Rooting & Harvesting Beach Grass

Beach grass thrives in its natural environment.

Beach grass plays an important role in beach stabilization and dune succession. This beautiful, clumping grass has a root system that can develop roots several times longer than its above-ground height. This remarkable ability to root deeply from rhizomes allows it to grow in constantly shifting sand, anchoring dunes and preventing beach erosion. Though beach grass is happiest in its natural environment, it can be grown and harvested in the home landscape if given the proper soil, temperature, moisture and light conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Sand
• Shovel
• Sharp knife or grass clippers

Instructions

1. Purchase beach grass "plugs" from a commercial grower, and plan to plant in October or March for best results. Keep rhizomes moist until you are ready to plant them.

2. Buy enough bags of sand to create a soil bed about 18 inches deep, and large enough to space plugs 12 inches apart. Plan for the soil mix to be one part sand to two parts existing soil if you do not live in a beach environment.

3. Turn the soil of the bed with a shovel, breaking up clods and clumps and removing vegetation as you go. Add sand and mix. Water thoroughly.

4. Plant rhizomes in groups of three at least 8 inches deep and 12 inches apart, in rows 12 inches apart. If you are planting for erosion control, stagger the rows to get maximum soil anchoring.

5. Keep the bed moist for the next several weeks, while the rhizomes establish roots and begin to spread. Fertilize with a water-soluble plant fertilizer once a month.

6. Harvest between October and May, when the beach grass is dormant. Cut grasses 2 inches above the soil level with a sharp knife or grass clippers for use in dried arrangements or to gather seed heads for propagation. Rhizomes are also edible, and can be harvested as an emergency food source.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is a beach in your area, you may want to ask if there are any beach grass planting activities planned for public participation.

• Never transplant or harvest beach grass from a public or private beach without permission. Some beach organizations permit harvesting by the public at certain times of year.

References

• University of Rhode Island: Bioengineering for Coastal Bank Stabilization
• Rutgers University: Primary Dune / American Beach Grass
• Chalevoiux County Services: American Beachgrass Nursery

Resources

• NEMO: Beaches and Dunes
• Oceanica: Educator's Guide to Folly Beach, North Carolina