Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

livingontheland - [Livingontheland] Xeriscape Gardening News

livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@gilanet.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Xeriscape Gardening News
  • Date: Wed, 05 May 2004 06:55:35 -0600

Xeriscape Gardening News
from
High Country Gardens
Issue #54 - May 2004
David Salman, Chief Horticulturist

--------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to our Monthly E-Zine.

For live links to plants and products mentioned in the articles,
use the web version of this newsletter found at:
http://highcountrygardens.com/nl/nl54.html

------------------------------------------------------------------
May 2004

In this Issue:

Native Grasses and Lawns
Seeding Grasses
Plant Combination: Grama Grass and Perennials
Garden Glossary
Schedule for David Salman's Speaking Engagements
More Gardening Articles
Mother's Day Bulb Baskets
Internet Specials
Last Weeks of Spring Shipping

------------------------------------------------------------------
DripWorks - Support Our Sponsor

Get a 72-page Drip Irrigation Catalog from DripWorks.
Their compliments!

DripWorks has great products, low pricing, complimentary technical
support, and design services.

Let them design the perfect irrigation system for your home,
garden or farm. Your plants will experience robust, consistent
growth by delivering water at a slow, regular rate with our
high-quality systems.

Pond liners for large water containment ponds or small garden
ponds are available for immediate shipping.

Order a catalog at http://www.dripworksusa.com/catalog.html or
call 1-800-522-3747.

Visit their website: http://www.dripworksusa.com.


------------------------------------------------------------------
Native Ornamental Grasses and Native Grass Lawns
By Mary Ann Walz

Ornamental grasses come to us from many parts of the world. Many
of our most common varieties originate in Europe and Asia.
However, within the past five years or so, there has been a
plethora of fantastic new native North American introductions.
Native grasses are indigenous to a particular geographic area,
which means they can live with the local amount of rainfall
—wherever that region is. With the growing interest in
native grasses, both for lawns and ornamental settings, it makes
sense to use plants that are native to the location where you
live.

Native Ornamental grasses such as Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy
Metal’
(Heavy Metal Switchgrass) or Sorgastrum nutans 'Cheyenne'
(Cheyenne Indiangrass) are great, larger growing additions to
landscapes because they provide interest nearly all year long.
Grasses come in infinite varieties offering interesting texture,
wavering movement, colors that change from summer to fall and a
range of heights from a few inches to several feet. When
selecting a either a native or adapted ornamental grass, choose a
variety that meets your gardening criteria, as their toughness and
durability will make them successful most areas in the country.

Ornamental grasses can be incorporated into the perennial garden
with an impressive effect. A good example is the Colors and
Textures Garden that Lauren Springer designed for High Country
Gardens. With a bed heavily planted with different grasses and
blooming perennials, it offers easy care with spectacular results.

Adapted (non-native) species can be successfully combined with
native species. Grasses of different heights, foliar colors and
textures should be interplanted for best effect. One suggestion is
planting Elytrigia elongata ’Jose Select’ with
Helictotrichon
sempervirens (Blue Avena) and native Sporobolus heterolepsis
(Prairie Dropseed). Another touch is adding super-blue Festuca
glauca ‘Sea Urchin’ at the outside edge. Interplanting
these
grass clusters with tall blooming perennials such as Penstemon
strictus (Rocky Mountain Penstemon) and Echinacea purpurea
(Purple Coneflower) adds a splash of color to this textural
potpourri of grasses.

Native grass lawns are not as popular as they ought to be. But
given the tenacity and durable nature of these grasses, coupled
with an attractive growth habit, they will surely catch on.
They've finally attracted the attention of the gardening public in
the western US because of our prevailing drought. A native grass
lawn requires little supplemental water once established, and it's
free of many of the problems associated with more traditional
Kentucky Blue grass lawns.

Depending on the type of native grass you select, you can have a
turf type lawn or a soft carpet of green with pretty seed heads in
late summer. Native grasses can be mown or left uncut to create
the look of a natural prairie.

