WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Carex divulsa (Carex tumulicola), WUCOLS IV

How often to water European gray sedge in California

In July in the Central Valley, established European gray sedge in loam needs a deep watering about every 14 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 0.8 gallons a week. European gray sedge is an evergreen, grassy perennial that forms arching clumps 1 to 2 feet tall. It was long sold in California as Berkeley sedge or foothill sedge, a native, until botanists found it is a European plant. Small flower spikes age to brown from winter through spring. It grows in coastal sun or deep shade and self-sows freely.

PerennialRated for 6 of 6 zones

How often to water European gray sedge, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for European gray sedge and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • When the clump's soil has dried several inches down in summer, European gray sedge can take a deep soak
  • Leaves losing their gloss and turning tan at the tips in a long dry spell suggest thirst
  • Clumps staying smaller in rarely watered spots show it is surviving on little water
  • Seedlings popping up in watered beds come from its seed, not from overwatering

How to water it

  • Water deeply, then let the soil dry several inches down
  • Give regular to occasional water for the fullest look
  • Plant in coastal sun, light shade or deep shade in most soils
  • Shear or mow the flower spikes before they set seed
  • Keep it away from wildlands and creeks

Through the seasons

Water new plants regularly through their first summer. Once established, it is fairly drought tolerant but looks best in light shade with regular to occasional water. It stays evergreen and flowers from late winter through spring. Along the north-central coast, through the Central Valley, on the south coast and across South Inland, WUCOLS rates European gray sedge low water. Both desert zones, high and low, give it a moderate water rating, since heat dries it faster there.

In pots

European gray sedge works well in pots and planters, and a container limits its seeding. Use a well-drained mix. Water when the top couple of inches dry, until it runs out the base. In summer, check pots every few days, sooner in sun. Do not let water stand in the saucer. Shear off flower spikes before seed ripens. In winter, rain usually covers it, so check before watering.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
1.07gal per sq ft in JulyLow water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
6.84 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.16JAN0.26FEB0.43MAR0.61APR0.83MAY0.99JUN1.07JUL0.95AUG0.72SEP0.47OCT0.22NOV0.14DEC0.761.52.33.00.16JFM0.61AMJ1.07JAS0.47OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 1.07 in Jul, 6.84 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

European Gray Sedge: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.150.160.310.310.740.78
Feb0.210.260.320.350.930.93
Mar0.350.430.460.521.461.52
Apr0.470.610.560.641.891.95
May0.580.830.640.782.392.45
Jun0.640.990.690.922.852.79
Jul0.641.070.7913.042.85
Aug0.60.950.740.932.792.6
Sep0.50.720.60.742.142.08
Oct0.350.470.460.531.461.49
Nov0.190.220.330.360.930.96
Dec0.120.140.260.270.650.68
Year4.86.846.27.3721.2721.08

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated low water in the Central Valley, like European gray sedge. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

AgapanthusAgapanthus orientalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGeraniumsPelargonium x hortorum and cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyIrisesIris germanicalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRussian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyYarrowAchillea millefolium (non-native hybrids)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain AlyssumAlyssum montanumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver SageSalvia argentealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPurple MulleinVerbascum phoeniceumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilvery YarrowAchillea clavennaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFern Leaf YarrowAchillea filipendulinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCalifornia Native YarrowAchillea millefolium (CA native cultivars)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWoolly YarrowAchillea tomentosalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPerennial HollyhockAlcea rosea cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain Lady's MantleAlchemilla alpinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes European gray sedge, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water European gray sedge in summer?

In July, established European gray sedge in loam needs a deep watering about every 14 days in the Central Valley, about every 18 days on the south coast and about every 14 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does European gray sedge need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established European gray sedge needs about 0.1 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 0.4 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for European gray sedge change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates European gray sedge separately for each of the six California climate zones: low water in the North-Central Coastal zone, low water in the Central Valley zone, low water in the South Coastal zone, low water in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Is European gray sedge a California native?

No, it was sold as a native foothill sedge for years, but it is European. That is why it is now called European gray sedge. Native sedges are a better choice near wildlands.

Does European gray sedge spread?

It self-sows freely into watered parts of the garden. Shear flower spikes before seed sets. Keep it away from natural areas.

Can European gray sedge grow in shade?

Yes, it grows from coastal full sun to fairly deep shade. Light shade suits it best. Shade plantings need less water.

Can European gray sedge be planted in masses?

It can be planted in solid stands for a natural meadow look. Mix it with other sedges and grasses if you like. Shear before seed set to keep it neat.

Does European gray sedge tolerate wet soil?

Yes, it tolerates boggy, wet soil. It is also fairly drought tolerant once established. It adapts to most soils.

More plant watering guides

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Sources