![\"Eastern](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Eastern-Redbud.jpg\")
So, you just installed a new lawn, and you want to finish off your landscaping with some stunning plants. But not all plants are ideal for Missouri’s climate, which ranges from cold and snowy in winter to steamy in the summer. Consider going with landscaping plants that look great and are well-adapted to our climate. […]
\n","content":"\nSo, you just installed a new lawn, and you want to finish off your landscaping with some stunning plants. But not all plants are ideal for Missouri’s climate, which ranges from cold and snowy in winter to steamy in the summer. Consider going with landscaping plants that look great and are well-adapted to our climate.
\n\n\n\nHere are 13 plants that grow naturally in Missouri and are well-suited to the state’s climate and soil conditions.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nNative plants are not only accustomed to the local climate and soil conditions, but they also provide essential habitat and food for native wildlife. By incorporating native plants into your landscaping, you create an easy-care, biodiverse environment and reduce chemical usage.
\n\n\n\nTake a look at these 13 examples of Missouri natives.
\n\n\n\nTip: Are you located in St. Louis? Check out our grass guide and our native plant guide for the area.
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEastern redbud bursts with dainty, pink flowers early in the spring, even before its leaves emerge. It makes your yard look stunning and attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, adding beauty and biodiversity to your outdoor space.
\n\n\n\nHowever, take note that Eastern redbud tends to struggle against some diseases and insects, so extra preventive care will be needed alongside other maintenance.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water needs: Moderate
Soil: Prefers at least a moderate level of fertility, well-drained, consistently moist but not wet
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 20 to 30 feet
Potential hazards: No major hazards known for people or common (large) pets, but caution is always advised
![\"Prairie](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Prairie-Blazing-Star.jpg\")
Photo Credit: cultivar413 / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA real showstopper, the prairie blazing star is sure to catch the attention of anyone that visits your yard, including wildlife. This summer bloomer produces beautiful purple flowers, can grow up to 4 feet tall, and needs minimum maintenance. Prairie blazing star rarely faces problems with diseases or insect pests, too.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Keep soil dry or moderately moist
Soil: Average, well-drained
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 2 to 5 feet
Potential hazards: No major hazards known for people or common pets, but caution is always advised
![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8173412518_9b3cd7aa35_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Andrey Zharkikh / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLance-leaved coreopsis, also known as tickseed, is a yellow wildflower that’s both pleasant to the eye and appealing to wildlife such as pollinators and birds. It grows up to 3 feet tall even in dry conditions and spreads easily. Just be careful that your lance-leaved coreopsis doesn’t end up overtaking your yard!
\n\n\n\nCoreopsis species are usually seen as non-toxic, but there are some reports of lance-leaved coreopsis being toxic to livestock, so be cautious.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Wildflower
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Keep the soil dry or moderately moist
Soil: Loamy, sandy, dry to medium moisture, well-drained; ideally poor, sandy or rocky soils
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: Some reports of toxicity
![\"Aromatic](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Aromatic-Aster.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Lydia Fravel / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAromatic aster blooms with purple, daisy-like flowers. Although the flowers themselves aren’t particularly fragrant, the flowerheads and foliage give off a balsam-like smell when crushed. The aromatic aster is easy to care for and keep healthy, and it attracts wildlife like bees and butterflies. The threatened checkerspot butterfly even uses the aromatic aster as its host plant.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Soil should be dry to moderately moist
Soil: Clay or sandy
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: Lack of data, but some aster variants are reported to be toxic, so practice caution
![\"picture](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/american-beautyberry.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Donald Lee Pardue / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe American beautyberry produces small pink flowers in the spring and a showy display of purple berries in the fall. The berries not only stand out with their bright color, but are also a real treat for various songbirds. Moreover, American beautyberry is an easy-care plant that’s relatively resistant to drought and insects.
\n\n\n\nAlthough some sources report the berries to be non-poisonous for humans, it’s better to act with caution because they may have mild toxic effects. Moreover, there’s a lack of data surrounding toxicity to domestic animals, so it’s better to keep them from eating any part of the plant.
Plant type: Shrub
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Low
Soil: Clay, loamy, sandy, moist, well-draining, rich in organic matter; tolerant of various soil types as long as it gets good drainage
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 3 to 8 feet
Potential hazards: Mild toxic effects reported; a lack of data regarding toxicity to pets
![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Purple-Coneflower.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PumpkinSky / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you want your yard to turn into a purple paradise in the summer, purple coneflower is another flower to add to it. It produces lovely, bright purple petals, and also provides food for pollinators and birds. The plant is self-seeding, although you may need to divide its clumps every few years. Also, note that the purple coneflower may sometimes suffer from diseases.
\n\n\n\nThe plant is toxic to people and animals so make sure you enjoy it with your eyes only.
Plant type: Flower
Sun: Full sun or partial shade (does best in full sun)
Water needs: Keep the soil dry or moderately moist
Soil: Average, well-drained
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 2 to 5 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"colorful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Butterfly-Milkweed.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eric Hunt / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe butterfly milkweed, also known as butterfly weed and orange milkweed, is listed on the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Plants of Merit, meaning that it grows outstandingly well in Missouri and surrounding regions. It’s an easy-care plant that tends to resist diseases and insect pests and isn’t invasive in the area.
Butterfly milkweed establishes in 2 to 3 years and then produces beautiful, atypical orange blossoms that produce nectar for pollinators. Moreover, milkweed is the only host plant for the monarch butterfly.
Plant type: Herb
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Low
Soil: Sandy, poor, average, dry to medium, well-drained
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1 to 2 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"Downy](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Downy-Phlox.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDowny phlox, also called prairie phlox, blooms with fragrant purple flowers that attract butterflies. While it blooms in the summer, it may produce a second, sparser round of blooms in the fall. Moreover, the downy phlox seldom faces problems with diseases and insects; just look out for spider mites, which may sometimes be a problem during the heat of summer.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
Sun: Full sun
Water needs: Moderate
Soil: Fertile and moderately dry or moist, well-drained
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1 to 1.5 feet
Potential hazards: Lack of data; always practice caution
![\"yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Black-eyed_susan_flowers_40862429212.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Michel Rathwell from Cornwall, Canada / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you want to add an easy-care, vibrant splash of color to your garden, consider planting black-eyed Susan. The cheerful yellow and black flower blooms within a year and stands up well to heat, drought, and cold.
\n\n\n\nTake caution, though; black-eyed Susan is toxic to animals. There’s a lack of data regarding its toxicity to humans, but it causes allergic reactions in some people. To be on the safe side, don’t consume it, handle it with gloves, and keep it away from pets.
Plant type: Wildflower
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water needs: Moderate
Soil: Average, well-draining, acidic
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"Zigzag](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Zigzag-Goldenrod.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you want to plant beautiful tall trees or perhaps add some hardscapes to your outdoor area, zigzag goldenrod is a a great accent piece. It provides your lawn with a pop of yellow whether it grows in full sun or some shade. Moreover, zigzag goldenrod attracts pollinators and rarely deals with diseases and insect pests.
\n\n\n\nAlthough goldenrod plants are sometimes used as a supplement, it’s important to consult a medical professional before doing so. Some people, like pregnant and nursing women or people with health problems, shouldn’t use goldenrod supplements. Furthermore, it’s important to note that some species of goldenrod, such as rayless goldenrod, are toxic to some animals.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
Sun: Full sun to full shade (prefers partial shade)
Water needs: Moderate
Soil: Average, well-drained
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 1 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: Goldenrod supplements may have side effects, so consult a professional before taking them; some goldenrod species are toxic to some animals, and there’s a lack of data about the Solidago flexicaulis species, so practice caution and don’t let animals eat them
![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wild-Hydrangea-Hydrangea-arborescens.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWild hydrangea is a showy plant that’s also listed on the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Plants of Merit, meaning that it grows outstandingly well in Missouri and the surrounding regions. It tolerates a variety of soils as long as it gets enough moisture. Because wild hydrangea grows well in wet soils, it’s a perfect choice for a rain garden. However, the plant is susceptible to some diseases and insect pest problems, so it needs some extra care.
\n\n\n\nBe cautious, though, because all parts of this plant are toxic if ingested.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
Sun: Partial shade
Water needs: Moderate
Soil: Rocky, shallow, clay, average
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 3 to 5 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eric Hunt / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlowering dogwood is a spring bloomer that looks great and attracts wildlife. Bees and butterflies enjoy its nectar and use it to lay eggs, and birds feast on its red berries in the fall. With its spring flowers and fall berries, flowering dogwood can help your yard stand out throughout the year. However, take note that the tree is susceptible to some diseases, and will need moderate maintenance.
\n\n\n\nAlso, it’s important to know that the tree, including the berries, is very poisonous to humans and pets. Never consume any part of it; leave it for local wildlife instead.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Small tree
Sun: Full sun, partial shade; prefers partial shade
Water needs: Can handle occasional dryness; prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soil
Soil: Prefers high organic matter content; will tolerate sand, loam, and clay mixes
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 12 to 30 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic
![\"Pawpaw](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pawpaw.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPawpaw offers a touch of tropical beauty with purple flowers in spring and fruits that mature in early fall. It’s a favorite snack of various pollinators, birds, and other wildlife like squirrels and raccoons. Because the tree likes moist soil, it’s ideal for a rain garden.
\n\n\n\nHowever, even though pawpaw is commonly seen as edible, it’s actually been found to contain harmful chemical compounds with toxic effects. You can consult a medical professional if you want to discuss the safety of the fruit. Avoid feeding it to your pets.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
Sun: Full sun to partial shade; prefers full sun
Water needs: Keep soil moderately moist to wet but well-drained
Soil: Tolerates average soil; prefers fertile, acidic soils
Duration: Perennial
Mature height: 15 to 30 feet
Potential hazards: Contains harmful toxins
For more information about native plants, you can check out GrowNative.org, where you can find a comprehensive list of plants that are native to Missouri.
