Native Grasses 101
A Perennial Planning Primer

© 2004 Wendy Dager

Since the 1800’s, California has lost what used to be the dominant cover crop of perennial grasses due to overgrazing and the introduction of exotic species (see "Mediterranean Grasses and How They Got Here: A Fable," The Best of the Leaf-let, http://www.albrightseed.com/medgrasses.htm). Now, thanks to seed collection and production, California native perennial grasses are once again available for use as cover crops as well as in parks and pastures and on golf courses.

The many benefits of a permanent stand of native grasses include reduced stormwater runoff, weed competition and fire hazards, along with lower maintenance responsibilities, better erosion control, aesthetic enhancement, and the establishment of a wildlife habitat.

In addition, the natural drought tolerance of California native perennial grasses means there is generally no need for supplemental irrigation once the grass is established.

However, when planning planting California native perennial grasses, the designer must take into consideration that, unlike annual grasses, perennials are slow growing and may take up to two years to develop into a solid stand.

While California native perennials are excellent for low-rainfall areas, some irrigation during establishment is recommended.

The optimum time to plant California native grass seed is in the fall, or in early spring, when moisture and soil temperatures are favorable for plant establishment. There are a few exceptions with warm season grasses, including Deergrass, Saltgrass and Squirreltail, which are best planted in the Spring.

At S&S Seeds, the most common failure we have seen in planting native grass revegetation sites is a lack of planning. That’s why it’s best to use the following checklist prior to beginning a project:

• Project timeline
• Budget
• Choice of plant material
• Soil preparation
• Soil fertility needs
• Planting method with rates of application
• Preplant weed control
• Supplemental irrigation needs
• First two years’ maintenance
• Long-term maintenance

To begin your planting plan, S&S Seeds invites customers to visit our Web site, http://www.ssseeds.com, and fill out the Seed Mix Design Criteria form so that our professional staff can analyze individual needs and create a customized mix for each project.

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