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5 fundamental tips to care Zebra (Ornamental) grass in lawn and garden in USA

If you are willing to add some extra beauty to your garden with some big ground covers or shrubs then ornamental grass is one of the best options to consider. Zebra grass is also known as Miscanthus sinensis “zebrinus” is one of the best ornamental grass which can enhance your garden's appearance, control soil erosion in your garden, and add some privacy to your space. It belongs to the poaceae family and is native to Asia. 

There are many varieties of miscanthus sinensis like flamingo, strictus, etc. It is a perennial grass so it gets greener by itself during the next spring after dormancy.

Zebra grass care in lawn and garden

Like most perennial grasses zebra grass requires low maintenance and care and it is easy to take care of it by following simple steps and guides.

Zebra grass care in USA
Here we are going to discuss some of the methods and tips to keep your zebra grass healthy and good in appearance.

Identification of zebra grass

  • Leaves- There are margin yellow stripes on zebra grass blades and inflorescence appears during fall at top of leaves.
  • Flowers- Silver white plumes
  • Color- Green which turns gold in fall when it is about to get dormant
  • Height - 5-6 feet high and 3-4 feet wide
  • Shape- It turns into a fountain shape when it reaches full growth and clumps together in large hedges
  • Nature- It is somewhat invasive in nature cause of rhizomes(a horizontal underground stem that puts out lateral roots)

Season of growing zebra grass

Zebra plants can be grown directly from seeds or transplanted from another zebra plant during spring or fall. In warm regions, it is ok to plant them during spring or fall but in cold regions, it is better to plant them during spring. It blooms during late summer and then starts to become dormant during late fall.

Although it is hardy enough to survive during winter because of its perennial nature. New leaves will emerge from roots during next spring.

Growing conditions of Zebra grass

These are some aspects of growing zebra grass to have a healthy plant-

  • Soil type

It requires a good drain soil most preferably clay, loom, etc but it is versatile to grow in other soil as well. The PH of the soil should be near neutral.

  • Climate conditions

It grows well in temperatures between 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 92 degrees Fahrenheit and thrives well in the USDA hardiness zone 4-9.

  • Sunlight and shade

The plant loves full sun or partial sun. In low sunlight leaves become floppy.

  • Fertilization

It is better to fertilize zebra grass during spring. You could use a layer of compost or 10-10-10 fertilizer 1.5 pounds per square foot or organic compost for better results.

Tips to take care of Zebra grass

Following are some tips and steps to care for zebra plants-

1. Pests and plant diseases

Zebra grass is mostly pest resistant and its roots remain unaffected by pest damage. There is some minor damage in leaves by some pests like ants, ticks, fleas, etc which is not much visible and can be controlled easily by homemade bug spray.

It can get affected by plant diseases like fungus, and powdery mildew. To prevent these diseases you need to fertilize them properly and give them enough exposure to sunlight. 

2. Irrigation

Zebra grass is a drought-resistant grass so it can thrive even if you forget to water it sometimes. The new plant requires more often watering than a full-grown plant. You could set up your regular garden sprinkler irrigation or drip Irrigation system to water it. Overwatering should be avoided for optimal and disease-free growth.

3. Care during winter

Zebra plants can tolerate cold weather well and go dormant during winter. So it doesn’t require much care during winter in warm climates. In cold climates, you could plant it in a sheltered place or winterize the garden properly to minimize frost damage.

4. Pruning or trimming

You need to prune Zebra grass once a year to remove old foliage which can’t turn green again. The best time to prune the plant in late winter or early spring. Keeping the old stalks during winter helps the plant to overwinter and minimize damage from frost. 

To prune it first you need to tie up the foliage with help of a bungee cord or a rope so you can pick it up easily after pruning. Use pruning shears or hedge trimmers( if you have a lot of grasses) to cut the grass up to a height of 4 inches. Then remove the dead stalks or use them for compost.

5. Re-planting, dividing, or propagation

The most probable reasons for the propagation of zebra grass are planting it in a new place, reducing the size of an overgrown plant, or filling the hollow space in the middle of the plant which appears after several years. The best time to propagate the zebra grass is during summer after pruning old foliage. 

To propagate this you need a pointed shovel to dig the roots out of the soil and divide it into different sections to create transplants according to your need. After getting it out of the ground you need to wash the root with water and remove damaged roots in order to make a healthy transplant.

Companion plants of zebra grass

Adding different sorts of flowers or plants can make your garden landscape more beautiful and eye-catching. Here are some plants which you could consider adding empty space around the Zebra plant- Hibiscus “Kopper king”, Tropicana, Orange daylilies, Agastache, phlox, Helmond’s pillar, Barberry, Sedum autumn joy, etc.

Common mistakes while growing Zebra grass

  • The leaves of zebra grass are sharp and can make a cut on bare hands therefore it is necessary to use gloves while pruning or dividing zebra grass.
  • Use a hedge trimmer carefully and cut dead stalks towards the center in such a way that the height of the remaining stalks is more at the center than a corner. This helps the plant to get a fountain shape when it is fully grown.
  • Make sure to prune it once a year to remove old foliage because new leaves will emerge after dormancy.

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