\n\n\n\nWith such a wide selection of native plants, you can create a yard that not only looks beautiful but also supports local wildlife. Make sure you also pick one of the best grasses for Missouri to complement your plant selection.
\n\n\n\nOnce you pick the right plants and grass, you’re not done just yet. Your yard will need regular maintenance to thrive. If you’d like some help from a pro, get in touch with one of Wikilawn’s lawn care pros in Missouri.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Missouri Botanical Garden / Pixabay
\n","title":"Best Landscaping Plants for Your Missouri Yard","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/1789c/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/107df/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.jpg 320w,\n/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/293e9/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.jpg 500w,\n/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/f2cbb/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.jpg 800w,\n/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/1789c/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.jpg 960w,\n/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/c26c2/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/1dd6e/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/67b76/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.webp 320w,\n/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/8df11/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.webp 500w,\n/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/98a65/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.webp 800w,\n/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/1dd6e/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.webp 960w,\n/static/ca45823f31b1c2d3fe764e0f1bfe88b9/3cc96/Missouri-Botanical-Garden.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Best Landscaping Plants for Your Missouri Yard","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Great landscaping turns an ordinary yard extraordinary, and it’s not difficult to achieve if you use the right plants and then give them a little TLC."}},"relatedPosts":[{"node":{"id":"a34e55ba-1d87-5875-b0d3-f4db65c53f93","slug":"best-native-plants-baltimore","path":"/lawn-care/md/baltimore/best-native-plants-baltimore/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Ayoola Azzan is a versatile writer and investment enthusiast who hails from Nigeria. He loves developing an impactful course and enjoys meditating when at leisure.","name":"Ayoola Azzan","id":"bbad4bd5-6d15-5dbd-a18e-a835dfd091f5","path":"/author/ayoola-azzan/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bd07aedf4f4c15974bb501275dee93ce?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"d65d5975-f3bf-56a0-86b3-804de72f0ba7","name":"Baltimore","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/md/baltimore/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"2a5e33f9-ad47-575e-b414-2fa0c9049fd1","name":"Maryland","count":8,"path":"/category/lawn-care/md/"}],"date":"April 5th, 2023","excerpt":"There’s a reason that Baltimore has some of the most beautiful parks on the Eastern seaboard. It’s located in a temperate climate that supports an incredible array of plants. But you don’t have to go to a park to experience all this natural beauty, though. Carefully landscaping your Baltimore yard with native plants gives you […]
\n","content":"\nThere’s a reason that Baltimore has some of the most beautiful parks on the Eastern seaboard. It’s located in a temperate climate that supports an incredible array of plants.
\n\n\n\nBut you don’t have to go to a park to experience all this natural beauty, though. Carefully landscaping your Baltimore yard with native plants gives you the best chance at establishing a yard that is both visually appealing and hardy.
\n\n\n\nBut why native plants?
\n\n\n\nFinding native plants that thrive in the garden can be difficult, as not all are suitable. That’s why we have compiled a list of 11 native plants for your Baltimore home and garden project.
\n\n\n\nWhat we’ll cover in this article:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Wild](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/5992418976_285495a522_c-646x485.jpg\")
Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nWild bergamot, also known as bee balm, is a popular ornamental perennial that produces clusters of lavender, pink or white flowers. It is one of the easiest wildflowers to grow, with beautiful blooms that last from mid to late summer. With its mint-scented leaves, bergamot is great for mint tea and bouquets.
\n\n\n\nMonarda fistulosa is very appealing to butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bees, which are helpful pollinators—probably why it is also called bee balm. This plant tolerates most soils and a partial shade to full sun location but should not be watered to avoid powdery mildew.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1.5 to 5 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Can range from light to deep green to red or purple tinted
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, loamy
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to medium
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic and no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"Close](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-76.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: rockerBOO / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nNamed for the bright red color of the Roman Catholic cardinal’s robe, the cardinal flower is recognizable from a distance. It is very hardy, easy to care for, and simple to grow. It blooms for a long time and boasts an intense red color when other perennials are withering. Although the cardinal flower can tolerate full sun or light shade, it is most likely to thrive in filtered light.
\n\n\n\nThis showy perennial is common in Baltimore in marshes, stream banks, and low woods and is favored by hummingbird species for its sweet nectar.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Wildflower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 4 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Can range from light to deep green to red or purple tinted
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, loamy, moist
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic if eaten in large quantities
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Eric Hunt / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nButterfly milkweed, also known as chigger flower, orange milkweed, and pleurisy root, is a colorful native flower that makes a wonderful addition to butterfly gardens, rain gardens, native plantings, prairies, and home gardens. When in bloom (often from May to September), it is easily identified by the flat-topped clusters of large, bright orange flowers at the top.
\n\n\n\nTo thrive, this plant requires direct sunlight. However, it can grow in any soil if it is well-drained, although it prefers sandy soils. As its name suggests, butterfly milkweed serves as a vital host plant, attracting swarms of butterflies.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Wildflower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1 to 3 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Leaves turn a dull yellow in the fall
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Sandy, loamy, well-drained
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to medium
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"close-up](\"https://lawnlove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_chelone_glabra_-_white_turtlehead.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nTurtlehead, a perennial wildflower of the plantain family, takes its name from its distinctive flowers, which resemble the head of a turtle. The leaves are green, but the flowers are pinkish-purple and bloom between mid-summer and fall.
\n\n\n\nTurtleheads thrive in moist places in any landscape but are also hardy enough to grow in dry soils. They look best when planted in masses, so it’s best to plant them in groups rather than individually.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Wildflower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3 to 8 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, sandy, loamy, well-drained
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic and no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"clusters](\"https://lawnlove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_1024px-viburnum_dentatum_1zz.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nThis native shrub has the charm and hardiness for a wide range of climates, so it will fit into any landscape. It displays a massive showy bloom from late spring to late summer with flat-topped creamy-white flowers and blue-hued berries that are attractive to birds and wildlife. It’s a great species for beautification, wildlife habitat, and gardens or hedges.
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of care, the Southern arrowwood shrub is relatively low maintenance due to its adaptability to a variety of soil conditions and locations and has no severe plant or disease problems. The medicinal properties of arrowwood have been known for a long time. Historically, all parts of the plant have been used in various preparations to help heal the body.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 8 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Leaves turn shades of yellow, red, or orange
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial sun, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, sandy, loamy,
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic and no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/columbine-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jason Hollinger / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nWild red columbine, also known as Eastern or Canadian columbine, is known for its stunning bell-shaped bloom of red and yellow flowers that appear from late spring to early summer. The beautiful blooms, easy growth, and all-around charm of this native plant make it suitable for home gardens.
\n\n\n\nWhile the toxicity of wild red columbine makes it of little value to most herbivores as a food source, its nectar and foliage provide food for bees, hummingbirds, and insects. As a self-seeding perennial, it spreads more quickly, making it an excellent ground cover.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 3 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: N/A
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial sun, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, sandy, loamy,
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low, average
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Partly toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"four](\"https://lawnlove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_1024px-smooth_blue_aster_symphyotrichum_laeve_washington_island_wisconsin.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nThis herbaceous perennial is one of the most attractive of the asters, and its smooth leaves set it apart from other asters. It is cold-hardy and continues to thrive even after other plants have faded. It boasts delicate lavender-blue flowers that bloom from August through November and daisy-like petals that give your landscape a whimsical and charming look.
\n\n\n\nMany pollinating insects are attracted to the smooth blue aster, and birds enjoy the seeds. It’s occasionally affected by rot or blight, but simple measures such as growing it in well-drained soil and careful watering can prevent these diseases.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Wildflower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-3 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Yellow flower-center reddish later in the season
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial sun, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, sandy, loamy,
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low, average
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic and no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"small](\"https://lawnlove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_pixnio-18980-800x518-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixnio
\n\n\n\nNamed bluestem goldenrod for its bluish-purple stem, this plant features showy clusters of yellow flowers clinging to greenish-purple stems in late summer and fall. A mature bunch provides an excellent presence and brightens any semi-shaded garden in the late season.
\n\n\n\nBlue-stemmed goldenrod is low-maintenance, easy to grow, and isn’t very demanding on soil conditions; it thrives in clay, loam, organic soils, or almost any soil with dry to moderate moisture. This species doesn’t spread as quickly or as aggressively as other goldenrods. It does well in perennial borders, native gardens, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, or woodland gardens.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Wildflower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1 to 3.5 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial sun, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, loamy, well-drained
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic and no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"close](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/black-eyed-susan-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nBlack-eyed Susan, also called cornflower because of its corn-shaped head, is seen all over the U.S. but remains Maryland’s state flower. It blooms in the sweltering days of August, brightening flower gardens and open fields like a brilliant sunbeam.
\n\n\n\nThe bright colors of the lemon yellow, orange, and gold flowers bloom for weeks with little maintenance. Black-eyed Susan is relatively easy to grow, spreads quickly (if given space), and is loved by a variety of pollinating insects.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1.5 to 10 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: N/A
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, loamy, well-drained
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; sap can irritate the skin
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/grass-green-leaf-terrestrial-plant-plant-close-up-1600603-pxhere.com_-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere
\n\n\n\nBlue sedge is prized for its unique, stacked form and attractive grass-like leaves that stay steel blue year-round. Its foliage provides a stunning display with its varying textures and distinctive shades of color. Blue sedge is drought tolerant, low maintenance, easy to transplant, and a great addition to borders, rock gardens, ponds, and stream edgings.
\n\n\n\nIt grows best in groups as it forms clumps, making it an excellent ground cover. Move blue sedge until it finds its ideal terrain, as it thrives in shade, sometimes even better than the sun.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Ground cover
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1 to 1.5 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial sun, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry, moist
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic and no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"frond](\"https://lawnlove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_1024px-cinnamon_fern.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Cody Hough / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nThe cinnamon fern is a large, widespread fern that grows in clumps. It has fertile, feathery, cinnamon-colored fronds that grow in the center of the plant. Its fronds are beautiful when they first appear in the spring and turn bright shades of gold and orange in the fall.
