Now that my sidewalk was demolished and repaved, my parkway is a blank slate. I'm planning to use 'Thunder Turf', which is a mix of buffalo grass, blue grama and curly mesquite. The parkway gets plenty of sun so that's not an issue. I just don't have any experience sowing seeds in such a large (for me) area. I've forgotten the exact measurements, but it's approx. 75' long and maybe 4' wide. Any suggestions, experiences (good or bad) to share, advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated. The nursery said I should sow in mid-April. I know I'm going to have to go back to hear instructions again (should have taken notes) b/c the guy said something about placing a board on top of the seeds - - - maybe as I'm sowing? In the meantime I'll be watching for weeds.
Experience planting native shortgrass mix in front yard?
? curly mesquite ? as a groundcover ?
pld tell me about it
I don't really know what Curly Mesquite is. Or Blue Grama. All I can tell you is that according to the label on the bag, the seed mix (by weight) is 82% Buffalograss, 17% Blue Grama, and 1% Curly Mesquite.
Aside from watering until the grass mix is established, after that there will be no watering, no mowing, no fertilizing, and no amendments. I like that idea. Website is seedsource.com
Hilaria belangeri, bouteloua dactyloides, bouteloua gracilis. prairie type, sod establishing grasses- 4"to10" tall. Will make a good place for prairie flowers to mix in with...
Thanks, Kitt. I had found the name last night before I went to bed so I just now came to this thread to type it in. See you beat me to it. Only name I found was the 1st one, Hilaria belangeri.
I went to a seminar last spring and was given a copy of the 2013 Practical Guide to EcoLogical Solutions (the grass edition)/catalog. Just came across it while weeding thru my bookshelves. Here's what it says:
"Highly drought tolerant native can grow on as little as 5" of rainfall/yr. Forms stolens and runners, excellent for dry soils that are difficult to vegetate. Best in full sun. Great source of of forage for wildlife and livestock. [Next is where it applies to me.] Can be used in combination with other short-grass natives such as Buffalograss and Blue Grama for a fantastic low-maintenance turf grass . . . ."
Leafing (no pun) thru this guide I was surprised to find that there is a shade-friendly native grass mix. Too bad I didn't read about that years ago before I planted the evil and vicious purple wintercreeper. I doubt if there is any way possible to totally get rid of that pesky groundcover. Admittedly, it does well in the shade of my large magnolia. However, I wish I'd been forewarned before planting it.
Anyway, don't know if you'd have to pay to get a copy of this guide but I see where you can get a case (approx. 100) of past catalogs for free.
Again, website is www.seedsource.com.
Phone# 800.728.4043
Email: info@seedsource.com
There are 1 or 2 other companies that also sell native grasses. Think one is called Habiturf. It's been planted at the George W. Bush Library at SMU in Dallas and I may have to go check it out when I feel up for a stroll.
Apologies to Josephine and helpers. I didn't realize that the sticky about natives included grasses. I'll take a closer look and see if I can add anything.
But I do still want to know about planting the Thunder Turf grass mix. From 2 different nurseries I was told 2 diff. things re planting it. Wouldn't mind a tie-breaker.
Since the parkway is very rocky, I thought that after I finish (ha!) weeding I should amend the soil a little. One guy said no. Another said yes. Anyone???
It will revert if you amend, the stuff will or will not survive the orig soil best. Rocky, as in Limestone rocky just makes cleaning pristine a nightmare. When I used to plow, i noticed every year rocks kept coming to the top and needing dealt with every year anyway. There should be info you can request from our aggies on pasturage grasses that gives you information on tendencies of the grasses to turn to sugars, mold, etc- i remember i had a packet once to specifically be horse/cow biased. The 3 grasses you have wont grow if too shady or too sandy, but several resources around east Tx all recommend these grasses as a same solution to the area's problems like you have.
I am no expert, but I would REALLY do my homework before introducing new things
like the curly mesquite.
Having grown up around mesquite trees, which are scrub, they are xeric, but have
very long taproots, have nasty thorns and impossible to eradicate ! I am not saying
this is the same species, but there are undesirable traits.
Buffalo grass works well around here. I just would be careful with mixes.
Read up on TX A & M website, Texas Soil Ccnservation District, and wildflower.org
and see what they say.
You could always spread rock on that strip and make a rock garden.