Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_22.gif)
Monday - March 17, 2008
From: Cedar Park, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Compost and Mulch, Groundcovers, Turf, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Buffalo grass and other native grass for lawn in Central Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi, I live in Cedar Park, TX - recently moved to into a newly built house. I wanted to put some native grass (like buffalo) in the back yard. - My back yard has slope (away from house) and front yard has slope towards the house. Water from the front yard (and neighbors yards) will run from the sides to the rear fence and then along the rear fence to the water retention area (100 yards away). My front yard and neighbors yards have Bermuda grass (Tifway 419). - The soil in the backyard is clay. Very little good soil that too near to the foundation. - We have green belt, which has some tall grass. Not sure what it is though. Here are my questions: 1. Is Buffalo Grass suitable for my area and the conditions I have? 2. Does buffalo grass need 6" of good soil to grow as told to me by a landscaping contractor (I was taking a quote)? 3. How do I prepare the soil? What all should I do put native grass? 4. Since the backyard has slope, one corner is almost always wet - either because of rain or because of neighbors lawn watering. 5. Will buffalo grass survive water coming from the Bermuda grass lawns? If it is high maintainence, then what are the other alternatives? Finally, where can I go and look at different types of lawns and compare (to convince my wife to go with native lawn :-)? I've visited Lady Bird center, but I remember seeing only the native plants. Thanks.ANSWER:
First of all, let me recommend that you read Native Lawns from our "How to Articles". It gives the rationale for creating native lawns and helpful information for getting started and maintaining a buffalo grass lawn.
Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss) does well in the sun with little water, once established, reaches a height of 5-8 inches and requires little mowing and no fertilizer. It will even tolerate some partial shade. Native American Seed has a Native Sun Turfgrass seed mix that contains 66% buffalo grass and 34% Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) and they have instructions for preparing your lawn and Planting Tips for Native Grasses.
You can come to visit the Wildflower Center's Turffalo (a variety of buffalo grass developed at Texas Tech University) plot. The Turffalo grass plot is in the formal Homeowner Inspiration Gardens, to the left and above as you enter the Theme Gardens. Please see the answer to a question about this plot of turffalo that came in recently. Turffalo is sold by plugs or by pads. On the Turffalo webpage they have a thorough discussion about preparation of the lawn and maintenance. There are also plots of other buffalo grass varieties in the middle Home Inspiration Garden and the lawn area around the Children's Little House.
Buffalo grass will grow on poor soils that are heavy and compact like your clay. It will have a lusher growth, however, if it has better soil; so, If it is possible, add some organic material to your soil (compost or loam) and work it into the clay before planting your plugs or sowing your seeds.
Buffalo grass is not going to like your areas that remain wet. For those areas your best bet is to plant some others grasses or ground cover that do like wet areas. For instance, Andropogon glomeratus (bushy bluestem) and Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) are two attractive taller grasses that tolerate moist soils and would look nice at the edge of your lawn. Sedges, such as Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge), Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge), Carex perdentata (sand sedge) and Carex texensis (Texas sedge), are shorter and do well in moist soils. Another plant that can tolerate moist soils but will also do well in dry soil and grows only to about 6 inches high is Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle frogfruit).
More Groundcovers Questions
Deer Resistant Groundcover for lower Michigan
June 24, 2012 - What ground cover is deer resistant for a sunny location in lower Michigan?
view the full question and answer
Shade Tolerant Grasses and Groundcovers for Waco TX
March 15, 2013 - What is the best shade-tolerant grass?
What is the best shade-tolerant ground cover?
view the full question and answer
Erosion controlling Groundcover for Phenix AL
March 30, 2014 - Hi I am trying to find a grass or ground cover to control erosion on firing range berms which are 1:1 grade on a firing range outside of Phenix City AL. Sandy clay soil, direct sunlight almost all day...
view the full question and answer
Low maintenance, shade tolerant groundcover for Pacific Northwest
August 09, 2012 - What's a good low maintenance, shade tolerant ground cover for the Pacific Northwest? It needs to have good erosion control, too.
view the full question and answer
Replacing Weeds with Native Plants in Dallas Area
May 29, 2011 - I have a large oak tree in my front yard and lots and lots of miscellaneous weeds (clover, chickweed, stickers, etc.). I am wanting to grow grass in my front yard, that is shaded pretty much most of t...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |