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 - November 14, 2014

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Planting Habiturf in an occasional overflow area
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Wondering about putting Habiturf in an area that is for occasional flood overflow. How will the Habiturf be affected by these occasional conditions? I suspect it won't like it and will start to thin out, get weedy, or die altogether. Would love your thoughts. Thanks!

ANSWER:

Well to begin, I’m including a link to our How to Article on Habiturf which you may already be familiar with. It should get you off to a good start.

The answer to your question depends on how much overflow,and how often it occurs. One of the Warnings from the link above;
Warning.

* If you do not prepare the soil adequately, your lawn will suffer, be less drought resistant, and you will get      weeds

* If you mow too often and too short, you will get weeds

* If you over-water, you will get weeds

* If you over-fertilize, you will get big weeds

If the flooding is infrequent and lasts less than a couple of days, the grass may benefit.

 

More Grasses or Grass-like Questions

Habiturf care from Plano TX
July 03, 2014 - Five weeks ago, we planted a Habiturf lawn in our back yard. The grass looks great and is already about 6 inches. I have two questions to solve before we do the front yard. We have lots of purslane m...
view the full question and answer

Overseeding sprig planting of native grass in Kansas
September 12, 2009 - Can I overseed a Sprig planting of native grass in Kansas in the Fall?
view the full question and answer

Planting a meadow garden in Pennsylvania
November 16, 2014 - I live in Saxonburg PA near Pittsburgh PA. I want to put a meadow garden in my back yard. We are building a home so there is no established yard yet just trees and weeds. Where do I start . What...
view the full question and answer

Muhlenbergia dumosa safe for horses from Austin
May 13, 2014 - Is Muhlenbergia dumosa safe for horses? Will horses eat it? I have a client who has a mini-horse who visits her property on occasion, and I want to ensure that what I plant is both safe for the hors...
view the full question and answer

Native, full-sun, 4-in. evergreen grasses for Leander TX
November 07, 2011 - Help! I need a native Texas evergreen sedge/grass/ground cover for full-sun/hot/dry area between sidewalk and street. The plants will need to be kept about 4" high, if growth is higher it must be mow...
view the full question and answer

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