Characteristics of the sedge plant, recommendations for planting and care in the garden, breeding rules, methods of pest and disease control, interesting notes, species.
Sedge (Carex) belongs to the genus that combines perennial herbaceous plants that are part of the Cyperaceae family. According to various botanical classification data, there are 1,500-2,000 species in the genus, the growing area of which covers almost all areas of the globe with different climates, but most of the species prefer lands with temperate zones in the northern hemisphere of the planet. If we talk about the former USSR and in particular the Russian region, the number of sedge species growing there ranges from 346 to 400 units.
| Family name | Sedge |
| Growth time | Perennial |
| Vegetation form | Herbaceous |
| Breeding methods | By spores or dividing an overgrown bush |
| Dates of disembarkation in open ground | Disembarkation takes place in the spring (late April-early May) or no later than September |
| Landing rules | Saplings are placed at least 20-35 cm, for large specimens, the distance is increased |
| Priming | Loose, nutritious, moisture permeable |
| Soil acidity values, pH | 5-6 (slightly acidic) or 6, 5-7 (neutral) |
| Lighting degree | East or West location, several hours a day in direct sunlight |
| Humidity parameters | Watering abundantly 2-3 times a week |
| Special care rules | Does not require additional conditions for growing |
| Height values | 0.05-1 m |
| Inflorescence shape | Spicate |
| Color of flowers | Greenish, light brown, purplish black |
| Ripening period of disputes | End of April-June, occasionally starting in July and later |
| Decorative period | Spring-autumn |
| Application in landscape design | Rock gardens and coastal areas of water bodies, decoration of borders, mixborders, formation of group plantings, landing in greenhouses and gardens, for winter bouquets |
| USDA zone | 4–8 |
The genus got its name thanks to the word in the ancient Greek language "keiro", which translates as "cut". This is because the leaf plates are characterized by sharp edges formed by rather small sawtooth teeth. The Latin name also comes from "seco", which has the same translation. In Russian, the term "sedge" is rooted in the Slavic word "misfire", which means to cut off. You can hear the nickname "tyrsa" among the people, since the sedge resembled a fire in its appearance.
All sedge varieties have an elongated or short rhizome. In the genus, species differ from each other not only in their external characteristics, but also in the requirements in the field of ecology and growth. There are those that have ways to grow in the arctic regions and mountainous areas, there are people living in swamps in lowlands, preferring moist soil in meadows, sandstones or peat bogs. Usually sedges are divided into two groups, in accordance with the external structure (morphology):
- Sprawling - are characterized by rhizomes, from which leaf rosettes depart, successfully rooting in the surrounding territories. In this case, there is the possibility of the formation of real green "carpets". In such plants, massive clumps are formed, which also differ in density (dense or loose).
- Tussock-forming - owners of short and dense rhizomes, through which the formation of grassy bumps with a high density, reminiscent of pillows, takes place.
Stems of plants of different species can be very different in height, and these parameters vary in the range of 5–100 cm. Leaves in length do not exceed 30 cm. The width of the leaves is measured in the range of 2–15 mm. At the same time, their color takes on rather diverse shades of green to bluish-gray, while there may be a border along the edge of the leaf plate of various tones. Also in autumn, the arrangement of leaves on the stems varies: some grow upright, others are characterized by an arcuate bend.
When flowering, the plant also has a decorative appearance, but you should not compare it with lilies or roses. From monoecious or dioecious flowers, which can be female, male, or characterized by bisexual, spike-shaped inflorescences are formed. The number of flowers in them is small, the height is also not impressive in some species, others flaunt with splendor and density, adorning tall flowering stems. Spectacular anthers begin to hang from the flowers on thin filaments. The flowering process usually falls in early spring - from late April to June, but in rare cases sedge begins to bloom in late July or a little later. The pollination process takes place through the wind.