*** The Traditional Manicured Lawn
If a more traditional manicured lawn is desired, one suggestion is
the Legacy® Buffalo Grass. This is a turf-type grass that grows
best in medium to heavy textured soils including gooey clay. It
is a robust warm season grass that spreads quickly via runners and
grows to about 4 to 6 inches in height. It is best suited to
areas that receive from 10 to 30 inches of annual precipitation.
In order to maintain a pretty green appearance during the heat of
summer, it needs about 2 inches of water per month--nearly 75%
less water than Kentucky Blue grass. Legacy Buffalo Grass is
propagated from cuttings rather than seed so it’s sold in trays of
plugs.

For more detailed information about planting Buffalo Grass see
this page http://www.highcountrygardens.com/articles/buffalo.html


*** The More Natural Prairie Appearance
If a prairie appearance is more to your taste, choose a native
grass seed mix then add some perennials. Blue Grama Grass is
another warm season variety that forms a dense
turf. It is suited to almost any kind of soil from clay to sand
and has care requirements similar to Buffalo grass. It can be
mowed but looks particularly beautiful when let go to seed. The
distinctive eyelash seed heads add a unique texture and grace to
the lawn.

For more detailed information about planting Blue Grama Grass see
these pages:
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/articles/gramased.html
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/articles/GramaPlugs.html


*** Grasses and Wildflowers
Native grass seed mixtures that contain a variety of different
grasses are ideal for landscapes where a more natural appearance
is desired. Mixtures will contain grasses that vary in height,
texture and color, especially in the fall. Incorporating
wildflowers will add beauty and have the added benefit of
attracting butterflies. Because there will be some height to this
type of lawn, it’s best suited for areas that don’t need a
neat
appearance. Our Western Trails Native Grass Seed mix is a new
introduction this year that is appropriate for most areas west of
the Mississippi River.

Going native with ornamental grasses and lawns not only makes good
sense from an environmental standpoint, but their easy care gives
you more time for other pursuits.


------------------------------------------------------------------
Seeding Grasses
By Cindy Bellinger

If I can grow grass from seed, anyone can. Last summer I sowed
some Grama Grass and after a few weeks, it looked lovely.
Granted, my plot was a tiny strip near a walkway, but the process
is the same no matter how large an area you're doing.

Preparing the Soil
Because most native grasses adapt well to poor soils, soil
enrichment is not required. However improving the soil prior to
planting will help sandy soils hold more water.

*** Clear the area of weeds and any remnants of former lawns.
*** Loosen soil to a depth of 3-4 inches; the comb the soil with a
rake, leaving some to the side to cover the seeds.

Preparing the Seed and Sowing
Thoroughly mix the seed in a bucket with moist sand. Use a ratio
of 2 parts seed, 1 part sand. Because grass seed is fluffy, this
technique helps sow the seed evenly.

*** Broadcast the seed/sand mixture by hand.
*** Use the flat side of a rake to smooth the soil over the seeds.
*** Top-dress with a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture and keep
birds from eating the seed.

Planting Seeds on a Slope
*** After sowing, cover the soil with an erosion preventing
material, like seed-free wheat or barley straw or aspen excelsior
matting that can be pegged into place. A biodegradable soil binder
can also be used to hold the soil in place. Contact your county
extension agent for sources of erosion prevention materials.

*** Water with a fine spray so it won't wash out the seeds and soil.

Watering and Germination
*** After sowing the seed, water thoroughly so the soil is wet to a
depth of 4-6 inches. Be prepared to water twice daily, morning and
evening. Each time, water enough to keep the top inch of the soil
damp. Continue twice daily watering until the grass has
germinated.

*** Warm night temperatures and moist soil help grasses germinate,
usually within 7 to 10 days of planting. Less than ideal
conditions such as windy weather, dry soil and cool nights (due to
a cold snap) will delay sprouting. If the seeds have not
germinated within 15 days, it may be necessary to re-sow more
seed.

Maintenance
*** Watering: Once established, native grass is very drought
tolerant. To keep it green and actively growing, some extra water
may be needed during the hottest part of the summer. Grama grass
may brown in extended periods of hot, dry weather but quickly
greens again after a few good rains.

