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Hakonechloa grass changing colour to red

DashaDasha Posts: 137
in Plants
Hi guys,
I planted a row of Hakonechloa macra earlier this year. Now suddenly some of the plants are turnig red. They are planted in a rather sloped space (see pics below) and I suspect the soil was very poor. I did add plenty of well rotted farmyard manure before planting. But maybe not enough and the grass is missing nutrients? I believe I watered it sufficiently. More than half of the plants in that space are perfectly green...
Any ideas what might be going on?

Dasha






Posts

  • DashaDasha Posts: 137
    Forgot to mention that the space is facing north and is quite dark all the time so I don't think there is any chance of sun damage.
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    There is a variety which develops red colouring/ autumn-like colours through the seasons. I think it might be Nicolas. Maybe you actually have a. Kix of the plain species and this one? I doubt it is a nutrient issue 🤔
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think the main problem is the quantity. That's a huge number of plants in that small space. About 3 or 4 would fill that space in the first pic in a couple of years.  :)
    They're ideal for shade, so north facing is fine. I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with the plants. They're just settling in. They don't really need lots of nutrition either, so no need to worry about the soil.
    Some change in colouration of foliage is normal for any plant too, and some will thrive, some may not. I don't think you need to worry as the other plants will spread if you lose one or two   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I agree with @Fairygirl that there are more than enough plants there.
    I bought 10 just over 2 years ago in 2L pots and have been surprised how fast they grow. I've even had to cut parts one lot of them back to the ground to try and control the spread on one side of the patio so that I can get to my blackberry behind them on the fence.
    I planted 5 on each side of my patio - one lot facing east the other facing west - they're all thriving.
    We've had almost no rin here in weeks and I've not watered them so the soil is very dry.

    This is the 5 plants facing west - pic taken 2 days ago.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I agree they are just settling in, the red colouration is a sign of stress but they will be fine. Do not feed them! They just need to get their roots away. Re the spacing, I don't think the close spacing will do them any harm but you can certainly move some of them elsewhere once they've filled out the bed.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DashaDasha Posts: 137
    edited July 2023
    @Fairygirl, @Pete.8, @Loxley, @Butterfly66, thank you! I will space them out a bit today and hopefully they'll look as beautiful as @Pete.8's one day (love how tidy your patio is).

    Any way to find out whether this change in colour is just stress or a different variety of Hakonechloa?

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I would leave them alone, you don't really want to move plants around at this time of year. Space them out in Autumn or Spring if you feel you have to (I wouldn't bother personally).
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • DashaDasha Posts: 137
    edited July 2023
    Got it, thanks @Loxley!
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