How to Grow Sea Oats

Sea oats are important for the creation and preservation of sand dunes along the shore. In many locations, wild sea oats are a protected species and removing the plants or collecting the seeds carries a hefty fine. However, certain nurseries are allowed to sell sea oats to the public; this is the only place from which you should obtain sea oat plants or seeds. Once you have purchased your sea oats it is relatively easy to get them to grow in a sunny part of your garden -- in fact, sea oats spread both by rhizomes (sprouts from spreading roots) as well as by seeds and are considered an invasive plant. Once established, your problem may be controlling their spread throughout your garden.

Things You'll Need

• Garden spade
• Wild sea oat plants or seeds
• Sharp knife
• Plastic bag

Instructions

1. Choose a sunny, well-drained location in which to plant your sea oats.

2. Turn the soil with your spade to loosen the soil at least 4 to 6 inches deep. Add a few handfuls of mulch to the soil and mix well with your spade. There is no need to add fertilizers.

3. Sea oats should be planted in late winter to very early spring. Dig a small hole just large enough to contain the roots of the plant and lightly pack soil around the plant at the same depth that the plant was planted in its container.

4. Water lightly and keep the soil moist but not wet. Sea oats can withstand drought conditions but they grow best in moist, well-drained soils.

5. Spread seeds on the ground, cover them with half an inch of soil, and water until moist if you wish to grow sea oats from seeds. Sea oats can also be propagated by separating plants with a sharp knife as they become larger .

6. Collect seeds each year by placing a plastic bag over the seed heads or by cutting the seed heads before the seeds begin to disburse. Save the seeds for future planting or discard. If seeds are not collected, they can spread rapidly throughout your garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep plants 5 to 8 inches apart as they will fill in as they grow.

• You may wish to put plastic barriers around your sea oats to prevent their unrestricted spread, but keep in mind that their seeds must be collected in order to prevent further spreading.

• Sea oats can withstand short periods of frost but they do not do well in locations with snow or extended periods of cold.

References

• U.S.D.A. Wild Oats Planting Guide
• How to Legally Grow Wild Sea Oats at Home