Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - September 14, 2012

From: Surfside Beach, SC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Planting, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Planting buffalograss from Surfside Beach SC
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

How do I plant buffalograss along a lake? Do I just spread the seeds?

ANSWER:

We will be happy to give you planting instructions for Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss). Follow that plant link to our webpage on buffalograss, and then go to our How-To Article on Native Lawns: Buffalograss. You did not say if you had sun or shade, an existing turf or what your soils are, but we can assure you that instructions for planting it do NOT include sprinkling seeds. That was the bad news.

Now, the worse news. As you will see from this USDA Plant Profile Map, Buffalograss is not native to South Carolina. In fact, the nearest it is found growing to South Carolina is one county each in Virginia and Georgia.

If you read our webpage (linked above) on this grass, you will find this statement:

"Soil Description: Well-drained loam, clay, caliche, or limestone. Does not like sand."

We could not discover your soil type, but we feel in a town named Surfside Beach, there is probably some sand in the soil. In fact, Horry County is directly on the Atlantic Ocean  coast.

There is nothing to stop you from trying, but as you can see from the information we have given you, it is not particularly easy to establish, and we would hate for you to waste resources attempting to do so.

 

From the Image Gallery


Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides

Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides

Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides

More Grasses or Grass-like Questions

Erosion tolerant plants for shade from Kerrville TX
August 06, 2013 - We have just cleared a lot of cedar out of a small draw and would like to know the best groundcovers, shrubs, etc. to plant to hold the soil. Deep shade most of the day.
view the full question and answer

Non-native St. Augustine grass failing for 5 years in Houston
July 21, 2013 - My townhome in Houston has a mid-size backyard, which receives full sun for much of the day. I've re-sodded with St. Augustine for 5 consecutive summers, but it consistently dies over time (proper fe...
view the full question and answer

Need plants for a slope in KY.
September 29, 2012 - I have a slope in my back yard that is mostly a slate shelf, grass and Weeds will grow but not well, very spotty. I am wanting a ground cover that blooms. Would like to not have to mow. This is a ve...
view the full question and answer

Native plants for morning sun in Pembroke MA
October 07, 2009 - Could you please suggest native groundcover,plants/shrubs/grasses for eastern facing slope which gets morning sun? It is my front yard which slopes down toward driveway so it would be a major focal po...
view the full question and answer

Controlling KR Bluestem
February 11, 2016 - How can I control KR Bluestem in my 55 acre coastal bermuda hayfield? The field has a Farm Road along one side planted in KR, and now the hayfield is about 25 - 30% KR. Summer burn is fairly dangerous...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.