\n\n\n\nThe cinnamon fern thrives in the shade and adapts well to garden conditions, but only if kept moist. Perfect for rain gardens or conservation gardens.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Fern
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 5 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: N/A
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial sun, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, loamy, moist, rich, humusy, acidic
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic and no safety hazards
\n\n\n\nIt’s important to carefully consider the ecosystem when choosing native plants. Before you buy, find out what already works in your soil, sun conditions, temperatures, and moisture to get the best results.
\n\n\n\nFor a city like Baltimore, whose Hardiness Zone range is between 7a and 8a (0–15 degrees Fahrenheit), it’s clear that overwintering is inevitable. So choosing any of the perennials mentioned above for your garden puts homeowners in a safe zone because these plants withstand both the colder winter months and the sunnier summer months.
\n\n\n\nYou can purchase various native plants for your garden and landscaping projects at your local nursery. Check with the Maryland Native Plant Society rather than threatening the plants with extinction by taking them from the wild.
If you want to know more about these plants or other things that could make your lawn healthier, get in touch with our Baltimore lawn care professionals, who will educate you on the latest lawn and garden techniques.
Main Image Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n","title":"11 Best Native Plants for Your Baltimore Yard","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/1789c/Baltimore-Native-plant.jpg","srcSet":"/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/107df/Baltimore-Native-plant.jpg 320w,\n/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/293e9/Baltimore-Native-plant.jpg 500w,\n/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/f2cbb/Baltimore-Native-plant.jpg 800w,\n/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/1789c/Baltimore-Native-plant.jpg 960w,\n/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/c26c2/Baltimore-Native-plant.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/1dd6e/Baltimore-Native-plant.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/67b76/Baltimore-Native-plant.webp 320w,\n/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/8df11/Baltimore-Native-plant.webp 500w,\n/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/98a65/Baltimore-Native-plant.webp 800w,\n/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/1dd6e/Baltimore-Native-plant.webp 960w,\n/static/184ab2381f745b1449ded65b78709ba6/3cc96/Baltimore-Native-plant.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"11 Best Native Plants for Your Baltimore Yard | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Beautify your Baltimore garden with diverse, colorful native shrubs, flowers, and trees that work well with the city’s climate."}}},{"node":{"id":"4fc8702c-45bd-5936-9c41-aafdfdabefdc","slug":"best-native-plants-oklahoma","path":"/lawn-care/ok/best-native-plants-oklahoma/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Janae Soules is a freelance writer with a newly discovered love of gardening with her kids. She enjoys spending time in nature hiking, biking, or playing sports.","name":"Janae Soules","id":"0def06f9-a4f4-58d5-891d-d423dde342f4","path":"/author/janae-souleslawnstarter-com/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aab1931e793481d75c080c7271be7652?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"d2d6ff96-cc14-5d0f-bbfe-f7eac3bba6d9","name":"Oklahoma","count":7,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ok/"}],"date":"May 15th, 2023","excerpt":"Here in the Sooner State, you must prepare your landscape for any weather Mother Nature throws your way – anywhere from heat and humidity to snow and everything in between. What better way to do that than to grow plants that are adapted to Oklahoma’s weather? Here are 8 best native plants for Oklahoma to […]
\n","content":"\nHere in the Sooner State, you must prepare your landscape for any weather Mother Nature throws your way – anywhere from heat and humidity to snow and everything in between. What better way to do that than to grow plants that are adapted to Oklahoma’s weather? Here are 8 best native plants for Oklahoma to help you get started.
\n\n\n\nNative plants have many benefits. They require less water and fewer pesticides than non-native plants, support the ecosystem, and are generally low-maintenance.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll talk about the following:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Purple-Poppy-Mallow.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures
\n\n\n\nPurple poppy mallow has magenta-colored, upward-facing, cup-shaped flowers. The flowers open in the morning. It’s easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and closes in the evening. Purple poppy mallow attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nEnsure your purple poppy mallow is planted in full sun with well-draining soil, because if the soil is too wet, it could cause the plant to suffer from rust.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flowering ground cover
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Rocky, sandy, loamy, clay
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: No fragrance
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Late spring to early summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: Up to 1 foot
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Can prune in late summer if desired
\n\n\n\n![\"Orange](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Milkweed-Asclepias-tuberosa-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nButterfly milkweed also goes by the common name butterfly weed. It’s recognizable by its orange or yellow-orange flowers and is a crucial plant to help monarch butterflies survive. Butterfly milkweed grows up to two feet tall, and it’s low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and disease-resistant.
\n\n\n\nPlant your butterfly milkweed in a location that receives full sun. Butterfly milkweed isn’t an ideal choice for a landscape with cats, dogs, or horses, as butterfly milkweed is toxic to humans and animals.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Perennial herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil: Clay, loam, sand
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Sweet, vanilla
\n\n\n\nBloom time: May to September
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 1 to 2 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans, pets, and other animals.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/51866218670_d4e9012b29_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nBlue false indigo is a native wildflower that will require some patience if you’re starting from seed – it could take up to two years for the blooms to appear. Once the blooms appear, you’ll be delighted to see clusters of upright blue flowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to Blue false indigo.
\n\n\n\nBlue false indigo must be planted in full sun to avoid the plant becoming laggy.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Upright perennial
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loam, sad
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: None
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to July
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low, average
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 4 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Poisonous to humans, pets, and other animals.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"white](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/American-Black-Elderberry.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nAmerican black elderberry has white, lemon-scented flowers in the early summer, followed by black elderberry fruits. The fruit attracts birds, but people can make elderberries into jams or jellies. You can plant American black elderberry in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil – just ensure you wait until the last frost to plant this shrub.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 10
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, part shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Tolerates a wide variety of wet to dry soils but prefers rich, moist, slightly acid soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Leaves smell like lemon
\n\n\n\nBloom time: May to July
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 5 to 8 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Raw elderberries are toxic and should not be consumed
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Regular pruning to remove suckers from the base of plant
\n\n\n\n![\"Many](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/38566472155_ba5393fccb_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nPurple coneflower is a beautiful native flower with daisy-like purple coneflowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar in purple coneflowers. These flowers are resistant to drought, heat, humidity, and poor soil, making them a fantastic choice for a native garden.
\n\n\n\nFeel free to cut your purple coneflowers and put them in a vase – they make an excellent cut flower. Purple coneflower can spread aggressively through self-seeding, so be sure to keep an eye on it.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Sandy
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Light, sweet, honey-like
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to September
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 2 to 5 feet
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Red_maple_leaves.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Heng Wang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nIf you’re looking for a small tree, red maple is not the one – this beauty can grow up to 70 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Native to Southeastern Oklahoma, this tree is low-maintenance and fast growing. Red flowers and red fruit will emerge before the leaves. The leaves will be red in the spring, then green or yellow in the fall.
\n\n\n\nRed maple’s size makes it an excellent shade tree, and these trees are often in backyards, parks, or streets.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nRegion: Southeastern Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Chalk, clay, loam, sand
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Sweet cherry or almond flower scent
\n\n\n\nBloom time: March to April
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Average
\n\n\n\nMature height: 40 to 70 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to horses
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Fertilize in the spring before the leaves appear
\n\n\n\n![\"an](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Ageratina_altissima_-_White_Snakeroot-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nNative throughout Eastern Oklahoma, white snakeroot boasts small, white puffy flowers in the summer and fall, attracting bees, butterflies, and moths. With its flowers lasting into the fall, white snakeroot provides a fall-interest landscape. White snakeroot doesn’t generally have problems with diseases or pests.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\nRegion: Eastern Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Chalk, clay, loam
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Leaves can be foul smelling – like turpentine
\n\n\n\nBloom time: July to November
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to average
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 5 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Causes trembles in cattle and milk sickness in humans
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"cluster](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Pawpaw.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wendell Smith / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nNative to the easternmost parts of Oklahoma, pawpaw is recognizable by its large, drooping, oval-shaped bright green leaves, which turn yellow in the fall. Pawpaw’s cup-shaped purple flowers appear before the leaves, and its edible banana-like tasting fruit may emerge afterward.
\n\n\n\nIf you want your pawpaw to resemble more of a tree than a shrub, ensure you’re in a location that receives long, hot summers. Without long, hot summers, pawpaw might stay closer to the size of a shrub, which wouldn’t be fruit-bearing.
\n\n\n\nAlthough the fragrance of pawpaw flowers isn’t delightful, beneficial pollinators like beetles and flies are attracted to the smell. Butterflies and songbirds are also attracted to pawpaw trees.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
\n\n\n\nRegion: Eastern Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loam
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Fermenting grapes
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to May
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Average
\n\n\n\nMature height: 15 to 30 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Leaves are toxic if ingested. Ingesting the fruit could cause stomach pain for some people. Contact dermatitis could occur when collecting fruit.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Prune congested or damaged shoots
\n\n\n\nThere are many things to consider when choosing native plants for your landscape. First, consider your region. A plant that’s native to Eastern Oklahoma may not be native to Western Oklahoma. Visit your local nursery to learn more about plants native to your area.
\n\n\n\nYou’ll also need to consider your landscape’s conditions. A native plant that prefers full sunlight may struggle if your yard is shaded by trees or buildings. Does your lawn’s soil struggle to drain? Not all plants are tolerant of poor drainage.
\n\n\n\nTulsa’s native plants include:
\n\n\n\nOklahoma City’s native plants include:
\n\n\n\nIf you want to complement your native plants with lush, green grass, the best grass types for Oklahoma include:
\n\n\n\nTake note that, similar to native plants, the best grass type for your yard will vary depending on your region.
\n\n\n\nThe best place to find native plants is to visit your local plant nursery. You can also discover new plants through the Oklahoma Native Plant Society.