*** Fertilizing: Apply a single application of Gro power 5-3-1 in
the early fall.

*** Mowing: This helps thicken a lawn. Two months after planting
cut the grass to a height of 3 to 4 inches. An established lawn
can be cut 1 or 2 times to a height of 3 to 4 inches over the
course of the summer if you want a more manicured look.

Plant Combination
This month we're featuring 'Hachita' Blue Grama Grass pictured
with perennials. It can be mowed or left looking a little wild.
Either way this is a great grass to grow with other native grasses
and perennials.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Garden Glossary

**Cool season grasses start greening up and do their growing
during the cooler months of spring and fall. They are the first
grasses
to turn green and will remain green late in the year. During the
hotter months of summer, they go dormant and turn brown unless
irrigated with lots of water to prevent them from going dormant.
Cool season grasses do best when planted in the spring.

**Warm season grasses start greening up when the weather and the
soil are warm. They do their growing during warm months and will
remain green during the hottest months. They remain dormant in
the early spring and will return to dormancy in mid-fall. Warm
season grasses do best when planted during warm months.


------------------------------------------------------------------
More Gardening Articles

For more information about soil, plants, garden history, botanical
news, watering and much more, sign up for our Weekly Newsletter
from Santa Fe Greenhouses, Inc.

*** Read Last Month's Articles from our Santa Fe Greenhouses Weekly
Newsletter.
· Visit us at Santa Fe Greenhouses, Inc

Bulb Baskets for Easter and Mother’s Day
Send colorful ready-to-bloom Holland bulbs for Mother’s Day. Our
flowering bulbs are pre-planted in lovely baskets or ceramic pots.
All you have to do is place them in a sunny window and
voila!—you'll have a beautiful blooming bouquet within three weeks
of arrival.

View Our Gift Bulb Baskets and Pots.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule for David Salman's Speaking Engagements

If you can get to one of his talks, do. You'll come away truly
inspired to get out in the garden.

* May 8, 2004 Santa Fe, New Mexico
--held at National Parks Service Office
Sponsored by Santa Fe Botanical Garden
Call (505) 428-1684 for more information.

David will talk about using ornamental and native grasses as
lawn substitutes.

Also speaking:
Mary Ann Walz: The Importance of Good Design
Lauren Springer: Making the Best of Challenging Sites

* June 18, 2004 Fort Collins, Colorado
--held at Lincoln Center, 6:30pm.

David will talk about gardening with waterwise perennials and
how to achieve more color with less water.

For more information, please visit http://www.fortnet.org/JLFC
------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Specials

Every week we have Internet Specials--plants, seeds, soil
amendments, fertilizers--just about anything for the garden. Keep
checking back to see the latest.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Weeks of Spring Shipping

Perennials are best planted 4 weeks prior to your last average
frost date. They enjoy the cooler weather to establish their roots
system. Be sure to place your spring plant order and arrange shipping
before the daytime temperatures are in the 90’s.



---
To send this newsletter to a friend, just forward this issue
to your fellow gardeners and they can subscribe by visiting
our website at http://www.highcountrygardens.com

Send comments, questions and reprint requests to the editor at:
feedback@highcountrygardens.com

Copyright 1998 - 2004
Santa Fe Greenhouses, Inc DBA
High Country Gardens

2902 Rufina Street
Santa Fe, NM 87507-2929
1-800-925-9387
plants@highcountrygardens.com

---
To subscribe to Xeriscape Gardens News
Send e-mail to join-gardens@highcountrygardens.com
or visit our web site http://www.highcountrygardens.com

You are currently on this list as barb@globalcircle.net

To leave this list,
please send a blank email to
leave-gardens-826067K@news.highcountrygardens.com
mailto:leave-gardens-826067K@news.highcountrygardens.com
or use this link:
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/manage_r?id=826067K




  • [Livingontheland] Xeriscape Gardening News, Tradingpost, 05/05/2004

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page