After pollination, the formation of a single-seeded fruit begins, which does not open when ripe. It has a solid pericarp. The outlines of the fruit in cross-section are triangular or have a biconvex shape. Fruits can grow sedentary, or crown a leg. It is generally accepted that the fruit of sedges is a nut, which takes the form of a sac. The surface of such a nut is smooth, occasionally casting a gloss. Nuts are spread by ducks, but can be spread by animals or humans by sticking to shoes.
The plant is not capricious in its care, but it will become an adornment of any backyard corner.
Recommendations for growing sedge outdoors
- Landing place this representative of the flora should be chosen in such a way that only a few hours a day the leaves are illuminated by direct sunlight. A western or eastern location is best suited. Depending on the type, planting is possible both in stone gardens and on the banks of an artificial or natural reservoir. However, too much shading is harmful, like any variety of cereals. Since some of the sedge species tend to accumulate silicon in their leaf plates, which serves as protection from being eaten by representatives of the flora in nature, such bushes should not be planted in the composition. Also, do not place them near the tracks, as there is a possibility of being scratched.
- Sedge soil pick up rather loose, nutrient-rich and moisture-permeable. The best choice would be a moist substrate, which is most often found on the banks of large and small bodies of water and even wetlands. This is the main difference between sedges and other cereals, which prefer dry soil. However, only a few species are able to grow in wetlands, such as Coastal sedge (Carex riparia) and leaf-ear (Carex phyllostachys). But for varieties of sedge graceful (Carex delicata) and drooping (Carex flacca) stagnant swampiness is harmful. The best indicators of soil acidity are pH 5–6 (that is, the soil is slightly acidic) and pH 6–7 (neutral). You can mix the substrate yourself from the garden substrate, river sand and peat chips, or you can choose sandstones and peat bogs.
- Sedge planting. Plants are planted in spring (late April or early May) or autumn (until mid-September). The depth of the hole should be such that the rhizome can easily fit there, and there is still room for its growth. When planting, the seedling is set at the same height as before transplanting. The soil in the hole is slightly moistened and 1 cm of river sand or peat can be poured onto the bottom. After the bush is placed in the planting hole, you need to pour the prepared substrate on the sides, squeeze it slightly and water it abundantly. The distance at which sedge seedlings are located should be maintained in accordance with the scope of the future crown and landscape planning. If you want to form a green rug, then the planting of the bushes should be carried out at a distance of no more than 25-30 cm; for taller and adult representatives of the genus, you can leave a greater distance. Since sedge has the ability to grow aggressively, it is recommended that when planting, it is recommended to immediately install restraints made of slate, plastic or other material that will not allow root processes to grow. If this is not done, then the curtain will quickly win back their territory from other representatives of the garden. Some gardeners carry out planting in old buckets without a bottom, digging them into the ground and only then planting tyrsa bushes in such prepared places.
- Watering when caring for sedge, abundant is necessary, while the frequency of soil moistening is 2-3 times a week. It is important to remember that with all the plant's love for moisture, some species will not tolerate stagnation, root decay may begin. After each watering or rain, it is recommended to loosen the soil next to the bushy bushes and weed the weeds. If there is not enough moisture for the plant, then the foliage around the edges begins to turn yellow.
- Fertilizers when growing sedge, it is recommended to apply at a time when the plant is experiencing increased growth. During the rest period, feeding should be minimal. It is recommended to use organic matter, which will promote the growth of deciduous mass.
- General advice on caring for sedge. Since this plant is cold-growing, its vegetative activity is highest when the heat indicators are in the range of 15-23 degrees, then when a stable heat comes, it is worth pruning. All old flowering stems must be removed, and the withered foliage must be "combed out" with a rake. This will stimulate the growth of young leaf plates and free up space for them. If the temperature rises above the indicated one, and the precipitation becomes less (usually in summer), then the sedge passes into the so-called state of dormancy. At the same time, growth slows down very much or stops altogether. During this period, do not disturb the plant with top dressing.
