Reed, often called reed, grows quickly and densely and is often grown as a privacy screen in the garden or on the edge of a pond. But reeds also have their disadvantages. Find out below the advantages and disadvantages of reeds in the garden and what you should pay attention to when planting and caring for them.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of reeds in the garden?
Reeds in the garden offer advantages such as robustness, ease of care, fast growth and dense privacy protection. Disadvantages include high water requirements, heavy growth, difficulty in removal and crowding out other plants.
The advantages and disadvantages of reeds in the garden
| The advantages | The disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Reeds are robust | Depending on the type, the reeds need a lot of water |
| Reed is easy to care for | Reeds grow extremely heavily |
| Reeds grow very quickly | Reeds are very difficult to remove |
| Reeds grow very densely and are therefore suitable as privacy screens and hedges | Reeds crowd out other plants |
| Reeds are hardy |
Which type of reed is right for my garden?
Which type of reed you choose depends primarily on two circumstances:
- How high should the reeds grow?
- What is the location like?
If the reeds are intended to serve as a privacy screen, giant Chinese reeds are ideal; for lower hedges, you should use dwarf reeds. If the location is swampy, you can use cattails, for example, which are wonderful for the pond planting is suitable. Miscanthus is more suitable for a drier location in the garden. You can find a comprehensive overview of the reed species and their special features and growth heights here.
What should you consider when planting?
As already mentioned, reeds are extremely proliferative. It is therefore highly recommended to install a root barrier when planting. Otherwise it will be difficult to keep the reeds under control. Most species prefer moist, light locations. However, some, like Miscanthus, do not need their feet constantly wet.
How much does the maintenance cost?
Reeds are easy to care for and only need some attention shortly after planting. Care should be taken to ensure that the soil is always kept moist and an adequate supply of nutrients, for example through the addition of fertilizer or compost, should be ensured. Once the reeds are established, all you need to do is make sure they are watered adequately. It also makes sense to fertilize with compost once a year. You can find detailed information about caring for reeds in our care guide.
Pruning is advisable at least once a year, especially for tall-growing species, in order to keep growth in check and give the reeds a nice shape.