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Native grasses that grow near the seaside have to be able to survive under conditions that might damage or kill most plants. Soils tend to be sandy and drain very quickly. Soils and water tend to be salty, and there is often more wind than in other growing environments. Because of this, these grasses need to be tough and resistant to damage. While sand, wind and salt are common to most seaside growing environments, air and water temperatures vary according to region.
Xeriscaping is using little to no water in your landscaping. Find out how to xeriscape a yard with no grass with help from a home design professional in this free video clip.
Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum "Rubrum") enhances the garden with purple clumps in spring and summer, followed by burgundy plumes in autumn. The plant is perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. With ample protection, purple fountain grass grown in a container may survive winters in climates as low as USDA zone 7, as container growing drops hardiness by about two zones. Otherwise, grow the plant as an annual or bring it indoors for the winter.
With its bluish green hue, St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) prefers hot summers for the most vigorous growth. This warm-season grass acclimates well to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8 through 10, but can create problems when paired with nearby trees. Competition for natural resources, from sunlight to moisture, creates a garden battle that is quite often detrimental to both plant species.
The start of the gardening season is evident when seed packets, potting soil and seed-starter trays make an appearance in stores everywhere. The seed packets have instructions about when to start the seeds, the planting depth and general lighting requirements. The instructions do not explain the mechanisms of the seed-starting trays, including when the lid comes off or ventilation requirements for the seeds.
The three kinds of grass are clump-forming, which grows in a circumference and needs dividing every two to three years, rhizomatous, which spreads by way of underground stems, and stoloniferous, which spreads by lateral stems. The method for transplanting a grass depends on its type and whether it is lawn grass or ornamental grass. Ornamental grasses have become popular because they are versatile plants that can handle drought and wet weather and because they are frost-tolerant.
Your goal is a lush, full, deep green lawn, but right now, it looks a bit scraggly. Seeding your yard is often less expensive than sodding it, even though it means some extra work for you. Putting down too much grass seed isn't the way to get that full lawn you're seeking. It can, instead, make your lawn look sparse.
Unusual, colored patches across your lawn often indicate a fungal outbreak, especially if you notice grass die-back in the same area. In most lawns, small fungi populations exist because the fungi feed on organic material at the soil level. Improper lawn care, however, may encourage fungi replication. Combating the issue with fungicides stops the spread only temporarily until cultural practices such as mowing height and heavy shading are altered.
Since northern Ohio is in the cool-humid climatic grass zone, cool-season grasses work best here. The most common and successful turf grasses for the region are Kentucky bluegrass, tall and fine fescues, and perennial ryegrass. Any one of these can be used to create a beautiful lawn, and because they are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 7, they easily survive Ohio’s winters.
Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a clumping, tall-growing pasture grass that grows up to 4 feet tall. It is commonly used for moderately, low-water-use lawns. Tall fescue has tough blades and tolerates compacted soils, making it an excellent turf for sports, playgrounds and golf courses. Tall fescue grows in sun and partial shade in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. With proper care tall fescue grows quickly and completes the majority of its growth in the first third of the growing season.
Successful blueberry bushes (Vaccinium spp.) rely on acidic and well-draining soil, coupled with rich organic matter. With the blueberry's natural tendency to grow shallow, fine root systems, water is another key ingredient for high fruit yields. To conserve soil moisture and add nutrients at the same time, you can spread grass clippings around your blueberries as a mulch. However, there are both benefits and drawbacks to this inexpensive mulch.
When weddings take place outdoors on grass, brides have to pay very close attention to what they choose to wear. Learn about what brides wear on the grass with help from the marketing head for a prominent online and storefront wedding dress business in this free video clip.
Ponytail grass (Stipa tenuissima and Nasella tenuissima) is commonly called Mexican feather grass. A perennial that grows to a mature height of 2 1/2 feet, ponytail grass is green during its growth stage and then fades to a golden yellow at maturity. It flowers from June until August, even during its first year, and produces seed stalks. The plant survives drought conditions and winter weather by becoming dormant. While some gardeners might prefer to prune ponytail grass during the autumn, leaving the growth intact will help to protect its crown. Early spring is the best time to prune this plant.
