onset of winter. In spring they are cut down to the ground and fertilized. Sharing is also an important part of care. To ensure that your privacy screen made of ornamental grasses does not develop holes over the years, you should divide the ornamental grasses every 4 years.
Tip
While it is advisable to create a root barrier for bamboo, miscanthus does not need this as it does not spread via its rhizomes.
