With its striped leafage and feathery , copper - colored seed head , zebra Gunter Grass ( Miscanthus sinensis " Zebrinus " ) adds yr - beat beaut to one thousand in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 4 through 9 .

With its stripy leafage and feathery , cop - colored seed heads , zebra grass(Miscanthus sinensis " Zebrinus " ) adds year - one shot beauty to yards in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 . It is a comparatively downhearted - upkeep plant life that will withstand drouth , heat and wet soil once established in a sunny or partly shaded bed . Zebra sess will look safe and live a longer , healthier biography if you give it right care .

Seasonal Watering

Although drought - tolerant , zebra grass performs best when grown in dampish soil . supply 1 in of piss weekly during the growing season in mood with long , hot summertime . In mild climates , provide water only during periods of prolonged heat or drouth . Do n’t water in wintertime because it can lead to source rot and other bacterial . Container - mature zebra pasturage expect more frequent watering due to its circumscribed soil capacitance . water system container - raise zebra supergrass daily if temperature uprise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit , add together piss until it flows freely from the flowerpot . Otherwise , weewee whenever the land feels ironic below the airfoil . Plant zebra grass only in containers that have drainage holes .

Fertilizer Needs

Zebra grass seldom need supplementary fertilizer and will flourish in nutrient - poor soil for eld . Excess nutrients make weak , spindly ontogeny that may need staking , so fertilizer should not be on a regular basis sum up to the dirt . One elision is if the plant life shows sign of poor growth or nutrient deficiencies such as sparse or yellowed foliage . If you remark symptoms , fertilize the zebra grass in early natural spring with granular , 10 - 10 - 10 proportion fertilizer . Sprinkle 1/4 cup of fertilizer onto wet territory around the stand of each plant , or feed larger plantings at a rate of 1/2 Sudanese pound per 100 square feet .

Pruning Tips

Zebra grass reaches a ripe summit of 5 to 8 feet with an upright , 4- to 6 - foot spread . Its tidy growth habit and attain leaf needs no pruning during the active growing season , but it should be sheared back once a year to make elbow room for fresh , fresh maturation . In tardy winter or early spring , cut back the entire plant to between 4 to 6 inches grandiloquent . Soak your shears in full - long suit household antimicrobial for roughly five minutes , gargle them in hot water and blot them ironical before use . Disinfecting pruning pecker helps cut the scatter of pathogen .

Occasional Rejuvenation

Even hefty , well cared - for zebra green goddess will finally decline with age . The oldest part of the plant often dies out , creating a bald spot in the substance of the clump . Dividing zebra grass every three to four years will keep it looking goodish and attractive . fall division works better in mild mood , while spring partitioning is honest in colder climates with prolonged frost or snow . grok up the entire plant life and cut off it into section , each with a share of roots and leafage . Discard the old , dead center and transpose the sections 3 to 4 metrical unit apart .

Potential Problems

Serious insect and disease issues seldom afflict established zebra grass , but it ’s not without its faults . Its grandiloquent , canelike leaf sometimes fall over , specially when overfed , shaded or covered with Charles Percy Snow . Staking may be necessary if the trouble does n’t slump itself after big pruning . Another trouble with zebra grass is its astute , razorlike foliage , which can make cuts . bust gloves and long arm when working with zebra grass and set it aside from walkway and other areas where masses might brush past it . In warmer climates , zebra grass may escape cultivation and become invasive . Growing it in a container or installing root barriers to stop its spread will help quash its belligerent tendencies and keep it compact and kempt .

References

Ornamental Grasses in the Neighborhood