- Sedge harvesting rules. Since the plant has medicinal properties, it is worth knowing some of the features of this process. Since the most valuable substances in Carex are concentrated not in the leaf plates, but in the rhizome, the part that is hidden in the soil is dug out for harvesting. The best period for this is the beginning of spring, while the juices have not yet begun to move, or in November, when all the leaves and stems have completely wilted. Sedge should not be scooped up from the same spot every year, as it can kill the plants. The collection is carried out every two, and preferably three years. All parts of the tyrsa extracted from the ground are carefully freed from soil residues and cut with a sharp knife into long strips (about 10 cm each). Then they are left to dry thoroughly, laid on a clean cloth in one layer in a ventilated dry room. Can be left to dry outdoors under a canopy. If the root section breaks easily, then it has reached the desired condition. After that, the roots are folded into paper bags. Do not rush to pack it, because if sedge roots are underdried, they will quickly become moldy and disappear. If the roots were dried according to the rules, then they can be stored for three years. Leaf blades are valued in the species Parvian sedge (Carex brevicollis). When the end of spring or the beginning of summer comes, then everything is cut off with a well-sharpened knife (they can split from a blunt tool). Drying is carried out in the open air, but it is recommended to turn the material over frequently to avoid rotting and deterioration. After the leaves are dry, they are baled and stored like this for a year.
- The use of sedge in landscape design. If the species is cultivated, then it is possible to use it both in gardens and greenhouses, and in the coastal areas of reservoirs, you can fill the voids between stones in rock gardens, form group plantings and plant borders and mixborders. Since the leaves of some sedge species are characterized by beautiful colors and graceful outlines, as well as spectacular flowers and then fruits appear during flowering, such parts can be used to form dry winter compositions. Of course, it makes no sense to compare this representative of cereals with flowering garden plants, but it can successfully serve as a background for them, emphasizing the grace and brightness of flowers. Such neighbors for sedges can be hosts and cuffs, ferns and stonecrop, geraniums and loosestrife. Sedge bushes are also capable of hiding the lack of deciduous mass of croplands, which are distinguished by beautiful flowering.
Sedge breeding rules
To get such a colorful representative of cereals in your garden, they use seed or vegetative methods (they divide the rhizome).
Sedge propagation by dividing the bush
If the variety is characterized by a long rhizome, then after the formation of several root shoots occurs, you can engage in planting at any time of the year (except of course in late autumn and winter). For species that form hummocks, the best time will be both transplantation and reproduction in the spring. The bush is removed from the soil, cleaned of soil (it can simply be washed off), then the rhizome is examined to exclude the presence of rot and sores. Then, using a knife, the rhizome is cut into several parts, while the lateral processes can be removed or simply torn off.
All cuts are sprinkled with crushed charcoal. The strips should not be too small, otherwise it may complicate engraftment. Immediately, the divisions are planted in a new place so that the roots do not dry out. To adapt to such plants, it is recommended that the first time provide coolness and shade.
In the first growing season, sedge cuttings will not show rapid development, since they need time to adapt, but with the arrival of a new spring, the bushes will return to normal and begin to actively develop.
Sedge propagation by seeds
Usually, sowing is carried out directly in a place where the bushes will grow constantly, but you can grow seedlings separately, like seedlings. After warming occurs in spring, the seed is placed on the selected bed. However, this does not apply to the species Carex siderosticta; sowing of its seeds is carried out in the fall, so to speak, before winter. This is necessary so that the seed material spends several months at a low temperature, and when the soil warms up thoroughly in spring, you can see young shoots.
In any case, small grooves are formed at the selected place, but their depth directly depends on the size of the seeds. Usually they are allocated no more than 3 cm. River sand or peat chips should be placed in slightly moistened grooves so that the layer thickness is no more than 0.7-1 cm. Then seeds are placed there and sprinkled with soil mixture. After that, the substrate is compacted and watered.
Important
Most sedge species reproduce by splitting the bush, as loss of parental traits of the resulting plant may occur.
When growing sedge seedlings, at the end of winter or in the first week of March, fill the seedling box with a soil mixture of leaf and sod soil, add peat and fine river sand there. The shares of the constituents are taken equal in this case. To make the soil loose and "breathe" a little crushed charcoal is mixed into it. Before planting the achenes, sedges are prepared - for 12 hours they are placed in boiled water, if the variety is marsh, then the exposure time is doubled. It is recommended to change the water every couple of hours.
