Trembling grass is a very easy-care ornamental grass that makes little demands on location and soil. You only have to pay attention to a few things when it comes to maintenance.
Ornamental grasses (briza) are not only a pretty sight in flower beds, the decorative quivering grass is also popular in pots. A light breeze is enough to set the thin stalks in gentle vibrations and a feeling of vastness and originality arises.
Perhaps you are reminded of the steppes and prairies, or perhaps you simply enjoy the delicate and decorative appearance of the quaking grass. Everything you should know about caring for one of the most beautiful ornamental grasses for the garden and patio is explained below. But first of all we would like to introduce you to two beautiful trembling grass species.
Some Quaking Grass Species Introduced
Quilting grasses belong to the sweet grasses. The genus Briza includes about 30 different species whose distribution area extends to Europe, Asia and America. In Germany, only Briza media occurs. The species Briza maxima from the Mediterranean region is widespread as an ornamental grass.
❍ Briza maxima - the trembling grass:
These are annual plants that grow about half a meter high. The flat, yellow-green leaves reach a width of about five millimeters. The ears stand alone on the sparsely branched panicles. Up to twenty flowers can appear on the heart-shaped spikes. The flowering period falls between April and June. In the Mediterranean area, the quaking grass is often found and also grows along roadsides. Stocks can now also be found in England. The trembling grass is not native to Germany.
❍ Briza media - the medium quaking grass:
The middle trembling grass is also called common trembling grass and is the only type of ornamental grass that can be found in nature in Germany. The plant occurs in the Bavarian Alps at altitudes of up to 1,800 meters. The perennial plant has heart-shaped spikes and the smooth, thin stalks can grow up to a meter high. The plant can be found on meagerpastures and meadows. On the other hand, the plants do not thrive on fertilized culture soil.
How to properly care for the trembling grass
Selection of location & soil conditions:
The quaking grass belongs to the sweet grasses and is not a friend of wetness and humidity. Poor and dry soils get the ornamental grass best. It may seem contradictory at first that many hobby gardeners beautify their water's edge with quivering grass. However, if the quaking grass is not planted directly in the wet riparian zone, but in dry peripheral areas, this does not pose a problem.
The plants need a sunny position. However, they also thrive in partial shade. Quaking grass can generally be planted in beds and tubs.
Water the trembling grass:
Quick grass does not need to be watered regularly outdoors. As a rule, the rainwater is perfectly sufficient to provide the plant with moisture. If, on the other hand, there is prolonged drought, you should check the soil and water it if necessary, because the substrate should not dry out completely.
Potted plants, on the other hand, need regular watering. You must not neglect watering in a sunny location, because the nutrient supply in a small planter is far lower than outdoors.
Tip:
In general, the water requirement of the plant can be classified as moderate. Watering should therefore be sporadic and not excessive.
Fertilize quaking grass:
Quilting grasses do best in poor soil. An excessive supply of nutrients would impair growth and cause the stalks to buckle. Less is clearly more here. You should refrain from regular fertilization, since trembling grasses do not tolerate conventional fertilizers. You can enrich particularly poor soil with compost.
Cutting Shivering Grass:
While the trembling grass as an annual plant does not require pruning, annual pruning is recommended for the perennial trembling grass. The best time for this is a frost-free day in spring. Shivering grass should not be cut in the fall. The culms form a natural winter protection and should therefore be left on the plant.
Withered inflorescences can be removed at any time. On the other hand, you must never cut fresh shoots.
Hiking trembling grass:
The quaking grass is hardy and does not need any frost protection outdoors. But that doesn't mean that you have to completely treat the plant to yourself during the cold seasonshould leave. You should check the soil from time to time, because it must not dry out. Also leave the stalks on the plant over the winter, as this makes for a pretty ornament in the wintry garden.
Container plants should overwinter in a sheltered spot. A covering of leaves or brushwood protects the roots from frost and keeps the soil from drying out.
Recognize diseases and pests on quivering grass
Diseases and pests hardly ever occur in trembling grass. If you follow the care instructions, the ornamental grass will prove to be he althy and lush. Problems can only arise if you do not pay attention to the site conditions of the trembling grass and the soil has too much moisture. Because the roots can quickly start to rot in a wet substrate.
An important criterion for he althy plants is the planting distance. There should not be more than six plants per square meter. If the plants are too close together, they will hinder each other, prevent each other from growing and mold can develop.
Use quaking grass as a dry plant
The stalks of the trembling grass are very good in dried bouquets. You can harvest the plant stands for this in early summer. On harvest day, the stalks should be dry and there should be no rain. Then hold the straws together in bundles with a rubber band. The grasses are then hung upside down to dry. This can be done in a dry, but not too bright place, for example in the attic.