Looking for a native grass to plant in drainage swale that will be mowed - Ask Extension
The area is mostly in sun. Some shade. I'm digging out a swale to move rain water (which seems to be coming down in much greater torrents these days...
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Looking for a native grass to plant in drainage swale that will be mowed #715556
Asked August 20, 2020, 10:40 AM EDT
The area is mostly in sun. Some shade. I'm digging out a swale to move rain water (which seems to be coming down in much greater torrents these days) away from my garden and lower yard. I was going to plant a seed mix from a garden center, then saw that clover was a possibility and then waw this site talking about MD native grasses:https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/ornamental-and-native-grasses-landscape
My question: can any of these grasses be mowed without ruining their soil stablization benefits? Looks? The swale is in the middle of a lawn and I don't want to have to make the whole back yard into a garden. Also, if one of these grasses will work, can I seed this Fall? Where can I buy the seed?
Thanks,
Jim
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi Jim- The grasses listed on that page of our website are taller ornamental grasses that would not take regular mowing like turfgrass. In general, these ornamental grasses are are cut back once each year prior to new growth. Also, for a swale, you will want to choose grasses that can handle periodic inundation. So, for a native grass in a sunny swale location, two good options from the list would be dwarf red swithgrass (Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah') and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'). Keep in mind that these grow to a height of 3-4' and 2-3', respectively. Both are very attractive ornamental grasses: the switchgrass has a reddish-burgandy color and the little bluestem, bluish, obviously.
For a swale, it is also fine to use regular turfgrass, if you prefer to keep the area mowed rather than having more of a garden look. Or perhaps you could use a combination or the turf and some ornamental grasses.
Here is a good fact sheet on grass swales from the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/spes/spes-12/SPES-12.pdf
Yet another option you might consider are sedges (Carex spp.), which have a grassy appearance but with a lower stature (2' or less, usually) compared to the ornamental grasses mentioned above. These are also not plants you would mow like turfgrass. There are different species of sedges that grow very well in moist soil. There is a good basic list on this page, https://www.plantnovanatives.org/groundcovers
Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County has a nice variety of sedges planted in its bioretention gardens in the visitor parking lot area. You might want to make a visit there to have a look at the sedges they have established (they are labeled) to get ideas and decide if you like the look.
Ornamental grasses and sedges are more readily available as plants rather than seeds. Some good sources are listed on the Maryland Native Plant Society website, https://mdflora.org/nurseries.html
Christa
For a swale, it is also fine to use regular turfgrass, if you prefer to keep the area mowed rather than having more of a garden look. Or perhaps you could use a combination or the turf and some ornamental grasses.
Here is a good fact sheet on grass swales from the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/spes/spes-12/SPES-12.pdf
Yet another option you might consider are sedges (Carex spp.), which have a grassy appearance but with a lower stature (2' or less, usually) compared to the ornamental grasses mentioned above. These are also not plants you would mow like turfgrass. There are different species of sedges that grow very well in moist soil. There is a good basic list on this page, https://www.plantnovanatives.org/groundcovers
Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County has a nice variety of sedges planted in its bioretention gardens in the visitor parking lot area. You might want to make a visit there to have a look at the sedges they have established (they are labeled) to get ideas and decide if you like the look.
Ornamental grasses and sedges are more readily available as plants rather than seeds. Some good sources are listed on the Maryland Native Plant Society website, https://mdflora.org/nurseries.html
Christa