\n\n\n\nWhile you’re busy planning your new native plant garden, save yourself some time and hand your other yard chores over to the pros. Hire a lawn care pro near you who can handle the yard’s mowing, trimming, and edging. We have trusted pros in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and many other cities across the state.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Ken Gibson / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"8 Best Native Plants for Oklahoma","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/1789c/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/107df/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/293e9/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/f2cbb/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/1789c/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/c26c2/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/1dd6e/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/67b76/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 320w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/8df11/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 500w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/98a65/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 800w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/1dd6e/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 960w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/3cc96/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"8 Best Native Plants for Oklahoma | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Check out our recommendation for the best native plants for Oklahoma. These plants range in size and color and help support the ecosystem."}}},{"node":{"id":"140abc31-182b-57f8-8fa0-71482628b9f4","slug":"spring-lawn-care-tips-ocala","path":"/lawn-care/fl/ocala/spring-lawn-care-tips-ocala/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kimberly Magerl enjoys growing fruits and vegetables in her garden. When she isn't gardening, Kimberly enjoys trying new recipes and cooking with her home-grown herbs.","name":"Kimberly Magerl","id":"bdf803c6-4d01-5c0e-88b1-1ea590340a8a","path":"/author/kimberly-magerl/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/45ebe89479badde7ee7cb5108a96462c?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"57f1b1d9-6347-5707-b4b6-65e6dd1b393d","name":"Florida","count":46,"path":"/category/lawn-care/fl/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"af08368f-1b05-5608-9f05-085fc802e26c","name":"Ocala","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/fl/ocala/"}],"date":"April 3rd, 2023","excerpt":"Dangling Spanish moss and meandering pathways bordered with tall oak trees create a picturesque scene in the heart of horse country. Tucked away in North Central Florida, Ocala’s spring temperatures range from 74 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Take advantage of the pleasant weather and implement our nine spring lawn care tips to help prepare your […]
\n","content":"\nDangling Spanish moss and meandering pathways bordered with tall oak trees create a picturesque scene in the heart of horse country. Tucked away in North Central Florida, Ocala’s spring temperatures range from 74 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Take advantage of the pleasant weather and implement our nine spring lawn care tips to help prepare your yard for the humid Florida summer just around the corner.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpring in Ocala feels like summer to most of the United States. Average March temperatures of 79 degrees Fahrenheit gradually increase to 90 degrees by the end of spring in May. Like most of Florida, residents tend to lawn care year-round.
\n\n\n\nFrom March to May, Floridians care for their warm-season grasses hoping to encourage fresh growth before the extreme heat and humidity take over in June. Spring lawn care in Ocala is more than watering and mowing. As your yard goes through its most active growing season beginning at the end of March, you need to be on the lookout for diseases, pests, and bare spots that need some TLC. With the proper spring maintenance plan, your lawn will be ready to take on the tough summer.
\n\n\n\nSpring lawn care benefits include:
\n\n\n\n![\"pitchfork](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/rsz_garden-ga772b33a8_1280.jpg\")
Photo credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nOxygen is the secret weapon for establishing deep roots and dense turfgrass. Aeration is a common lawn method to introduce oxygen back into struggling lawns with restricted root growth. There are two types of common aeration: spike aeration and core aeration. Aerate your lawn in mid-spring to nourish your grass and stimulate root growth before the long, hot summer.
\n\n\n\nA core aerator removes plugs of soil to create small holes so the soil can breathe. This method leaves leftover plugs of soil on the surface of your lawn, adding beneficial nutrients and microorganisms to decrease thatch naturally.
\n\n\n\nCore aeration is the best method for North Central Florida soils. Sandy soils retain less moisture, heat more quickly, and lack the nutrients of other soil types. Core aerators do a better job of breaking up the soil, creating airflow, and improving water and nutrient access.
\n\n\n\nSpike aeration is less effective than core aeration. Spike aerators create small holes in the ground with a rotating punch. Unlike core aeration, this method does not remove material from the soil, so there is no chance of natural de-thatching.
\n\n\n\nYou cannot bake a cake without preheating the oven, and the same goes for your spring lawn. Soil preparation is crucial to the success of your Florida landscape. It provides nutrients for your grass to thrive. Unfortunately, Ocala soils are notoriously sandy and nutrient deficient, requiring fertilization and other nutrient applications. Residents should send in a soil sample for testing in March.
\n\n\n\nSimply collect samples from different areas of your landscape and combine them to create a one-cup sample. Send this sample in to receive your unique results detailing amendments you can make to improve your soil. Common amendments include lime for soil pH imbalances and nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus applications.
\n\n\n\n![\"Close-up](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lawn-Mowing.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wallpaperflare
\n\n\n\nYour lawn feels stressed, just like you. While mowing more is the last thing you want to hear, every time you mow your lawn, you stress your turfgrass, leaving it more susceptible to insects, disease, drought, and sunscald. Taller grass blades develop deeper roots and a more dense appearance.
\n\n\n\nOcala’s subtropical climate requires year-round lawn maintenance. The city’s warm springs lead to early active growing seasons beginning in March. Your grass variety determines your unique mowing schedule and lawn height. To avoid injuring your lawn, never remove more than ⅓ of the leaf blade regardless of your cultivar.
\n\n\n\nAlways aim to cut less, more often. You should mow weekly within the recommended range for your grass type and leave clippings unless you see large clumps on your lawn.
\n\n\n\nGrass growth peaks in March thanks to Ocala’s warm spring temperatures. Bahiagrass is the most low-maintenance warm-season variety. Aim to mow every seven to 14 days to maintain a height of 3 to 4 inches, encouraging deeper roots and a more dense and resilient turfgrass.
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass is the lowest-growing warm-season grass and the most high-maintenance, requiring weekly to twice weekly mowing sessions. Mow to a height of 1 to 2 inches to encourage deep roots and a better appearance.
\n\n\n\nThe most popular Florida turfgrass requires very particular mowing heights and is prone to scalping and sun scalding. Mow St. Augustinegrass to heights of 3.5 to 4 inches to encourage deep roots and decrease insect activity.
\n\n\n\nThe more frequently you mow this dense turfgrass, the less likely your lawn will develop a buildup of harmful thatch. While some thatch is a good thing, too much is harmful, blocking out light and water.
\n\n\n\nMow Zoysiagrass weekly, aiming for heights of 1.75 to 2.5 inches. Zoysiagrass leaves contain larger amounts of lignin and silica, making them more resistant and difficult to mow.
\n\n\n\n| Grass Type | Recommended Mowing Height |
| Bahiagrass | 3 – 4 inches |
| Bermudagrass | 1 – 2 inches |
| St. Augustinegrass | 3.5 – 4 inches |
| Zoysiagrass | 1.75 – 2.5 inches |
The best watering method for Florida turfgrasses is as needed early in the morning. Unless your lawn is brand new, all varieties respond well to typical drought conditions. It is time to water your turfgrass when you notice a dark blue-gray color, footprinting, or wilted, folded, or curled leaves.
\n\n\n\nWater these warm-season varieties as needed. Aim for ⅔ to ¾ inch of water per application. Each application will moisten the top 8 inches of soil, saturating the roots of your turfgrass.
\n\n\n\nThe roots of bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass are more shallow than other cultivars. Aim to apply ½ to ¾ inch of water per application to moisten the top 4 to 6 inches of soil.
\n\n\n\n![\"Bermudagrass](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/what-is-dollar-spot_800-2.jpg\")
Photo credit: Scot Nelson / Flickr / Public domain
\n\n\n\nThe subtropical climate in Florida creates the perfect environment for lawn diseases and fungi. The best defense against these lawn invaders is a healthy lawn and routine maintenance, watering, and fertilization. Some of the most common diseases affecting Florida turfgrasses are large patch, pythium root, gray leaf spot, take-all root rot, dollar spot, and spring dead spot.
\n\n\n\nLarge patch is a fungus affecting St. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass in winter through the end of spring. Watch for brown, circular patches several feet in diameter. The most effective control and prevention method is proper lawn maintenance, and most infestations do not respond to fungicide applications.
\n\n\n\nImprove drainage and air movement. Monitor patches and limit fertilization in affected areas. Be sure to avoid over-watering.
\n\n\n\nSlow-growing, thinning turf with irregular bleached patches of yellow grass is a sign of the water mold pathogen pythium root. Pythium root occurs in poorly drained or over-watered soils and commonly affects St. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass year-round.
\n\n\n\nAvoid spreading the infection by reducing mowing and watering frequencies. Combat current and future infections by improving drainage and increasing sunlight exposure, if possible. Apply a blend of phosphorus, potash, and nitrogen to the soil to combat active infections.
\n\n\n\nGrey leaf spot is another turfgrass fungus affecting St. Augustinegrass in Ocala beginning in April through the end of summer. Watch for grass that appears yellow, mottled, or scorched. Treat gray leaf spot with proper lawn maintenance.
\n\n\n\nImprove air circulation by reducing or removing thatch. Avoid fertilization and post-emergent weed killers while the disease is active. Monitor and fix drainage issues and avoid over-watering to prevent active and future infestations.
\n\n\n\nTake-all root rot is a soil-dwelling fungus active in spring through early summer. Be on the lookout for yellow or brown grass blades, wilting, horizontal stems, and dark brown roots.
\n\n\n\nTreat the warm-season turfgrass disease using fungicide labeled for take-all root rot. Apply to the affected area in 14-day intervals during spring. Prevent the fungus with proper lawn maintenance by improving drainage, reducing thatch buildup, and increasing the time between irrigation sessions.
\n\n\n\nDollar spot affects bermudagrass and bahiagrass. It is extremely common in the Southeast and is caused by a fungus living in Florida soils. Keep an eye out for circular brown or yellow spots that look like dollar coins.
\n\n\n\nTreat dollar spot with proper lawn maintenance. Maintain nitrogen levels by applying a nitrogen-based fertilizer. Minimize moisture stress by ensuring proper drainage and watering deeply and infrequently in the early morning to reduce foliage wetness.
\n\n\n\nSpring dead spot is another soil-dwelling fungus affecting bermudagrass in Ocala. Watch for circular patches of dead grass ranging in diameter from 6 inches to several feet. The easiest way to spot spring dead spot is to monitor your lawn during its active growth phase in March. Areas affected by spring dead spot will not go through the growth process.