Grass shears can allow you to really give your grass the love and care it deserves. Find out how to use grass shears with help from an expert with over two decades of experience working in Garden Centers in this free video clip.
Quack grass is a perennial plant that spreads both through seeds and rhizomes. Although it makes good pasture for animals, it becomes a persistent weed in lawns and gardens. Quack grass releases chemicals harmful to other plants both while it grows and when it decays. It becomes dormant in cold weather, but its underground rhizomes sprout again at the end of winter. Eliminating this noxious weed requires special attention throughout the seasons.
Grass is available in several varieties and in categories including size, color and blade shape. One main feature of grass types is their life cycle, which is annual, biennial or perennial. Annual grass produces seed and dies off within one growing season, while perennial grass lives for years, spreading mainly through underground roots. Biennial grass completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. Leaves and foliage grow the first season after planting. In the second season, the grass produces plumes and seeds.
Dandelions are typically thought of as weeds, but all parts of the dandelion plant have edible and medicinal value. This perennial weed sends out long taproots, making the dandelion difficult to eradicate entirely. The stem properties change as the plant flowers and sets seed. The stems begin their lives sturdy enough to support the flower; eventually they weaken and wither as their useful life ends.
The 2010 Nintendo DS game "Pokemon HeartGold" is the partner game to "Pokemon SoulSilver." While playing either version, you encounter Tangela in the Celadon City Gym. Tangela is a Pokemon, No. 114 in the Pokedex. If you want to prepare yourself for the Celadon City Gym battles to receive the Rainbow Badge, learn about Tangela's role in the gym.
Having a healthy lawn requires planning, time and work. Yard owners must determine the best time for planting a suitable grass variety for their area, have the soil tested and graded, and the seedbed conditioned, mulched and watered. Once established, homeowners must take steps protecting healthy grass from weakening. Weakened grass more likely suffers from harsh weather conditions, disease and insects, and has more weeds.
Human error, improper blade maintenance and incorrect mower adjustment are all reasons that a mower may not only fail to cut smoothly but also leave behind rows of uncut grass. These rows make the lawn look untidy. They also may interfere with the “striping” that lawn mowing leaves behind as it becomes necessary to backtrack over even passes in order to fix a missed spot. It also adds extra time to the job.
Foxtail refers to numerous varieties of grass that produce tall, spear-shaped clusters with potentially painful barbs and calluses. Some varieties of grass produce the occasional foxtail, while some largely consist of the spikes and, as a result, have become named for the foxtails themselves. These include yellow foxtail grass, green foxtail grass and creeping foxtail grass.
Using a broadcast spreader to apply grass seed to a lawn gets the job done faster and more evenly than doing it manually. Pull-behind broadcast spreaders made by John Deere are attached to a tractor to tow around a lawn. The settings for spreading grass seed will depend on the type of seed you are applying.
Border grass, also known as monkey grass or liriope, is not actually a grass, but a durable plant used as ground cover in gardens and as border plants on rock paths. It is resistant to drought and over watering once established and is fast growing. Because of this, you may find that it can quickly overgrow parts of your yard. The solution for this dilemma is to thin out the border grass and remove segments of it for transplant to other areas of your garden.
A grass marker is a small, flat stone or bronze marker for a grave that lies in the ground -- flush with the earth’s surface. Because of the weight of larger stones, it is best to leave the installation to professionals. In addition, larger stones need to be set in concrete. Individuals, however, can install small grass markers with the dimensions of 24 by 12 by 4 inches or less without a concrete bed. As long as it is allowed by the cemetery, you can save money and add a personal touch to your loved one’s grave by installing the…
Traditionally, weed trimmers have used plastic wire as their actual cutting mechanisms. The wire is usually wound on a spindle and fed out from the spindle as needed for grass trimming. As an alternative to this tradition, manufacturers such as Grass Samurai offer spindles that hold precut lengths of plastic wire that are simply taken out of the spindle by hand and replaced with another. Installing a Grass Samurai on your weed trimmer requires only a few basic steps.
