Fescue is an ornamental herbaceous plant from the Cereal family. It forms dense spherical sods, similar to bumps with a shock of thin, like hair, leaves of various shades. The plant prefers cool regions, therefore it is widespread in temperate and colder climates, as well as on mountainous hills. Fescue is resistant to drought, grows on poor and salty soils and requires a minimum of attention. Some varieties are actively used in landscape design. The plant also serves as a forage crop, which is sown by whole pastures.
Plant description
Fescue is a herbaceous perennial with compact or creeping roots. The height of most ornamental varieties is 10-20 cm, but in nature you can find varieties with upright thin stems 1.2-2 m long. The plant grows vegetative side shoots, leafy and bare peduncles.
In the nodes of the shoot, as well as at its base, linear vaginal leaves grow with a rough or hairy surface. The width of the sheet does not exceed 1.5 cm. The sheet plate is folded in half along the vertical axis, which makes it even narrower. Such a bend helps the plant retain precious moisture during the dry period. On the surface of the sheet, parallel veins are distinguishable. The end of the leaf resembles an awl-shaped outgrowth.
In June, the fescue begins to bloom, throwing out spreading panicle inflorescences consisting of several shorter spikelets on a thin peduncle. The length of a single spike is 0.5-1.5 cm. The bare flower stalks themselves grow twice as long as the leaves and rise above the turf. Loose panicles give the plant airiness. They are painted in light yellowish-green tones and easily sway from the slightest blow of the wind. Keeled scales of unequal size grow on spikelets. Under them are 3 stamens and an obovate ovary, on which 2 stigmas are visible.
As a result of pollination, small (2-5 mm in length) oblong grains ripen. From the back there is a tubercle on them, and in front there is a deep gutter.
Decorative varieties
In total, more than 660 species of plants are registered in the genus of fescue, but no more than twenty are used in landscape design.
Fescue meadow. A herbaceous perennial grows both straight and lodging stems. The height of the turf is 50-100 cm. Numerous linear foliage grows up to 30 cm long. It is painted in bright green or light green color. In June, panicles 15-17 cm long open. They consist of elongated spikelets on flexible peduncles. The species is resistant to frost, but is sensitive to drought.
Red fescue. Sod consists of bare stems 6-8 cm long and dense lateral processes of a reddish hue. The processes are densely covered with narrow foliage 30-40 cm long. Leaflets are folded along the central vein. They have a ribbed surface and are painted in a red-green hue. During flowering, loose panicles about 12 cm long appear. The variety is resistant to frost and prefers flooded or well-moistened soils.
Gray fescue. The magnificent spherical turf most closely resembles a 50-60 cm high mound. A lot of narrow-linear foliage of silver-green or gray-blue color grows on it. Thick gray-green panicles after wilting acquire a straw hue. The plant loves heat and does not tolerate frost. Varieties:
- blue hump - a lush turf with many narrow greenish-blue leaves;
- lapis lazuli - is distinguished by beautiful blue-silver leaves;
- glacial tit - turf 30-40 cm high is covered with narrow blue-gray leaves.
Fescue sheep. The plant forms dense spherical pillows 20-30 cm high, consisting of narrow foliage and thin long stems. The shoots are bright green. On it, in early summer, oblong, loose panicles with drooping spikelets bloom. The species is drought tolerant and grows well on poor soils.
Reed fescue. Herbaceous vegetation is resistant to saline soils. It has a short rhizome and dense stems up to 1.5 m in height. Hard, narrow leaves grow near the ground. In June-July, bare peduncles appear with long (up to 20 cm) drooping panicles.
Gautier fescue. The compact evergreen plant forms bushes up to 10 cm high and 60 cm in diameter. It consists of filiform dark green leaves. At the end of June, gray-green panicles 5-7 cm long bloom over the thickets.
Breeding methods
Fescue propagates by seed and division of the bush. Seed propagation often occurs by self-seeding. If the grass is not cut in a timely manner, then mature seeds spill out of the ears on the ground on their own. In the spring young shoots appear. After a month, they can be transplanted to a permanent place. If this cereal is not yet found on the site, then purchased seeds are sown at the end of February in containers for growing seedlings. Before planting, the seed material is soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Crops are done densely to get a dense pillow. To do this, in holes with a distance of 10-20 cm, to a depth of 5 cm, 5-7 seeds are placed at once. After 1.5-2 weeks, the first shoots will appear. They develop very quickly and soon a dense turf is formed, ready for transplantation into open ground. To prevent the stems from stretching too much, it is important to keep the seedlings in a cool and well-lit place.
You can divide into parts a well-overgrown bush 2-3 years old. The procedure is carried out in April or September. The sod is completely dug up and divided into several small parts, trying not to damage the roots. Plants are immediately planted in updated soil with the addition of compost or humus. Such delenki need time to grow again. You can speed up the process if in the winter a large bush is transplanted into a flowerpot and brought into a cool and well-lit room. They make sure that there is no dampness in the place of wintering. In March, the mother plant is divided into parts and planted in containers with prepared soil.
Landing and care
They plan to plant fescue in the open ground in mid-May, when the danger of frost is over and the weather is stable and stable. Although adult plants are resistant to cold, young seedlings can be affected. To do this, plants need to choose well-lit areas with light, drained soil. Too fertile land is undesirable, as is the close occurrence of groundwater. The acidity of the soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline.
Before planting, the earth is well dug up and put out slaked lime and sand. The bushes develop well and grow rapidly in size, so each piece of fescue should be divided and transplanted every 2-3 years. Without this, the condition of the leaves and bushes as a whole significantly deteriorates.
The plant is drought tolerant, so it is necessary to water it only with prolonged drought and intense heat. It is better not to add water than to waterlog the soil. Even a slight stagnation of water leads to decay of the roots and the death of part of the vegetation.
Fescue is rarely fed. Even on very poor soils, 1-2 fertilizers per season are sufficient. Use a half dose of the mineral composition for deciduous plants.
To keep the bush attractive, it must be trimmed. The first pruning is carried out in early spring, after the snow melts. It is necessary to remove dry shoots and leaves, as well as to clean the turf with a rake. After the inflorescences have dried, if there is no need to prepare seeds, they are cut.
Most garden species of fescue are resistant to frost and even retain green foliage even under snow. In anticipation of a harsh and snowless winter, the bumps are covered with fallen leaves and dry straw. Young individuals tolerate cold better than old ones.
Fescue is extremely unpretentious and resistant to diseases and parasites. She does not suffer from parasite attacks and most diseases, with the exception of fungal infections. They develop on the roots and leaves of plants that live in moist and flooded places.
Use in landscape design
A lush mop of narrow leaves of blue, green, gray or lime shade looks good on the lawn, among the stony masonry, near the curb or along the perimeter of the flower garden. The roots of fescue effectively strengthen the soil and prevent landslides. On the slopes, you can create an unusual panel of bushes of various colors.
Bells, cuffs, hosts, tradescantia, Veronica, Miscanthus, and Lungwort can make up a fescue company. Also, plants can be used as a regular lawn, planting not in groups, but more evenly.
