![]() ![]() Choose a formula with a 10-10-10 balanced N-P-K ratio. If a soil test shows that your soil is deficient in nitrogen, you can apply a slow-release, general-purpose fertilizer in the spring. Fertilizing Bluestem Grassīluestem grasses grow well in poor soils and do not need to be fertilized. This is usually once or twice a week in the summer. Grasses grown in pots dry out more frequently than those in the ground and should be watered when the soil feels dry to the touch. Even established plants should be watered weekly during hot, dry spells to keep these grasses looking fresh. During the first two growing seasons, water this grass regularly to establish a strong root system. Once established, it will only need occasional supplemental water in the summer. It tends to go dormant without moisture, so the best appearance is preserved with weekly watering, especially those plants in containers.įountain grass is considered drought tolerant. The plant needs supplemental water in early establishment stages, but thereafter is quite self-sufficient except in severe drought. Water new plants regularly over the summer to establish drought tolerance. ![]() Add a layer of organic compost around the root zone to conserve moisture. Backfill the hole with native soil and water thoroughly to fill in any air gaps around the roots. ![]() Set the crowns slightly above the soil surface to prevent crown rot. Find a sunny location with well-draining soil, and dig a hole just wide enough for the root ball. They do not tolerate standing water or very alkaline soils. They adapt to various soil conditions, including dry, poor, clay, gritty, sandy, and average soils. These grasses create beautiful waves of color and movement when planted in drifts for a meadow or prairie garden.īluestem grasses perform best in full sun, with at least 6 – 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, although big bluestem can tolerate partial shade. Various cultivars with outstanding color and hardiness qualities are now commonly available in garden centers. These are warm-season grasses that do most of their growing during the warm summer months and go dormant in late fall to winter. They form arching, upright clumps that flower in the summer. Otherwise, the two species have very similar cultural requirements and are easy to grow.īluestem grasses are native prairie grasses that are often used for erosion control and restoration plantings. Big bluestem varieties can reach 8 feet high and spread by rhizomes. As the name implies, little bluestem is much smaller than big bluestem and only reaches between 1 and 3 feet high. It is protected by patent number PP26283.In the nursery trade, bluestem grasses consist mostly of little bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium ) and big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardii ). This cultivar was discovered as a seedling of Andropogon gerardii 'Indian Warrior' and introduced by Intrensic Perennial Gardens, Inc. Leaves emerge deep green with red highlights in spring, remain green through much of the summer, change to purplish-red to purple by late summer and finally turn a vivid scarlet red after first fall frost. An excellent garden performer with a clumping form and upright habit. ![]() 'Red October' is primarily distinguished from the species by its slightly shorter height, deeper green summer foliage and brilliant scarlet red fall color. Specific epithet honors Louis Gerard (1733-1819), French physician and botanist. Genus name comes from the Greek words aner or andros meaning man and pogon meaning beard in reference to the hairs on the spikelets of some species in the genus. Flowering stems bring total height of this grass to 4-8' tall (typically at the taller end in moist soils and the shorter end in dry soils). Flowering stems rise in late summer above the foliage clump bearing purplish 3-parted, finger-like flower clusters (to 4" long) purportedly resembling turkey feet (hence the additional common name of turkeyfoot grass for this species). It features an upright clump of stems with flattened leaves (to 2' long and 3/8" wide) which emerge gray to blue green in spring, mature to green with red tinges in summer and turn reddish bronze with lavender tones in autumn after frost. It may be grown as an ornamental grass because of its attractive foliage which changes color seasonally, its good architectural height and its interesting flower/seed heads. Andropogon gerardii, commonly called big bluestem grass, is a tall, Missouri native, perennial, warm season grass that was the dominant grass of the tallgrass prairie which once covered large parts of the Midwest. ![]()
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