\n\n\n\nTreat spring dead spot by removing thatch and aggressively aerating affected areas to relieve soil compaction and increase airflow.
\n\n\n\nOcala’s subtropical climate creates the optimal habitat for plant growth, including weeds. Weeds invade your lawn, signifying an underlying problem with its health and maintenance plan. These plants thrive in low-nitrogen soils, imbalanced pH, and thinning turf with damaged roots.
\n\n\n\nWeeds steal nutrients, water, and sunlight from your warm-weather grass and spread pests and diseases. The best control and prevention method is optimal lawn health from routine maintenance. However, supplemental chemical methods work in tandem with proper maintenance. Chemical methods include post-emergent herbicides and pre-emergent herbicides.
\n\n\n\nPre-emergent herbicides minimize the number of weeds in your yard by killing seeds before germination. Apply pre-emergent herbicides in March when soil temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit to control grassy weeds.
\n\n\n\nLook for solutions containing benefin, bensulide, oryzalin, or prodiamine. Wait 60 days and apply a second application of pre-emergent herbicide.
\n\n\n\nCommon grassy weeds in Ocala include:
\n\n\n\nBroadleaf weeds are a year-round problem in Florida. Post-emergent herbicides target annual and perennial broadleaf weeds, disrupting their growth. Use these herbicides year-round to target weeds you can see.
\n\n\n\nDo not use post-emergent herbicides if your lawn is moisture stressed or if temperatures rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit or fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, be sure to wait a few days after a fresh mow before applying chemical treatments.
\n\n\n\nCommon perennial and annual broadleaf weeds include:
\n\n\n\n![\"an](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Person-spraying-pesticide.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixnio
\n\n\n\nInsects love the year-round warm weather as much as Floridians, and like the seasons, different insects invade particular cultivars at different times. The most common Ocala springtime pests include chinch bugs, hunting billbugs, and nematodes.
\n\n\n\nChinch bugs are the largest threat to your lush St. Augustine lawn. These foliage-seeking insects suck vital plant juices from your turfgrass with peak activity occurring in March and April. Watch for yellow spots in sunny locations, signifying chinch bug activity.
\n\n\n\nDIY collect chinch bugs using a coffee can with both ends removed to create a hollow pipe. Insert the can into the soil inside the affected area. Fill the can with water and leave it for a few days. Chinch bugs will float to the top of the can for removal. If you notice more than 15 chinch bugs per square foot, it is time to call a professional.
\n\n\n\nHunting billbugs are a year-round problem for homeowners with Zoysiagrass. Watch for irregular-shaped patches of dead turf. Hunting billbugs feed on the roots of Zoysiagrass.
\n\n\n\nLike chinch bugs, activity peaks in the spring, and infestations are often misdiagnosed as dormancy. Treat billbugs with an insecticide application containing bifenthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, or imidacloprid.
\n\n\n\nNematodes affect most warm-season turfgrasses and are one of Florida’s most prolific pests. The best prevention method is proper lawn maintenance to develop dense roots. Nematodes are unsegmented roundworms, and unfortunately, Florida is home to numerous types.
\n\n\n\nWatch for yellowing and thinning turf, especially during dry periods. Nematode populations peak in mid to late spring, and nematodes need moisture to survive. Apply nematicides like Indemnify to affected areas alongside routine lawn maintenance and proper yard drainage.
\n\n\n\nSpring is the best time to seed or replant your lawn in Florida. The active growing season beginning in March encourages fresh growth, filling in thin and patchy areas.
\n\n\n\nOverseeding involves spreading new grass seed over existing turfgrass to fill thin areas. Both bermudagrass and bahiagrass are low-maintenance cultivars that respond well to overseeding.
\n\n\n\nPrepare to seed your Florida lawn in early March. Spread 0.5 to 1 pound of seed per 1,000 square feet for bermudagrass and bahiagrass varieties.
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass do not respond to overseeding. Instead, plan to replant large bare areas using sod plugs in March, April, or May. Space plugs 6 to 12 inches apart and water well daily. Keep crabgrass at bay by applying a root-safe pre-emergent herbicide.
\n\n\n\n![\"man](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Person-spreading-fertilizer.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixnio
\n\n\n\nFertilizer promotes healthy growth, and the best time to apply this lawn food in Ocala is in mid-April before the Florida summer heat sets in. The type of fertilizer for your lawn depends on your turfgrass cultivar and your unique soil sample analysis results.
\n\n\n\nFertilizer comprises three primary nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Labels have three numbers, such as 15-10-5, which means the fertilizer contains 15% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 5% potassium. Select a fertilizer ratio to satisfy your soil test results.
\n\n\n\nKeep in mind that Florida’s sandy soil is high in phosphorus, so it is often unnecessary to apply fertilizer containing this chemical. Apply 0.5 to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in mid-April, but keep in mind that shaded grass requires less fertilizer than grass growing in full sun.
\n\n\n\nThe Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule mandates that slow-release nitrogen fertilizer applications cannot exceed 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, and quick-release, soluble nitrogen fertilizer applications cannot exceed 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn.
\n\n\n\nUse sprinklers or an automatic irrigation system to apply water in 10- to 20-minute segments, twice per day, until the seeds have germinated. The germination process typically takes seven to 10 days in Florida.
Organic mulch provides moisture retention and nutrients for your plants. Florida residents can take advantage of the year-round warm weather and lay down new mulch anytime. However, the optimal time to lay mulch is in the spring or fall.
Irrigate your lawn in the early morning hours to cut down on evaporation and potential mold growth, which can lead to lawn pests and diseases.
Florida homeowners spend a lot of time outdoors and take pride in their lawns. With the proper spring lawn care schedule, you can enjoy your Ocala yard year-round and protect its lush, green color from the summer heat. Consider planting some Florida native plants alongside your warm-season turfgrass to complete your oasis.
\n\n\n\nIf you need help controlling your active spring lawn, contact an Ocala lawn care pro to help your turfgrass establish deep roots to survive the hot summer.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Ocala Historic District FK1027 / Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n","title":"9 Spring Lawn Care Tips for Ocala, FL","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/1789c/Lawn-in-Ocala.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/107df/Lawn-in-Ocala.jpg 320w,\n/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/293e9/Lawn-in-Ocala.jpg 500w,\n/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/f2cbb/Lawn-in-Ocala.jpg 800w,\n/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/1789c/Lawn-in-Ocala.jpg 960w,\n/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/c26c2/Lawn-in-Ocala.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/1dd6e/Lawn-in-Ocala.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/67b76/Lawn-in-Ocala.webp 320w,\n/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/8df11/Lawn-in-Ocala.webp 500w,\n/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/98a65/Lawn-in-Ocala.webp 800w,\n/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/1dd6e/Lawn-in-Ocala.webp 960w,\n/static/c005d8e398ad0b0f46ae9fb2c440417b/3cc96/Lawn-in-Ocala.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"9 Spring Lawn Care Tips for Ocala, FL | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Discover 9 valuable tips for maintaining a lush spring lawn in Ocala and prepare your grass for the humid Florida summers."}}},{"node":{"id":"4ec8afda-2a8f-5363-858c-d41680aa717a","slug":"winter-plants-new-hampshire","path":"/lawn-care/nh/winter-plants-new-hampshire/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Judith Gallova","id":"8e48e42f-071a-5523-a889-6dab4c49dd54","path":"/author/judith-gallova/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/537ca09b018493e40c3fb0df17ebacbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"ce61d165-8da6-58e6-9252-345a1299e95e","name":"New Hampshire","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/nh/"}],"date":"June 5th, 2023","excerpt":"New Hampshire is known for cold, snowy weather, but that doesn’t mean your yard has to be barren during the winter season. You can brighten it up with some beautiful winter plants that handle cold winters like a cool breeze. Check out these nine plants that flower in New Hampshire’s cold winters. In this article: […]
\n","content":"\nNew Hampshire is known for cold, snowy weather, but that doesn’t mean your yard has to be barren during the winter season. You can brighten it up with some beautiful winter plants that handle cold winters like a cool breeze. Check out these nine plants that flower in New Hampshire’s cold winters.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nWhile all of New Hampshire gets pretty chilly during the winter months, the climate varies depending on the region. Northern New Hampshire experiences colder temperatures and more snowfall than the southern part of the state.
\n\n\n\nThat’s why it’s important to know your hardiness zone. Check it out here. We’ve mentioned the hardiness zone of each plant below so that you can pick the plants that will grow in your area.
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Snowdrop-Galanthus-Nivalis.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nSnowdrop is a spectacular flower that blooms in thawing soil in late winter to early spring, producing delicate white blossoms that hang from its thin green stem. Not only does it bloom while snow is still on the ground, but it even lives up to its name with its snow-white petals that really look like droplets.
\n\n\n\nThese little plants are often the first to appear in parks, but there’s nothing stopping you from planting them in your own yard. Plus, they’re easy to care for, too.
\n\n\n\n![\"Cornelian](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Cornelian-Cherry-Cornus-Mas.jpg\")
Photo Credit: I, B.navez / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nBlossoms in late winter, fruit in the summer – Cornelian cherry brings the whole package. Its fruit is quite sour, but it can be processed into jams, jellies, and syrups. If you want it to create a little privacy, that’s not a problem either; Cornelian cherry can grow up to 25 feet tall or be grown as a hedge. Fun fact: the shrub’s name is actually a misnomer. It’s not a cherry but a dogwood. Although it’s unsuitable for pets, you can certainly leave the fruit for local wildlife, like birds.
\n\n\n\n![\"Different](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Ornamental-Kale-and-Cabbage-Brassica-Oleracea.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Terren / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nOrnamental kale and cabbage are like winter accessories for your yard. They add vibrancy during those snowy days. The rose blossom-shaped white and purple leaves of the plants make them popular with gardeners who want to add some color to their winter landscapes. They especially stand out in a group setting. Plus, ornamental kale and cabbage can look great as a garnish on your dinner plate.