The seeds are laid out in the grooves and sprinkled with a layer of soil mixture 0.5–0.7 cm thick. The container with the crops is wrapped in a plastic bag or a piece of glass is placed on top. For germination, you will need to provide bottom heating. For this, the seedling pot is placed on a battery so that it is constantly at 22 degrees Celsius. When caring for crops, it is necessary to constantly maintain the soil in a moist state - spraying is carried out using a finely dispersed spray gun. Airing for 15-20 minutes is required daily.
After 1–2 months, sedge sprouts can be seen from the ground, then the shelter is removed. The box is moved to a windowsill with good lighting, but the temperature does not drop. When the seedlings grow up, a pick is carried out in individual pots. The same primer is used. Then, by the end of April or the beginning of May, the seedlings will be ready for transplanting, since they are already strong enough.
Read more about marsh breeding
Pest and disease control methods for sedge cultivation
Often, such cereal plants are affected by gray mold and powdery mildew (also called linen or ash). Both of these diseases are of fungal origin, they are provoked by high humidity coupled with cold temperatures, but their symptoms are different:
- Gray rot characterized by a grayish bloom, which is somewhat reminiscent of fluffy dust, then light gray mold appears on the foliage, after the leaf tissue softens and dies off.
- Powdery mildew contributes to the covering of the foliage with a whitish bloom, reminiscent of a solution of lime, over time, the leaves turn yellow and deteriorate.
To fight these diseases, all parts that have been affected must be removed, and then the sedge bush must be sprayed with fungicidal preparations, for example, Topaz, Sulfaride or Fungicide. To prevent these diseases, the plantings of this cereal are also treated with Ferazim, Kopfugo or Desoral Euro.
Aphids, spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs are isolated from pests. The presence of harmful insects is evidenced by the suspension of sedge growth, yellowing of foliage, the formation of a thin cobweb and sticky plaque on leaf plates. It is recommended to immediately carry out the treatment with insecticides, among which Aktara, Karbofos and Akterik are distinguished.
There are also the following troubles when growing sedge:
- foliage acquired a red or brown color scheme, began to dry out, which indicates a lack of moisture, nutrients (complex dressings);
- the color of the leaf plates has turned pale, which indicates a lack of lighting;
- the loss of a curtain's decorative appearance is due to the fact that pruning is not carried out in a timely manner or the bush has grown too much;
- decay of roots, stems and foliage provoked a waterlogged substrate or an excess of moisture.
Interesting notes about the sedge plant
This plant has long been known to folk healers, as it contains a large amount of useful substances. However, official medicine has not yet conducted any research in this area.
It is noticed that the largest ascorbic acid and yellowish-orange pigment (carotene) is present in the varieties of tyrsa, which grow in mountainous areas, where the absolute height above sea level exceeds 3000 m. The following useful components have also been identified in them and in other species:
- coumarin, which promotes vasodilation, elimination of tumors and has antispasmodic properties;
- saponins, characterized by diuretic, diaphoretic, as well as choleretic and expectorant effects, and also lower blood pressure;
- bitterness glycosides, which help to remove gastric juice from the intestines and contribute to an increase in appetite, since the peristalsis of the stomach will begin to work more accelerated, and therefore food can be absorbed faster by the body;
- tannins, which can help stop bleeding, reduce inflammation, and are astringent and bactericidal.
It can also be noted the presence of starch (giving energy), resins (promoting wound healing), gums (for good work of the gastrointestinal tract), mineral salts (to improve metabolism in the body), essential oil.
Since sedge contains a large amount of useful substances, such properties as bactericidal, antispasmodic, expectorant and anti-inflammatory are distinguished, there is the possibility of anesthesia and emollient action. The plant is used for general strengthening of the body, excretion of bile from the body, there is also a diuretic and diaphoretic effect. Tyrsa herb is recommended for constipation, flatulence and normalization of bowel function.
