Whether on the wall in the pot or in the front of the balcony box in the middle of a sea of flowers - ornamental grasses make balconies appear natural, lively, elegant and at the same time wild. Which species are suitable and how do you care for them?
Which ornamental grasses are suitable for the balcony and how do you care for them?
Ornamental grasses such as dwarf bamboo, feather bristle grass, rush, Japanese forest grass, fescue and sedges are suitable for the balcony. They need regular watering, sparing fertilization and protection from the cold in winter. Summer green species should be cut back in spring.
Which types of ornamental grass are suitable for the balcony?
There are lots of ornamental grasses that you can plant on your balcony. You should only not plant such sprawling specimens as the giant sedge, pampas grass and elephant grass on your balcony. However, these types are well suited:
- Dwarf Bamboo
- Feather bristle grass
- Brush
- Japan forest grass
- Fescue
- Sedges
Watering – the top priority
An ornamental grass on the balcony needs to be watered regularly. Some species tolerate short-term drought. But many depend on consistent and persistent moisture, such as miscanthus. It is ideal if you can use lime-free or stale irrigation water.
Fertilization – secondary but still important
If you repot your ornamental grass in a new container with fresh soil every year, you don't need to fertilize it. But if you don't do this, you should fertilize your ornamental grass sparingly every 4 weeks between April and August. Conventional liquid fertilizers are suitable for this, but they should only be used in half doses.
Cut down summer green ornamental grasses in spring
For deciduous species, you can leave the old plant parts standing over the winter or cut them down. If you place the plant on the wall of the house, you can cut it down in the fall. If it stays in the balcony box and is exposed to the weather relentlessly, it should keep its plant parts until spring.
After cutting back in spring, the ornamental grass can be repotted. The new pot should be twice the size of the root ball. It is recommended to spread expanded clay around the bottom of the pot. This ensures good drainage.
Wintering: Important to prevent frostbite
Ornamental grasses in pots on the balcony should be protected in winter. Cover the pot with fleece, foil or jute! Then place the pot on a surface made of wood or Styrofoam. A wintering location on the wall of the house is ideal.
Tip
Ornamental grasses are best planted on the balcony or terrace in late summer. Late summer is the best planting time for them.