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Japanese-Pieris-Pieris-Japonica.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxHere
\n\n\n\nAlso known as Japanese andromeda or lily-of-the-valley bush, Japanese pieris is a popular evergreen shrub that produces clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers in late winter to early spring. When it gets warm enough, the flowers attract bees. As one of its names suggests, its flowers resemble lilies of the valley, although their fragrance is not as strong. Also, take note that this shrub is more suitable for the southern part of New Hampshire.
\n\n\n\nNevertheless, the Japanese pieris is a striking showpiece that can be used as a focal point in a garden or as a hedge. Shorter cultivars are also available for smaller spaces.
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Daffodil-Narcissus.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Betty Wills / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nDaffodil is a spectacular and hardy bulb that’s super easy to care for and thrives in a variety of soil types, making it a great choice for beginners and advanced gardeners alike. And of course, planting these stunners in your yard is a great way to brighten it up with a pop of color.
\n\n\n\n![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Winter-Heath-Erica-Carnea.jpg\")
Photo Credit: K M / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nIf you’re in the south of New Hampshire, you can try planting winter heath, a purple, pink, or white evergreen shrub that’s sure to brighten up your yard during the cold months. This early winter bloomer is easy to care for and thrives in the sun. It can also tolerate a little shade, but it may make its stems too long, affecting its appearance. Be sure not to fertilize this plant; it has a symbiotic relationship with soil fungi, so it gets enough nutrients unless it’s in a pot.
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Winter-Aconite-Eranthis-hyemalis.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Martin Olsson / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nThe lovely winter aconite stands out for its yellow, buttercup-like flowers that provide a source of nectar for bees when they become active. The ground-hugging plant likes to peek through the blankets of snow, cheerfully signaling the end of winter and the arrival of spring. It’s likely to spread throughout your garden, so you’ll need to keep it in check.
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Winter-Jasmine-Jasminum-Nudiflorum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nIf you’re in southern New Hampshire and want your yard to be covered in delicate yellow flowers throughout the winter, you can stop looking. Winter jasmine either grows as a groundcover or climbs up to 15 feet on a trellis. While it’s non-fragrant, it can cheer up your outdoor area with its green foliage and late-winter blooms.
\n\n\n\nThis stunner of a plant is sometimes confused with the similar-looking forsythia, but unlike forsythia, winter jasmine blooms in the winter and isn’t known to be toxic.
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Siebers-Crocus-Crocus-Sieberi.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Meneerke bloem / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nSieber’s crocus will adorn your yard with beautiful, purple flowers in late winter to early spring. Sieber’s crocus is not just a real beauty, but it’s also resistant to cold and snow. Crocus species do well in New Hampshire in general, though, so feel f ree to check out other varieties and combine them to your liking.
\n\n\n\nTechnically, they’re not blooming flowers, but ornamental cabbage and kale are known for their colorful foliage that lasts throughout the winter months.
Most winter plants don’t blossom until late winter. But if you plant winter heath, you can expect it to grow as early as December or January.
Many of the plants above are easy to grow. For example, you can try growing snowdrops, daffodils, winter heath, or ornamental kale and cabbage.
Keeping your yard looking gorgeous all year is achievable, but it’s hard work that needs the right knowledge and tools. If you need some help, Wikilawn connects you to the best landscaping pros near you.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo By: Iris Wijngaarden / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n","title":"9 Plants That Flower in New Hampshire’s Cold Winters","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/1789c/Snowdrop.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/107df/Snowdrop.jpg 320w,\n/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/293e9/Snowdrop.jpg 500w,\n/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/f2cbb/Snowdrop.jpg 800w,\n/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/1789c/Snowdrop.jpg 960w,\n/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/c26c2/Snowdrop.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/1dd6e/Snowdrop.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/67b76/Snowdrop.webp 320w,\n/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/8df11/Snowdrop.webp 500w,\n/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/98a65/Snowdrop.webp 800w,\n/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/1dd6e/Snowdrop.webp 960w,\n/static/0d6d2ad6751819d38841aaf97734af86/3cc96/Snowdrop.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"9 Plants That Flower in New Hampshire's Cold Winters | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Your yard doesn't have to be barren during the winter. Check out these 10 plants that flower in New Hampshire's cold winters."}}},{"node":{"id":"e13e5cd7-80e1-5ea0-a20f-5df6a56cce02","slug":"buy-first-riding-lawn-mower","path":"/lawn-care/buy-first-riding-lawn-mower/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Jackie Greene is a blogger, gardener, and nutrition enthusiast. She enjoys creating organic meals for family and friends using the fresh ingredients she produces from her backyard homestead.","name":"Jackie Greene","id":"fb5923e1-833b-5d9b-808e-ded0e62c0bc4","path":"/author/jackiegreene/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2c1121209a3ebfbe0a7e941d102b2971?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"d91e0772-a35b-588f-a788-9c638e07abbb","name":"Garden Tools","count":2,"path":"/category/garden-tools/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"October 17th, 2019","excerpt":"Buying your first riding mower is a lot like buying your first car. It has a motor, a steering wheel and a seat. And one more similarity: It’s a major investment. Where a push mower will set you back a few hundred dollars, a good low-end model or riding mower starts around $1,200. At the […]
\n","content":"\nBuying your first riding mower is a lot like buying your first car. It has a motor, a steering wheel and a seat.
\n\n\n\nAnd one more similarity: It’s a major investment. Where a push mower will set you back a few hundred dollars, a good low-end model or riding mower starts around $1,200. At the high end, you can easily You could spend anywhere from $1,000 to more than $3,000. But with that big price tag come big mowing advantages that you can expect to enjoy for years to come. Here are some pointers for buying your first riding mower.
\n\n\n\nWith that big price tag come big mowing advantages that you can expect to enjoy for years to come. Here are some pointers for buying your first riding mower.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kvAuEOrw2J6Rf64yeayYRFPs7vdll5gzc87aUI9GzrDG5s4y5rHV8_x7F4XEprsAMyX5k_98Oh97CLuJEJTe41I_ZmLa25301ntLTkyO94K91roDjj0-wa8Mux59y4-gMJiBVn7l\")
We’ve been obsessed with lawn care for as long as lawns have been around. Until the 1600s, people were probably too busy focusing on the sheep trimming our grass to enjoy the lawns themselves. But beginning in the 1700s, manicured lawns came into fashion, along with the first lawn mower — the scythe.
\n\n\n\nFor those unfamiliar, the scythe is an ancient tool with a handle and crescent-shaped blade. It’s carried by the mythical Grim Reaper — an appropriate mascot, because anyone who’s used one for more than an hour probably feels like keeling over. This labor-intensive tool was the go-to for lawn care for a couple of centuries. In 1830, Edwin Budding invented an iron-framed reel lawn mower to cut grass in England.
\n\n\n\nIn 1870, a lighter cylinder-style reel mower was invented in the United States by Elwood McGuire of Richmond, Ind. This popular model prevailed until Colonel Edwin S. George came up with a mower with a gas engine in 1919. George established Moto-Mower, a lawn mowing manufacturing plant in Detroit, and continued to develop the product.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/MUV976HkZeK-iFZ3MRV96sXHhCDRBEKgWiJK6evGRSWDy2Qlv3H3ii_5bX1bGYwz91LJXUqbeb5-sLcCv-_Vrz9y3_XV7Lg3ZU68ypGr4EVgbpcQl48nWYL7SlXJedO0pM92HL19\")
In the 1930s, a rotary mower appeared on the scene, paving the way for the ride on mower we know and love today. Mowers grew in popularity after World War II, when GIs came home and began mowing their own lawns.
\n\n\n\nToday, we have a staggering number of lawn mowing options. Once you level up to a riding mower, there are many options available. Ride-on mowers fall into three categories: lawn tractor, rear-engine riding mower, and zero-turn mowers. If you want what they use on golf courses, forget about it, that’s another class of mowing machines entirely.
\n\n\n\n![\"Lawn](\"https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/f5NdarPVhajqHit8ARAVk3N0sMtWlGrovzTND5TWt5073OV_MBhGbeq_0_xYxxhan5-sTVQQLjaT8ev_QcmziAfSdlzMTtnA-T1vW_Gro8iqRH6WFg5-6pepigEsHFHl2XMo_NVx\")
A lawn or garden tractor is what most people choose as their first riding mower. It features a steering wheel and front-mounted engine, which makes it look and feel less like a power mower and more like a car. With mower decks measuring between 42 and 54 inches, they have a much greater cutting capacity than push lawn mowers, making them a top pick for people with acreage.
An added bonus of lawn tractors? They can haul carts and attachments for mulching, bagging, and sweeping. Some brands even offer a snowblower attachment. If you google “the best lawn tractors,” you’ll see John Deere and Toro come up over and over. Expect to spend between $1,000 and $3000 for one of these lawn mowers.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/LsB2llSw4mvFft2dv4olMgnyB0V2HY-zEm5x0YUxigAEJJA9AUTF0zsopgu9vbxK8jcH9iSDYTwBP-a-4Sf-6cwWRokSt9S7xSxm8CWdGeONLwx3X5H-I9ReYjAlgVyhbW2nzsSu\")
A zero-turn mower is ideal when you have a lot of grass to cut and don’t want to spend a ton of time doing it. Mower decks range from 32 to 60 inches, and steering function allows the mower to make tight turns, hugging corners and curves.
\n\n\n\nFor flatter properties with lots of trees and shrubs, this type of riding mower can cut grass closer to obstacles than the others. But, this perk comes at a price. Expect to pay between $1,200 and $6,000 for a zero-turn mower. Even if you can find a special offer, the prices on this class of machine are steep.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Bm75nwHu1hPMDaRX08pcaQVsfG5AFfWTUxTCD62yK450PmmxQPqRrs3d-S2_gKZ_7GMH1uXN2joq0NVhXGY7RG-mEryUwdXGFzDozN5qJNpTOYbZtkaD_Slf0MVg-OEIjz2DjCID\")
Somewhere between the lawn tractor and the zero-turn mower is the rear-engine riding mower. This is for someone with a lawn a little too large for a push mower but too small to justify a bigger machine. Mowing decks on rear-engine mowers are smaller, from 30 to 33 inches, and so is the price tag — from $1,200 to $2,400.
