Native Plants

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Wednesday - November 09, 2011

From: Fredericksburg, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Compost and Mulch, Diseases and Disorders, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Native Grass is Falling Over
Answered by: Mike Tomme

QUESTION:

Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I've tried to find this answer but am stumped as to the cause. We live in Fredericksburg, TX and have several different tall grasses, Yellow Indian grass, Little Bluestem, wire grass. Some have done very well this year. Others, especially the wire grass, have fallen over or lodged. They are growing, but aren't reaching for the sky like the others. All get the same amount of water, sun and no amendments. Several that are falling over are in the same bed as the ones that aren't. Can you tell me why? We water about 1" a week. Thank you very much!!

ANSWER:

The Native Plant Database identifies three grasses that go by the name wiregrass; Aristida beyrichiana (Beyrich threeawn), Aristida stricta (Pineland threeawn) and Nassella tenuissima (Mexican feathergrass). The first two occur in the pine woodlands of the southeast United States and are not native to Texas, so Mr. Smarty Plants suspects you are talking about the third. This is a very widely used plant in central Texas landscapes.

It's always hard to guess what the problem is with a plant when you can't see it (and often when you can see it), but let's start with the basics. Here is what the Native Plant Database has to say:

"Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Soil Description: Well-drained, acid or calcareous sands, loams, or clays.
Conditions Comments: Requires good drainage and cant take excessive moisture. Should not be watered heavily more than once a week. Goes dormant during drought and in winter. May rot under heavy mulch. Grows well in containers."

Usually, the problems with this plant result from too much water or poor drainage that can be exacerbated by heavy mulch. It doesn't sound like you are overwatering at one inch per week, but you might check to make sure your soil is drying out between waterings.

You will also note that the plant goes dormant during drought. During this past summer in central Texas lots of these plants around town fell over or otherwise went dormant.

Another possible explanation is that some plants are just less vigorous than others and you may have some that are simply predisposed to being small.

My advice right now is to keep up your watering schedule, make sure they are not too heavily mulched and see if the cooler weather brings some improvement.

From the Image Gallery

Mexican feathergrass
Nassella tenuissima