   Selecting Native Grass Seed - February 25, 2009 Jeff Schalau, Associate Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Last week’s Backyard Gardener addressed the reasons to use native grasses for erosion control. Seed companies test the purity and germination percentages of seed lots and express it as percent Pure Live Seed (PLS). In general, higher PLS rates translate into more vigorous and healthy seed for a given grass species. Make sure you ask for the percent PLS, especially if you are buying a large quantity or expensive species. The grasses listed below are native, drought tolerant, perennial species suitable for erosion control in the Verde Valley area. It not all-inclusive, but contains species that are attractive and non-invasive. Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) is a warm season bunchgrass. It is found on bottomlands of the Verde Valley and other areas where runoff water collects. It is an excellent substitute for pampasgrass in landscapes. Black grama (Bouteloua eriopodia) is a warm season sod forming grass that prefers limestone derived soils. It will root at nodes under favorable conditions to form new plants. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is a warm season sod forming grass. One of the most widely distributed of the native grasses in the western U.S. Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) is a warm season, low-growing, sod forming grass. A native of the Great Plains and parts of Arizona. It is well adapted and spreads rapidly by stolons (above ground runners) to form a dense sod. Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) is a close cousin of blue grama and also a warm season sod forming grass. Hairy grama can be distinguished for blue grama by the needle-like rachis that projects beyond the spikelet-bearing portion of the seed head. Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) is a cool season bunchgrass. It is well adapted to course, well-drained soils and attractive to birds and small mammals. Needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa comata) is a cool season bunchgrass. It is well adapted to coarse, well-drained, limestone derived soils. It is very attractive when seed heads are backlit. Plains lovegrass (Erigrostis intermedia) is a warm season bunchgrass. It has a deep root system and is a highly desirable forage plant. Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) is a warm season bunchgrass that thrives on sandy soils. It establishes easily and is widely used for erosion control. Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) is a warm season bunchgrass. Grows best on slopes with medium to fine textured soils. Tobosa (Hilaria mutica) is a warm season sod forming grass. It often grows on clay soils on benches and swales. It is highly drought resistant once established. Vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum) is a warm season sod forming grass. It is an excellent soil stabilizer, but prefers low areas having fine textured soils. Each of the above listed species should perform well alone or in combination. Some species may be available from local nurseries. Seeding rates and additional information are available from reference books and venders listed below. Each is a reputable company and several of them also have additional information on their web sites. Curtis and Curtis, 4500 N. Prince, Star RT. Box 8A, Clovis, NM 88101, (505) 762-4759, Fax: (505) 763-4213, web site: www.curtisseed.com. Granite Seed, 1697 West 2100 North, Lehi, UT, 84043, (801) 768-4422, Fax: (801) 768-3967, web site: www.graniteseed.com. Pawnee Buttes Seed, P.O. Box 100 605 25th Street, Greeley, CO. 80632 (800) 782-5947 (970) 356-7002 Fax (970) 356-7263, web site: www.pawneebuttesseed.com. Wind River Seed, 3075 Lane 51 ½, Manderson, WY 82401, (307) 568-3361, Fax: (307) 568-3364, web site: www.windriverseed.com. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest control. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 ext. 14 or E-mail us at cottonwoodmg@yahoo.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. |