\n\n\n\nYou can pay half as much by buying a used lawn mower, but you must do your research to make sure you get a good deal. Robert Janis, a mower specialist at LawnEq, reminds us, “You need to be aware that the life expectancy of a residential riding lawn mower is about seven years.” When attempting to buy a used mower, he believes that you shouldn’t be shy about asking questions.
\n","title":"How to Buy Your First Riding Lawn Mower","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5005861664712778,"src":"/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/1789c/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/107df/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.jpg 320w,\n/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/293e9/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.jpg 500w,\n/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/f2cbb/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.jpg 800w,\n/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/1789c/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.jpg 960w,\n/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/356ef/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.jpg 1280w","srcWebp":"/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/1dd6e/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/67b76/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.webp 320w,\n/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/8df11/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.webp 500w,\n/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/98a65/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.webp 800w,\n/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/1dd6e/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.webp 960w,\n/static/6a40d3ec7f993f013324cb11423d9543/93f70/lawn-tool-green-vehicle-lawn-mower-rush-883918-pxhere.com_.webp 1280w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Buy Your First Riding Lawn Mower | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"def56fbd-1b75-583e-af74-ea347102cb14","slug":"best-grass-types-saint-augustine","path":"/lawn-care/fl/saint-augustine/best-grass-types-saint-augustine/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"After discovering her passion for writing through her beauty blog, Melanie left her engineering job in California, became a freelance writer, and never once looked back. She loves nature and enjoys going on road trips with her husband and their two sons.","name":"Melanie Joseph","id":"f86bf815-f27c-5928-b67e-d3481c2d1e0a","path":"/author/melanie-joseph/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/da91467d5e58d9fc8f1f730b09830569?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"57f1b1d9-6347-5707-b4b6-65e6dd1b393d","name":"Florida","count":46,"path":"/category/lawn-care/fl/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"9b5a7cc0-52e4-5870-a456-94b94f3508cb","name":"Saint Augustine","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/fl/saint-augustine/"}],"date":"May 8th, 2023","excerpt":"Along the sunny coast of Florida lies the oldest city in the United States – St. Augustine. This picturesque destination is known for its historical landmarks, beautiful beaches, and lush greenery. And for homeowners in this idyllic locale, having a backyard with a well-maintained and beautiful green lawn is just fitting. But with so many […]
\n","content":"\nAlong the sunny coast of Florida lies the oldest city in the United States – St. Augustine. This picturesque destination is known for its historical landmarks, beautiful beaches, and lush greenery. And for homeowners in this idyllic locale, having a backyard with a well-maintained and beautiful green lawn is just fitting.
\n\n\n\nBut with so many grass varieties available, it can be overwhelming to determine the one best suited for your lawn. Discover the six best grass types that thrive in St. Augustine, and choose the right one to transform your backyard into a place where you can make unforgettable memories with family and friends.
\n\n\n\nGrasses are not created equal, and each has unique growth patterns and specific requirements. Understanding these differences can help you select the right grass for your lawn. There are two broad categories of grasses based on their preferred temperature ranges: warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses.
\n\n\n\nWarm-season grasses: They thrive in the summer when the temperature is between 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. These grass varieties grow actively during summer and go dormant in winter, turning brown until the warm weather returns. Therefore, it’s best to plant them in late spring or early summer.
\n\n\n\nCool-season grasses: These grasses grow best in temperatures ranging between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes them active during spring and fall. They may struggle during hot summers but can withstand cold winter temperatures.
\n\n\n\nWarm-season grasses are perfect for St. Augustine because they are well-suited to the region’s humid subtropical climate and can tolerate drought and high temperatures. Additionally, they can withstand the salty soil conditions found in the coastal areas of Florida.
\n\n\n\nLearn about the characteristics of each grass type so you can choose the one that will suit your lawn requirements. From the resilient bahiagrass to the ever-popular St. Augustinegrass, there’s a perfect grass type waiting to transform your outdoor space into the backyard oasis.
\n\n\n\n![\"close](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/bahia-grass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nA warm-season grass that thrives in St. Augustine’s hot and humid climate, bahiagrass has a coarse texture and light green color, which can add a unique look and feel to your lawn. It has deep roots that can reach up to 5 feet underground, allowing it to access moisture and nutrients even during periods of low rainfall. Although, prolonged drought can cause it to go dormant.
\n\n\n\nWhile you still need to provide enough moisture, avoid overwatering bahiagrass. Overwatering can weaken the grass, making it more vulnerable to weed growth. Since this grass variety is relatively drought-tolerant, it’s best to water it only when necessary. It also has low fertilizer requirements but can be susceptible to iron deficiency.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low – it thrives in direct sun exposure
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high – control seed heads by mowing every week or two (during summer, mow more often)
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 3-4 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low resistance – mostly prone to dollar spot (especially the Pensacola cultivar) and ergot diseases
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Moderate resistance – can be susceptible to mole crickets
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5.5-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Grows well in almost all soil types but prefers sandy loam
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Planting with seeds may take longer to establish compared to using sod. Although plugging and sprigging methods are feasible, they may leave the lawn more vulnerable to weed infestation.
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bermudagrass-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Bidgee / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass is a top choice among homeowners for its resilience in extreme weather conditions and other challenging environments. This hardy grass variety also can withstand heavy foot traffic, making it ideal for areas with high activity, like athletic fields and golf courses.
\n\n\n\nOne aspect that makes it perfect for St. Augustine lawns is its love for sunlight. It requires ample direct sunlight to flourish and maintain its luscious appearance. Additionally, bermudagrass boasts exceptional drought tolerance, enabling it to remain green and thrive in low rainfall conditions or during high temperatures.
Classification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low – some cultivars need more direct sun exposure than others
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High – extended periods of drought can cause it to become dormant
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high – it needs frequent fertilization, watering, and mowing
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1-2 inches – during extreme heat or drought, increase the mowing height to retain moisture
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate resistance – can be susceptible to dollar spot, brown patch, spring dead spot, and leaf spot
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low resistance – can be prone to armyworms, hunting billbugs, white grubs, and mole crickets
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Grows well in most soil types
\n\n\n\nOther notes: The rapid growth of this grass species can pose some challenges, as it can quickly spread and encroach on other areas of the lawn that require more meticulous maintenance.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Centipede_Grass-1-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James Becwar / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nA highly sought-after grass variety in Florida, centipedegrass is favored for its ability to create lush lawns that require minimal maintenance. With this slow-growing grass type, you won’t have to spend countless hours each week tending to your lawn.
\n\n\n\nThis grass variety grows best in full sun but also can tolerate partial shade, making it ideal for lawns with mixed sun exposure. It has a medium to light green color and a fine texture that gives it a soft feel.
\n\n\n\nNonetheless, one of its drawbacks is its low tolerance to heavy foot traffic, so centipedegrass is not ideal for areas with high human activity. As such, homeowners who frequently host backyard events or have several pets or children may want to consider alternative grass types.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate – grows well in sun-exposed areas but can still survive even with just six hours of sunlight per day
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Low to moderate – prolonged drought may cause it to turn brown and become dormant
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low – requires minimal mowing, watering, and fertilization
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1.5-2 inches – for lawns in shaded areas, raise the mower height by 1/2 inch
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate resistance – can be susceptible to iron chlorosis and centipedegrass decline
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low resistance – mostly prone to spittlebugs, sod webworms, nematodes, mole crickets, and ground pearl insects
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5-6
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Well-drained, fertile, acidic soils
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Perform seeding in late spring or early summer to give it enough time to grow and become established. Since it germinates slowly, avoid seeding too late in the season.
\n\n\n\n![\"close](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Seashore-Paspalum-Grass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nIf you’re living near the coast and struggling with salinity issues, you may want to consider seashore paspalum as your lawn grass. Also known as saltwater couch grass, this grass type is commonly used in sports turf, but it can be a suitable option for home lawns where saltwater is a problem.
\n\n\n\nUnlike other grass types, seashore paspalum requires non-saline water during its establishment period. But once established, it can tolerate ocean-level salinity, making it ideal for beachfront lawns and yards in coastal areas.
\n\n\n\nThis grass variety has medium-textured leaves and boasts a lush, dark green color during summer, making it an attractive option for homeowners who value aesthetics. Note, though, that seashore paspalum is a high-maintenance grass type requiring regular professional care. But if you can keep it well-maintained, it has a low chance of becoming affected by insects and diseases.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Very Low
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Very Low
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: High – needs frequent watering, mowing, and fertilization
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1-2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: High resistance – but can be affected by Helminthosporium disease, pythium blight, and take-all root rot if not properly cared for
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: High resistance – but it can be susceptible to fall armyworms, sod webworms, and mole crickets if not properly maintained
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-8
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Grows well in most soil types
\n\n\n\nOther notes: It isn’t tolerant of cold weather, and overfertilization can cause it to become thatchy. Most herbicides are harmful to this grass, so it’s best to avoid using those not labeled for use on seashore paspalum.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/St.-Augustinegrass.jpg\")
St. Augustinegrass
Photo Credit: Yercaud-elango / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Also known as Charleston grass, St. Augustinegrass is the go-to grass option for homeowners in St. Augustine, particularly those living in coastal areas. With its ability to tolerate both sandy and clay soils, this grass variety is a great fit for the region. It can withstand hot and salty conditions but favors warm winters and moist soil conditions.
\n\n\n\nWith its broad leaves and flat stems, you can create a beautiful and lush blue-green lawn. This hurricane-resistant grass is excellent at crowding out most weeds but can be susceptible to lawn diseases and pests like armyworms and chinch bugs.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate – some cultivars can tolerate shade better than others
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high – requires frequent mowing, watering, and fertilization
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2.5-4 inches (mow tall in shade, dwarf cultivars 2.5-3 inches, and standard cultivars 3-4 inches)
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low to moderate resistance – mostly prone to gray leaf spot, large patch, and take-all root rot
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low resistance – susceptible to armyworms, chinch bugs, cutworms, grass loopers, grubs, webworms, and mole crickets
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Grows well in most soil types but prefers moderately fertile and moist (not muddy) soils
\n\n\n\nOther notes: While it’s naturally found in coastal regions, this grass also can thrive in inland areas with the right growing conditions. But it doesn’t perform well in compacted clay soils.
