How do I know what sedge I have?
Sedges are differentiated from grasses by a number of characteristics, but the simplest one is the stem. A sedge stem is triangular and solid; a grass stem is round and hollow. There are some sedges that are annuals but all the of the Carex species are perennial.
Is sedge invasive?
Sedge lawn weeds are invasive in other types of turf grass. Most problem sedge plants are found in warmer climates of the southern United States, but a couple are also common in northern climes. Controlling sedge weeds can be a challenge to many gardeners.
Are sedge and Carex the same?
From a garden design standpoint, sedge is usually lumped together with other ornamental grasses, but Carex is actually not a grass, but a grass-like plant called a sedge in the family Cyperaceae.
Is Japanese sedge invasive?
Carex kobomugi is a species of sedge, known as the Japanese sedge or Asiatic sand sedge, that lives in sandy coastal areas of eastern Asia, and has become an invasive species in the north-eastern United States.
What animals eat sedge?
SEDGES AND WILDLIFE The seeds of native sedges are eaten by many kinds of wildlife including ducks, grouse, wild turkeys, sandpipers, and sparrows, to name a few. They’re also a food source for caterpillars and small mammals.
What do sedges look like?
Sedges usually have triangular stems with leaves arranged in groups of three and are similar to grasses in many attributes. Sedge species may be found in a wide range of conditions, ranging from very wet to dry and in many soil types. Flowers are extremely small and numerous and arranged in spikelets atop the stem.
Is sedge toxic to dogs?
Hi, Jan: As pet owners, we are responsible for protecting our four-legged friends. This includes giving careful thought to what we plant in the garden. Sedum, carex, as well as artemesia are not included on the list of toxic plants for dogs according to the Animal Poison Control Center and the ASPCA.
Does sedge need to be cut back?
Sedges resent being cut back too hard, so if the foliage lasts through the year untattered, just leave it alone. If the older foliage looks messy, or the tips have been burned by winter cold, trim the sedge back modestly, by no more than a third at most, in March or April.
What is sedge used for?
Sedges are traditionally used for their strong, fibrous leaves and stems for weaving household items, such as baskets and mats and in the construction of boats and houses, for thatching, fencing and rope making. Some species are used in perfumery and pot pourri and several species for their medicinal properties.
Do sedges spread?
It spreads by rhizomes, but not densely, to form a low, open sod 8 to 14 inches tall. Exceptionally durable and flexible, Pennsylvania sedge flourishes in dry shade and in soil that is moist and rich in organic matter.
What are sedges good for?
Sedges are in leaf from late winter to late fall, and some stay green through the winter. This unchanging aspect makes them a great foil to dainty flowering bulbs and perennials that can grow through the field of green leaves. The Pennsylvania sedge, for example, feeds as many as three dozen species of caterpillars.
What does a sedge plant look like?
Sedges usually have triangular stems with leaves arranged in groups of three and are similar to grasses in many attributes. Sedge species may be found in a wide range of conditions, ranging from very wet to dry and in many soil types.
Is Carex Appalachian sedge a grass?
Appalachian Sedge (Carex appalachica) is an outstanding choice for use as an attractive grassy groundcover for shade and heavy shade areas. This native grass-like plant with thin, fine-textured leaf blades. Appalachian Sedge is adaptable to a wide range of soils including clay.
Are sedges good for landscaping?
For that reason, they can fill a useful design niche. Sedges are mostly grown for their bladelike foliage, which ranges from thin strands to thick straps in shades of green, bluish green, yellow, and copper. Their height ranges from several inches to 3 feet.
Is sedge an invasive plant?
Sedge crowds out other invasive species and comes in many hues and heights. It is an evergreen plant that does much of its growing in the cooler seasons and may go dormant in hot temperatures. Most nurseries have some varieties of sedge on hand.