Lepidium campestre is a winter annual that emerges in early spring. The flowering stems quickly develop a leaf stalk that produces alternating, young leaves. The hairy leaves are rounded at the top with lobed, toothed or smooth edges and taper as they approach the stalk. Lepidium campestre is commonly known as field pepperweed and has a long taproot. Flowering stems reach as high as 2 feet and produce clusters of white or greenish-tinted flowers. Field pepperweed is vigorously invasive and difficult to control after it matures and produces seeds. Address infestations early in the season to control Lepidium campestre.
If you live in an area that experiences winters with heavy rainfalls, choose varieties of ornamental grasses to plant more carefully than if you live in an area with dry winters. Only certain kinds of ornamental grasses tolerate wet winters or areas that stay saturated days after a rain. Plant these wet weather-tolerant grasses in your yard to avoid replacing dead specimens year after year.
Considered by some to be environmentally friendly because of the reduced need for water and fertilizer as well as reduced lawnmower emissions, artificial grass is gaining popularity around the United States. Installing the turf is difficult, however, and a perfectly fitted lawn requires specialized tools and knowledge. Professional fitters exist in every state and may be recognized by several authoritative bodies; you should only use a company that has good reviews and offers a money-back guarantee.
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans), sometimes spelled Indiangrass, is a native North American grass species. Indian grass grows on prairies with bluestem, switchgrass and other native species. Indian grass is useful as forage for both wildlife and domestic livestock, and has other uses in the management of prairie grasslands.
Daily batterings from foot traffic and just the nature of clay-rich soil can compact the dirt under a lawn. When it comes time for a new lawn, tilling is the one step you should not skip. Turning over the surface of the old lawn helps to improve the growth of the final yard.
Synthetic grass was initially known as “Astro turf” in the 1960s, when the Houston Astros used it for baseball games at the Astrodome. Also known as artificial turf, synthetic grass consists of rubber crumbs made from ground-up tires. Synthetic grass offers several advantages over natural grass. Among these advantages are less watering for growth and consistent green coloring. However, high costs and cleanup issues are some of the challenges that come from using synthetic grass fields.
Bent grass is a certain variety of grass popular for putting greens, among other things, because it is hardy and able to survive the winter. Grass in general appears to stop growing during the winter months, but in reality it only slows down. Grass is always growing, and if you live in a warmer climate or experience an unusually warm winter, the rate of growth might be noticeable. However, before you cut bent grass or any grass during the winter, make sure to do it right.
Broadleaf weeds are not a true grass plant, although they often go by this loose term, especially when they appear in the lawn. Broadleaf weeds differ from desirable lawn grasses in various ways. Identifying the broadleaf weeds and other varieties of weed grasses from among your lawn grass is the first step in eradicating these undesirable plants from your landscape.
When an object depreciates, its value is lower than it was when it was new. This concept applies to seeds of grasses and other plants as well as to automobiles, clothing and computers. When grass seed becomes older, the percentage of seeds that germinate will be less than that of fresh seed.
Grass driveway systems combine pavers with grass or groundcovers for aesthetic appearance and stormwater management. The pavers reduce impervious surfaces by 40 percent, an important factor in urban development. The system is designed to nurture grass, but the pavers need a stable subgrade to maintain their function as a rigid surface. Existing grass surfaces must be excavated and removed.
Sapphire and palmetto grasses are cultivars of St. Augustine grass, which is a warm-season lawn grass found in subtropical regions of the Southeastern United States. Both grasses produce thick, carpet-like lawns, if grown properly. Although they have many similarities, sapphire and palmetto grasses have differences in height requirements and leaf coloration. Both cultivars were introduced to the market in the past 20 years.
Lawns bring bright color and smooth texture to home landscapes, and they cover large tracts of land for a finished look. Lawn grasses like Bermuda and St. Augustine fall into the warm-season category, however, and brown out during the winter. Clover, on the other hand, produces bright greenery all year to supplement winter and summer lawns. The leaves bear decorative shapes for more interest, and spread over the ground. Add clover to your lawn for more coverage and year-round color.
