Native Plants
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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.
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Wednesday - February 10, 2010
From: Center Point, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: When should I plant bermuda grass seeds?
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
When should I plant bermuda grass seeds?ANSWER:
Never!
Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass) is an invasive species from Africa and soon takes over lawns, flower beds, etc., and is very difficult to eliminate once established. You can read the advice about its control from the University of California's Integrated Pest Management Program. Instead of bermudagrass, why not consider the native lawn grass mixture that our researchers at the Wildflower Center have found to be the most effective. This mixture uses less water, requires little or no mowing, and is better at keeping out weeds than bermudagrass. The mixture consists of Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss), Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) and Hilaria belangeri (curly-mesquite). Our How to Article: Native Lawns tells you how to prepare the soil, how to sow the seeds and how to maintain a native lawn. Two seed companies, Native American Seeds and King Seeds, have the seeds available. Native America Seeds also has an excellent article, Planting Tips for Native Grasses, to help you be successful in getting your lawn established.
More Non-Natives Questions
When and how to prune lavender (Lavandula sp.)
March 20, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants
I have a Goodwin Creek Lavender plant that I planted last year. It did very well but my question is about pruining.
It seems that there is some growth coming up now that it...
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Cat deterents
May 01, 2007 - I was wondering if there is such a plant that will deter
cats from going in your gardens. I have a problem with them using my garden
as a litter box, and had heard that there was a plant that the...
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Suggestions for alternatives to invasive, non-native English ivy
August 17, 2006 - Can English ivy be planted in a pot, kept oudoors, and expected to endure our Maryland winters?
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Why aren't the Caesalpinia species in the Native Plant Database
June 07, 2013 - Why doesn't the Wildflower Center list Caesalpinia in its plant database? I grow 3 species in my garden with no coddling: C. mexicana, C. gilliesii, and C. pulcherrima. I underst...
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Many different species called
February 07, 2006 - I know from researching that Dusty Miller is drought tolerant. But, I tend to water too much when I do get irrigation water. Will it stand this? (clay soil, near a very young globe willow, southern ex...
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