We actually know the beach rye from walks in the dunes. It is easy to care for and also cuts a fine figure in the garden.
The lyme rye (Leymus arenarius) is a sweet grass that you can discover during walks on the beach in the dunes. There the beach rye forms stately bushes up to one meter high. The leaves are grey-blue in colour. In a dry and rather sparse substrate, the coloring comes out clearly. The interesting coloring makes the beach rye a popular garden plant. The sweet grass can also be used to advantage in the planter.
Origin of beach rye
The original home of lyme rye is the coastal areas in north-west and west Europe. The plants were planted in many other regions. In Germany, beach rye is found on the beaches of the B altic and North Seas. Inland, too, the sweet grass was able to spread quite widely through artificial cultivation.
The natural distribution area is on the dunes, the fore-dunes or at the foot of bluffs. Strand rye is also common on the dykes and in the villages of the Geest Islands.
The plant usually grows on loose sand and helps to stabilize the dunes. In contrast to various other dune plants, sea rye tolerates s alt well.
| Sea rye (Leymus arenarius) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | upright culms, stoloniferous |
| Growth: | 200 - 300 cm |
| Growth: | 100 - 130 cm |
| Blossom: | July - August |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | dry, well drained, low humus and nutrient requirement |
Planting and caring for beach rye
» suitable location
The beach rye prefers a sunny location. The plant spreads strongly over its foothills. When planting in your garden at home, make sure that no more than one plant is planted per square meter.
Tip: To limit the spread of the plant, install a root barrier.Planting in troughs and tubs is an advantage.
The beach rye requires little maintenance. Long periods of drought are usually tolerated without any problems.
» ideal substrate
The plant makes no demands on the soil. Strand rye will thrive on any substrate. If the soil is loamy and heavy or constantly damp, the leaves will discolour. These then take on a yellow or red color.
Tip: Strand rye thrives best on dry, sandy soil.
» Planting instructions step by step
1. Select location
2. Remove weeds, stones and old roots from substrate
3. Observe planting distance
4. Dig planting hole
5. Water plant
6. Install root barrier
7. Insert plant
8. Fill up substrate
9. Press soil well
10. Water plant
When planting individually, there should be a planting distance of at least 70 centimeters. If you don't want to lose the neighboring plants, you should consider a root barrier.
If the beach rye is cultivated in a tub, a sufficiently large planter must be selected. Make sure there are enough drainage holes in the bottom so that the liquid can drain off and no waterlogging occurs.
» water properly
Watering should not be completely neglected. The plant needs regular watering, especially in a sunny location. Before watering again, allow the soil to dry out.
» fertilize properly
In the first year, the beach rye should be supplied with a long-term fertilizer. Commercial perennial fertilizer is suitable for this. Both organic and mineral preparations can be used.
Tip: Further fertilizer applications are recommended at intervals of two to three years.
An overview of the most important planting and care tips
| Measure | What to do? |
|---|---|
| Select Location | sunny to semi-shady bright |
| Prepare substrate | dry loose |
| Casting | Water moderately The soil can dry out in the meantime |
| Fertilize | Slow-release fertilizer in the year of planting Repeat fertilizing every two to three years |
Cutting the beach rye
The beach rye is evergreen and therefore a pretty ornament in the winter garden. Therefore, the pruning does not take place in autumn, but only in the coming spring. If the foliage is not removed, servesthis protects the plant from severe frosts.
New shoots begin in April. The old leaves are overgrown and can be used to form humus.
Propagating the beach rye
Beach rye can be propagated by division, but this is not recommended. Pretty perennials develop over the years. The growth would be severely decimated by the division. Sea rye does not have to be transplanted either and can be cultivated in the same location for several decades.
An alternative is the more complex and lengthy propagation by seeds.
Diseases and pests on seaweed
The beach rye is hardly attacked by diseases or pests. Cultivation in wet and heavy soil weakens the plant and makes it vulnerable to damage.
The smut fungus Ustilago hypodytes should be mentioned here. An infestation can be recognized by the fact that ears of corn are no longer formed, but instead black fungal spores are spreading. Infested parts of the plant must be removed. Radical pruning is often necessary.
Overwinter seaweed
The plant is adapted to our climate and survives the winter outside unscathed. When cultivating in tubs, care should be taken to ensure winter protection. The potted plants should overwinter in a frost-free room. If this is not possible, the plant pot should be covered with garden fleece and placed on a base made of polystyrene or wood in a sheltered outdoor location.