Sedge is a grass-like plant that is often grown as an ornamental. While it shares some characteristics with grass, it displays others that clearly set these plants apart from each other. Both plants develop from seeds, but mature sedge plants produce small bulbs that allow them to reproduce perennially, while grasses depend upon seeds or runners for their propagation.
An aerator pokes holes through grass and thatch in your lawn, allowing water, air, and light to get through. Aerating your lawn twice a year, in the spring and fall, helps keep the grass healthy. Commercial aerators are available, but a simple DIY variety takes up little space in your garage or shed and is easy on the environment.
Yellowing or dead grass patches can ruin the beauty of your lawn. Weather, animals and disease can all cause grass yellowing. Preventing and curing the yellow areas depends on the reason for the damage. Identify the cause before you begin to treatment to ensure the problem doesn't return. Most yellowing issues can be resolved with simple changes.
Keeping your lawn green and attractive can confound the most determined homeowner. One solution is to use mulch. Many types of materials are useful as mulch, ranging from sawdust to landscape fabric. For lawns, it’s a matter of taking the grass catching mechanism off your lawnmower and allowing the cut grass to remain on the area.
Dormant seeding your cool-season lawn can be a good option if you have poorly draining soil that doesn’t dry out early enough to work in the spring. The freezing and thawing of the soil over the winter and spring help pull the seed down into the soil, increasing chances of successful germination. Dormant seeding may also give you additional time to find a contractor to do the work for you if you don't want to do it yourself, since you aren’t limited to the contractor's busy spring schedule.
Oats are one of the few grasses that offer beneficial nutrition to humans and wildlife. True oats belong to the Avena genus of plants. However, grasses from other plant genera also possess nutritional value for animals and have similarities to true oats such as seed-bearing capabilities, thin leaves and spiky inflorescences. These oat-like grasses make for attractive ornamentals and possible alternatives for eroded meadows that require revegetation.
Natural rock is a versatile material in the landscape and comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. It is especially useful for creating pathways, patio areas or even rock gardens. One of the most important steps in laying outdoor rock in the landscape is preparing a base for it that is free of grass and weeds. By digging up the existing grass and vegetation, you prevent it from growing in between the cracks later.
Growing grass on your roof makes the environment around your building cooler, releases more oxygen into the air and decreases stormwater run-off. Instead of having only shingles or concrete to look at, you can create an urban meadow on your roof. The grass becomes a habitat for beneficial insects and birds. Taking care of your green roof provides exercise and fresh air for you as well, and a conversation piece for your neighborhood. Depending on the type of plants you install and the square footage you're covering, you can expect to pay $8 to $20 a square foot for a…
Shenandoah switch grass (Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah') is an ornamental wild grass known for its bright colors. One of the shortest varieties of switch grasses, Shenandoah grasses grow to about 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. If you are looking to give your garden a wild feel, consider planting this variety.
Adding a Craftsman grass catcher to your lawn tractor can cut your mowing time in half. Once that grass catcher unit is in place, you no longer have to rake up and bag lawn clippings. Instead you can simply catch them in the bagger and either discard them or use them to mulch your lawn and garden.
Tiger grass is a tall ornamental grass that resembles bamboo. The most challenging part about trimming this tall plant is managing its size, which can exceed three meters. The leaves of the grass are used throughout Asia to wrap food for steaming and the purple flowers are used to make the ends of brooms. Because the plant grows so fast, it could require frequent trimming to keep it manageable.
Healthy lawn grass is an emerald carpet of lush, thick growth that naturally protects itself from weeds and insect predators. When the grass turns brown and growth becomes wispy or stunted, the cause could be insects, disease or maintenance problems. The only way to solve the problem efficiently is to identify its source.
Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is a type of ornamental grass that is often used in landscaping. These plants are easy to grow and they generally require low maintenance. Maiden grass grows well in full-sun locations and has a good tolerance to drought. These grasses are native to eastern Asia and most varieties grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 9.