The plant is characterized by the ability to normalize metabolic processes, purifies the blood, removes bad cholesterol and harmful components from the body. If the patient suffered from colds such as bronchitis or pneumonia, or he was tormented by a disorder of the digestive system, then, for example, in Germany, healers prepared decoctions from sedge and treated these diseases.
It is interesting that until antibiotics were invented, the zemstvo doctors used sedge to treat syphilis. Due to the fact that coumarin is present in the foliage, skin diseases such as dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema pass under its influence, it is possible to treat lichen and lupus erythematosus
When using rhizomes, you can prepare a decoction or teas and use such a drug for gout and inflammatory processes of the joints. Sedge oil, which comes to us from Egypt or Morocco, is usually added to creams and depilation products.
Contraindications for the use of funds based on parts of sedge are children's age (up to 14 years old), the period of pregnancy, breastfeeding. It happens that such drugs contribute to the occurrence of allergic reactions; they should not be used for diarrhea, kidney and bladder diseases.
Description of sedge species
Since the number of tyrsa varieties is quite large, we can focus on the most famous ones:
Water sedge (Carex aquatilis)
occurs under the name Water sedge … It can choose for its growth not only the banks of river arteries, but also grow right in the water. Creeping rhizome, covered with short brown hairs. Sometimes bumps form. The stems have acute-angled or obtuse-triangular outlines. Their height is 50-150 cm. The stems are surrounded by leafy sheaths of a reddish or reddish-brown color. The foliage has a grayish, yellowish-green or green tint. The width of the leaves is measured 3–5 cm. They are characterized by flat outlines, may have grooves or grow curled up. The foliage surface is hard with strong roughness. The length of the leaves can be equal to the size of the stems or be slightly shorter than it. The length of the inflorescence is 7–30 cm. It is represented by spikelets of a light brown or purple-black hue. Their shape is in the form of a spindle, cylinder or linear-lanceolate. It blooms in spring, and the fruits appear throughout May-August.
Norway sedge (Carex acrifolia)
can also be found under the names Carex stenophylla, Carex incurvea. Perennial herbaceous growth, stems to the base are characterized by thickening, their outlines are triangular, at the top the surface is rough. The length is 8–25 cm. In the root part, they are surrounded by leafy sheaths of light brown color. The leaves are colored in a light greenish shade, with a flat outline, and have a slight roughness. The width reaches 2–3 mm. They grow straight, have a shortened length and have a quick taper.
A large number of spikelets formed during flowering are composed of male and female flowers. The inflorescence, which is formed by a spikelet, is distinguished by its compaction and ovoid-oblong shape. Its length is 2 cm and a width of about 7–10 mm. Covering scales are ovoid, pointed and brown in color. They have a film along the edge. A pair of stigmas is formed in the flower. Ripening sacs reach 3-4 mm in length. Their outlines are elongated ovate. The convex side is decorated with indistinct veins that gradually converge into a long spout.
White sedge (Carex alba)
is a perennial with a straw yellow color. The rhizome is elongated, with thin shoots spreading along the sides. The arrangement of stems and leaves on the rhizome is in rows. Stems with a smooth surface, grow erect and thin, the height can be 15–30 cm. The width of the leaf blades does not exceed 1 mm. Their outlines are flat or folded along the sheet. The foliage surface can be practically masonry or with sparse bristles. It is shorter in length than the stems.
When flowering, spikelets appear for women and men. The length of spikelets (of which only 1–3 pieces are formed) with female flowers is 6–10 mm, while they include 3–6 buds, the outlines of such spikelets are linear, reaching 6–10 mm in length. Spikelets with male flowers measure 8-15 mm in length. They can form 1-2 pairs on a bush, with linear-lanceolate outlines. The pouch, which matures after pollination, is no more than 3, 5–4 mm in length. Its shape is in the form of an ellipse or obovate. Their color is straw-yellowish, which gradually becomes brown.
Related article: Growing cotton grass in the open field
Sedge cultivation video:
