Native Plants
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Wednesday - April 29, 2009
From: Nash, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Native grasses for chain link fenceline in Nash, TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have chain link fence all the way around my yard and I am getting tired of having to weed eat along the fence line. I am looking for some type of year round decorative plant or grass (preferably one that grows to two feet tall or less) that I can plant along the fence to eliminate having to weed eat and will look good too. Any suggestions?ANSWER:
Absolutely! That is a very good idea. If you have a lawn, probably what you are having to trim is a non-native turf grass like St. Augustine or bermudagrass. We would much prefer the use of native grasses, many of which are attractive and hold their places year-round. You may still have to yank out the non-natives from time to time to keep them from messing with the natives, but the natives will be taller and should eventually shade out the turf grasses. You didn't say if you had sun, part shade or shade in the area you want to cover, but we will go to Recommended Species, select East Texas on the map, and find some lower native grasses that will thrive in Bowie County. You can follow the plant link to the webpage on each individual grass to read more about it, and for more information still go to the bottom of the webpage and click on the Google link to the plant. Some of these may be a little taller than 2 ft., but they can be trimmed back, and should be trimmed down to about 6 inches once a year, in early spring.
Grasses for Nash, Bowie County, TX
Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem) - perennial, 2 to 5 ft. tall, medium water use, part shade
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) - perennial warm season grass, 2 to 3 ft. tall, medium water use, sun, part shade
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) - perennial, 2 to 4 ft. tall, medium water use, part shade, shade
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) - perennial, 18 to 24 inches tall, low water use, sun, part shade
Tripsacum dactyloides (eastern gamagrass) - perennial, 2 to 3 ft. tall, high water use, part shade
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Grass for detention pond in Illinois
October 06, 2008 - Hi, please advise regarding grass for bottom of detention pond. I have pond with drawdown time 4 days, what grass could survive being underwater 4 days, and not die? Thank you.
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Ground cover under live oaks
June 18, 2012 - I have some areas under Live Oak trees (maybe 200 sq. ft.)that remain bare, in spite of trying Habiturf. Soil is dry, poor and shallow. Can you suggest a living ground cover that would not require m...
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Need recommendations for native plants on a dry sunny hillside in Baltimore Maryland.
July 28, 2009 - Need native recommendations for sunny, dry hillside for ground cover or shrub in Maryland. Mowing the grass is a pain and an energy waster (and I don't want to be tempted to extend some adjacent exi...
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Growing native grasses in containeers in Illinois
May 16, 2007 - Hi.
How well would native grasses grow in container gardens in Illinois? What soil would you suggest?
Thanks.
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Reducing Allergens in Yards and Gardens
January 31, 2012 - What are some allergen-free native plants to Central Texas that thrive in the soil and can survive in the weather?
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