Re: California Native Grass Lawns

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bracey Tiede" <tiede@pacbell.net>
To: "'medit-plants discussion'" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 4:44 PM
Subject: RE: California Native Grass Lawns


> We are also removing our lawn and planting natives grasses this winter.
>
> Our last vestige of lawn is 3-6' wide by 25' long with a few clumps of
existing
> tall fescue.   We are currently killing that off.  I've never started a
lawn
> from seed before so have lots of questions.
>
> - The native plant person in me says to just scatter the seed without
loosening
> the soil and watch it magically grow.  The lawn is at the bottom of a
shallow
> slope that gets muddy in the winter so I'm expecting the seed to germinate
fine.
> Is this expectation realistic or do native grasses germinate better with
less
> moisture?  Should we try to start plugs instead?
>
> - The old-time gardener in me says to remove the old grass plants, dig up,
turn
> over and amend the soil, then plant and watch it magically grow.   Do
native
> grasses really resent this kind of soil prep?
>
> - The birder in me says to protect the new grass with row cover to keep
the many
> birds from eating the new growth.  Perhaps a small particle mulch might
work
> too.  Any ideas on this?
>
> We stopped at Theodore Payne Foundation on the way back from the meeting
in
> Pasadena and picked up three grass seed packets:  Nassella  cernua,
Nassella
> pulchra, Melica imperfecta.  These grasses  stay at or below two feet that
> should survive the occasional human with garden cart rolling over it.  We
don't
> have any plans to mow the new 'lawn'.  Perhaps we might divide the clumps
every
> couple of years to fill it in.
>
> Any pointers from someone with native grass experience would be most
welcome.
>
> Cheers,
> Bracey
>
> Dear Bracey,

     The first question I have is: how muddy or wet does the area you wish
to plant get?  The grasses which you have seed for need some drainage.  The
wet part is okay, but if the soil stays soggy for long after it rains, the
grasses will rot. But you could use native sedges if this is the case.
     The grasses that you intend to plant, Nassella pulchera  Purple Needle
Grass, Nassella cernua  Nodding Needle Grass, and Melica imperfecta  Melic
Grass (one of my favorites) have very different cultural needs.  The
needle-grasses are easy and invasive. They will handle most situations but
prefer to have (and look better with) only occasional Summer water, and some
drainage (they like a little bit of a slope).  They are beutiful, however
the seeds are evil.  They are indeed needles and they will easilly attach to
clothing and pets.  They can and do work themselves into fabric and into the
skin.  I like them in places where they can be free to spread and are well
away from me and my dogs (who suffer greatly from them).  Melica imperfeta
is to die for.  Sporting refined, green leaf blades and flowers producing
black seeds, it is very desirable.  Unfortunately it is one of the more
difficult native grasses to grow.  Melicas like sharp drainage and
protection (north facing slopes are good).  In the wild they are always
found on steep, rocky slopes with some water and protection.
     I would not amend the soil, if the area supported a lawn of any kind it
will be good enough for natives.  Either remove the old stuff or spray it
with Round-up.  Then just plug your grasses directly into the dead turf or
bare earth.  I do not recommend spreading the seed on site.  Unless you have
a lot of seed to work with, it probably would only give you a scattering of
plants.  Birds adore native grass seed and will quickly ravage a site.
Plant in plug trays or flats and transplant once the roots show themselves
through the bottom.  Use any good potting soil mixed with a slow release
fertilizer, I recommend Dr.Earth Organic 4-4-4.  Cover the trays with a fine
wire mesh to protect against birds. Place flats where they will get some sun
but have some protection from rain.  Snails and slugs like baby grasses and
may need to be controlled (hunting them at night is effective).  Once mature
in containers, most native grasses are easy to transplant and rarely
disturbed by pests.
     Larner Seeds is a good source of California native grass seed and
planting information (P.O. Box 407, 235 Fern Road, Bolinas California
94924,send them $2.50 for a catalog)
     Please let me know if you have any questions.

     Regards, Tim Kalman
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