The sheep (Helictotrichon) is a herbaceous perennial plant of the Bluegrass family, in the genus of which there are 40-90 different species. Sheep in translation from Greek sounds like "twisted hair" because of the special features of the parts of the plant. Most of them belong to fodder crops, only evergreen oat is used in flower culture as an ornamental cereal and is one of the most popular. The reason for such fame is its numerous advantages of the sheep - unpretentiousness, decorativeness, high resistance to the vagaries of weather and climatic conditions, the ability to grow even on the most depleted and poor soil. The cereal culture of sheep is perfectly adjacent to many flowering plants, can act as a hedge, is used by landscape designers in various flower arrangements, in flower beds and in the garden.
Characteristics of the sheep
Evergreen oat consists of a fibrous root found at great depths, rigid narrow linear leaf plates of a bright gray and green shade about 50 centimeters in length, whitish inflorescences - panicles soft to the touch, high peduncle (about one and a half meters). The flowering period lasts 1.5-2 months and begins in the middle of summer. The height of a perennial can vary from 30 centimeters to 1 meter.
Growing a sheep from seeds
Sowing seeds
The most effective way to breed a sheep is by dividing the bush, but the seed method is also common. You can use the seedless method. It is recommended to sow purchased seeds in early spring in prepared holes to a depth of no more than 2-2.5 centimeters. Care of young plants consists of occasional moderate watering and shallow loosening of the soil. The grown oat plants must be planted more spaciously so that the distance between them is at least 7-10 centimeters. The transplant should be carried out together with an earthen lump.
Growing sheep seedlings
The seedling method is more reliable. One of the features of growing sheep is planting seeds immediately in individual containers, since picking is not recommended for the plant. Brittle roots are often damaged during this procedure. You can use plastic or peat cups.
Seed material is sown in small pots in the first days of spring. Each pot contains two or three seeds. As it grows, it is necessary to leave one strongest copy, and cut the rest at the root. It is recommended to cover the oat crops with glass or polyethylene and place them in a bright and warm room with a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius. Covering removes after germination.With proper care, oat seedlings become strong and robust towards the end of spring - this is a good time to transfer plants to open ground.
Hardening procedures should be started 15-20 days before planting oat seedlings in open ground.
The soil in ordinary pots with seedlings must be watered in advance, then using a knife or a metal ruler, slightly separate the soil from the walls of the vessel and carefully pull out the perennial cereal along with the earthen clod. Peat cups are planted with seedlings.
Planting sheep in open ground
How to plant sheep correctly
Planting sheep in the ground is carried out in pre-prepared holes, which must be pre-moistened. It is important not to damage the seedlings, so the plant does not need to be pulled or tugged. A seedling with a lump of earth is placed in the center of the hole and all the free space in it is sprinkled with the remaining soil.
The sheep planting site should be open, sunny or slightly shaded at certain hours, but always in the southern part of the land. You can not choose areas in the lowlands and with a close location of groundwater. To grow sheep as a hedge, seedlings are placed at a distance of about 50 centimeters from each other. For a group composition, it is recommended for one square meter of a flower garden - no more than four young oat plants, and in a single planting, a cereal may have no neighbors at all at a distance of more than 1-1.5 meters. It all depends on the available land space.
The preparatory work is not required only for poor and depleted areas. It is recommended to pre-dig up heavy soils and add gravel or coarse river sand during the work. The soil should be light, loose and moderately dry.
The lack of nutrients in the composition of the soil will not affect the decorative effect of the oat and its full development.
Caring for a sheep in the garden
For high-quality flowering, oat plants need to create suitable conditions of detention, in which there will be no two factors dangerous for the cereal - high air temperature and high humidity.
Watering
The main enemy of the oat is excess moisture. "Excess" moisture can destroy plants. The first sign of a problem is the lack of new leaves and the drying of old ones. It is necessary to water the crop only during prolonged severe drought and very hot weather. Irrigation volumes are moderate.
Top dressing
Excess fertilizer also negatively affects the external characteristics of crops. In the first year, it is enough to feed the sheep twice. The first time is 7-10 days after planting the sheep in the open field, and the second time - after the end of flowering. As a top dressing, you need to use complex mineral fertilizers (in liquid form). In the future, plants will have enough once a season.
Pruning
The first pruning is done in the second fall after planting. Experienced flower growers recommend cutting off the entire aerial part. Subsequently, it is worthwhile to promptly remove dry and green leaves and dried panicle inflorescences. The rejuvenation of the bush is carried out after 3-4 years.
Wintering
The winter-hardy perennial oat tolerates winter cold and is not afraid of frost. It doesn't even need to be covered.
Sheep breeding
This method of breeding sheep is only suitable for plants that are three or four years old. At this age, decorative qualities are gradually lost and the attractiveness of the culture decreases. You can give cereals a second youth by dividing the bush into several parts. Only in spring is such a division made. Each new part should have some sturdy and strong roots. The resulting delenki must be immediately planted in a new place and watered. Three-year-old plants do well with this procedure.
Dividing and transplanting a sheep does not carry anything dangerous for the further growth and development of the plant.
Diseases and pests of sheep
Possible diseases of sheep are rust and root rot.Preventive measures are the presence of well-drained soil on the site, the absence of stagnant water, proper watering and a well-blown landing site. The disease usually develops in the presence of high moisture in the soil and very hot weather.
The cereal crop is not damaged by pests.
You can save a diseased plant. To do this, dig it out, wash the root part well under running water and examine each root. Rotten, damaged and dried parts of the root system are completely cut off, and the cuts are sprinkled with charcoal or activated carbon powder. The new landing site must be provided with reliable drainage. In the absence of dampness, the bush will take root and quickly recover.
Types and varieties of sheep with photos
Desert sheep (Helictotrichon desertorum)
In several regions of Russia, this species is endangered and protected by law, as it is listed in the Red Book. In its natural environment, the culture grows in dense turf with a height of 20 to 50 centimeters. Leaf plates are gray-green in color, panicle inflorescences consist of 2-3 spikelets, fruits are caryopsis. In culture, this species is considered experimental.
Fluffy Sheep (Helictotrichon pubescens)
It is also called pubescent oat - the species refers to fodder crops that are found in the wild in the steppe and meadow areas. With a sufficient level of moisture, plants bring good yields, and crops on dry lands are not suitable for forage. From lack of moisture, they become pubescent and very rigid in structure. The species consists of a short rhizome, narrow pubescent leaves, panicle inflorescences more than 10 centimeters in length in a light green shade.
Evergreen Sheep (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
A species with tough and bright blue-gray leaf plates, tall stems and brown inflorescences. The more sunlight at the growing site, the more intense the shades of leaves and shoots become. The average height of a fluffy bush-bush is about 70 centimeters. Looks great on an alpine slide and near artificial reservoirs in combination with flowering grasses and other evergreen crops.
During the breeding work, the varieties Sapphirsprudel, Robust and Pendula were bred.
Shell's Sheep (Helictotrichon schellianum)
The perennial species is widespread in natural zones in Ukraine and the Volga region, in Siberia and on the Lower Don. Blooms in the first half of summer. Sheep is listed in the Red Book in the Voronezh region.
Gray sheep
A low-growing perennial species about 30 centimeters in height. It consists of narrow smoky shade of leaves, a large number of which makes the bush look like a large ball or pillow. The drought-resistant perennial blooms throughout the summer season. Popular with landscape designers.
Less known are such types of sheep as Turkmen, Tianshan, Gissar, Mongolian, Fedchenko and Krylova.