\n\n\n\n![\"Beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_starr_070906-8518_zoysia_sp.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nFor homeowners looking for a beautiful lawn that’s easy to maintain, Zoysiagrass is an excellent option. This grass variety has a light to medium green hue and provides excellent coverage due to its dense growth pattern. Although different cultivars can have varying characteristics, most of them have a medium to coarse texture.
\n\n\n\nThis grass type is also salt-tolerant, making it a perfect choice for St. Augustine’s coastal areas. In addition, Zoysiagrass is quite versatile, able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures, including drought and cold weather. Its extensive root system allows it to access moisture and nutrients from deep underground, even during dry spells and periods of low rainfall.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass has a dense growth pattern that makes it ideal for areas with heavy traffic and activity, such as homes with pets and children. It requires minimal maintenance, but if you want a more carpet-like growth, you should add nitrogen during its growing season.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low to moderate – it requires a lot of time under the sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High – but you must give it supplemental water during extended dry spells
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1-2.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate resistance – can be susceptible to curvularia, leaf spot, brown patch, dollar spot, rust, spring dead spot, powdery mildew, pythium blight, root decline, and fairy wings
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Moderate resistance – common pests include armyworms, chinch bugs, nematodes, mole crickets, hunting billbugs, grubs, and sod webworms
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Grows well in well-drained soils but can survive in most soil types
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Late spring through early summer, typically from April to July, is an ideal time for seeding, as this allows for a full growing season before the onset of winter weather.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re looking for grass options that will work well in shady areas, your two options would be St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass. St. Augustinegrass is known for having excellent shade tolerance and can thrive even in areas that receive only four hours of sunlight per day.
But if you don’t like St. Augustinegrass, you can opt for centipedegrass instead. It’s a low-maintenance option that also does well in shady yards.
Proper lawn watering is crucial to maintaining healthy grass in St. Augustine. As a general rule, you should aim to water your lawn deeply and infrequently, typically once or twice a week, depending on the season and weather conditions.
To ensure your lawn is getting enough water, you should aim for 1 inch of water per week, which can be achieved through either rainfall or irrigation. But take note of the irrigation schedule from the St. Johns River Water Management District to ensure you’re complying with the city ordinance.
Avoid overwatering, as it can lead to fungal growth and other issues. Additionally, watering in the early morning or evening when the sun is less intense can help prevent evaporation and ensure your lawn is getting the most out of each watering session.
The best grass variety for this situation is seashore paspalum. This grass variety is known for its excellent salt tolerance. Pair it with native plants that are also salt-tolerant, like coastal sweet pepperbush, so you won’t have to worry about needing non-saline water.
Choosing the right grass variety is essential to achieving a stunning lawn. With a range of grass types to choose from, you can find one that suits your specific needs and preferences. Consider important factors like the amount of shade and sunlight in your lawn, soil type, and the presence of salty water.
\n\n\n\nWhether you opt for the salt-tolerant seashore paspalum, the shade-tolerant St. Augustinegrass, or the versatile Zoysiagrass, you can create a lawn that will impress your family and guests. With the right care and maintenance, your lawn can thrive even in the Ancient City’s unique coastal environment.
\n\n\n\nCreate an outdoor space that will provide endless enjoyment for years to come. Consult with a St. Augustine lawn care professional today for expert help in determining the ideal grass type for your lawn.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Matt Kieffer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n","title":"6 Best Grass Types for St. Augustine, FL","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5018773466833542,"src":"/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/1789c/lawn-in-st.-augustine.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/107df/lawn-in-st.-augustine.jpg 320w,\n/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/293e9/lawn-in-st.-augustine.jpg 500w,\n/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/f2cbb/lawn-in-st.-augustine.jpg 800w,\n/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/1789c/lawn-in-st.-augustine.jpg 960w,\n/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/c26c2/lawn-in-st.-augustine.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/1dd6e/lawn-in-st.-augustine.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/67b76/lawn-in-st.-augustine.webp 320w,\n/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/8df11/lawn-in-st.-augustine.webp 500w,\n/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/98a65/lawn-in-st.-augustine.webp 800w,\n/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/1dd6e/lawn-in-st.-augustine.webp 960w,\n/static/c75ceb163a5523722c178bdbb8becc8f/3cc96/lawn-in-st.-augustine.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"6 Best Grass Types for St. Augustine, FL | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Looking for the perfect grass type for your yard? Discover the 6 best grass types for St. Augustine's climate and enjoy a lush, healthy lawn."}}},{"node":{"id":"af375aac-f430-5777-81fa-9c837b472add","slug":"best-native-plants-austin","path":"/lawn-care/tx/austin/best-native-plants-austin/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Nicki DeStasi is a writer, author, and teacher who grew up in western Massachusetts and currently resides in the Austin area. She enjoys flower and vegetable gardening, reading, cooking, listening to true-crime podcasts, and spending time with her husband, two children, dog, and cat.","name":"Nicki DeStasi","id":"ffbf62e2-d627-5a5f-a041-4eaa9ac66924","path":"/author/nicki-destasi/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9846092d7afb2db8d0a4daa2454074f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c823f674-c750-5882-9059-d8c27fbe7e1d","name":"Austin","count":19,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/austin/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"0f9826dc-fc31-550e-9967-1b3bf51f2bdb","name":"Texas","count":72,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/"}],"date":"March 27th, 2023","excerpt":"Austinites keep it weird with our local celebrities, our infamous murals, and our love of nature. One way we show our love of nature is by growing flowers, shrubs, and trees native to the area. If you need ideas, we have 15 of the best native plants that are perfect for your Austin landscape. But […]
\n","content":"\nAustinites keep it weird with our local celebrities, our infamous murals, and our love of nature. One way we show our love of nature is by growing flowers, shrubs, and trees native to the area. If you need ideas, we have 15 of the best native plants that are perfect for your Austin landscape.
\n\n\n\nBut why should you choose native plants for your landscape? Here are a few of the benefits:
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/49643314492_80a78d3d2a_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: jimduggan24 / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nThe blue mistflower is an eye-catching wildflower famous for its bluish-purple fuzzy flowers. The nectar-producing blooms grow in a nearly-flat cluster at the top of the plant. The bright blooms attract bees and butterflies and stand out against the dark-green leaves. You can check them out at Zilker’s Botanical Garden.
\n\n\n\nUniquely beautiful, the blue mistflower blooms in late summer and fall. In the wild, they’re often found in stream banks, wet meadows, and ditches. For landscaping, they’re perfect for borders, groundcover, and rain gardens. Usually sown from seeds, the blue mistflower is fast growing and needs to be trimmed and pruned to prevent it from crowding out your other plants.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Wildflower
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness zones: 5-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 3 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist loam, sand, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; invasive if left unchecked; attracts bees
\n\n\n\n![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/14897851758_fcb78dab1d_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: The Marmot / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nThe desert willow resembles a willow but isn’t actually part of the willow family, it’s a member of the bignonia family. With a slew of sweet-smelling pink, white, or purple flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees flock to the desert willow’s nectar-rich blooms. This small, fast-growing ornamental tree is drought resistant and excellent for erosion control. It also makes a great focal point for any yard.
\n\n\n\nThe desert willow requires minimal trimming and is known as a set-it-and-forget-it tree. However, it can be pruned into a large shrub if that’s the aesthetic you’re looking for. Desert willow is popular for xeriscaping or limestone-heavy soil because of its low water needs. You can see them in bloom at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in late spring, summer, and early fall.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 7-11
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 40 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained limestone soils are preferred, but also does well in sands, loams, clays, caliches, granitic, and rocky soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low; water occasionally if no rain after 30 days
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; susceptible to Alterneria leaf spot; attracts wildlife and bees
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/35674161932_8884b13f68_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Earl McGehee / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nThe flame acanthus is a Texas native with many nicknames, including Hummingbird Bush, Texas Firecracker Plant, Mexican Flame, and more. As one of its nicknames suggests, hummingbirPds love the nectar that flows from the reddish-orange, tubular flowers. It also attracts bees and birds but is deer-resistant.
\n\n\n\nPreferring full sun and low moisture, the flame acanthus is an ideal choice for xeriscaping, perennial gardens, and patio pots. Shockingly, this plant can live for more than 30 years. While you will need to control the shrub’s growth, it only requires trimming after the flowers bloom.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 7-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3-5 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable to many soils but prefers well-drained sand, loam, clay, caliche, limestone
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; reseeds profusely; attracts bees
\n\n\n\n![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Flameleaf-Sumac.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Mike Tilley / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nAlso called the Texan sumac and the prairie flameleaf sumac, the flameleaf sumac puts on a fiery show of fire-engine-red leaves in the fall, hence the name. This native shrub is also eye-catching in bloom with its tiny white flowers. The red berries that follow the blooms can be steeped for a tasty tea rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
\n\n\n\nThis tree is not a skin irritant, unlike the similar-sounding, rash-inducing poison sumac. Flameleaf sumac is also a haven for many species, like birds, bees, and small animals. It’s also highly resistant to both pests and diseases, except Verticillium wilt, a fungal disease. This ornamental beauty is a showstopper in any Austin yard.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 6-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Usually 12-15 feet, but can grow up to 30 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Rocky, calcareous, well-drained limestone soils, including clays, loams, and sands.
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low-medium
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; potential to be invasive because it seeds itself; susceptible to Verticillium wilt
\n\n\n\n![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Penstemon_triflorus_flowers.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Stan Shebs / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nSometimes called the Hill Country beardtongue or the scarlet beardtongue, the Hill Country penstemon is an Edwards Plateau native. The vibrant pink or red tube-shaped flowers stand out against the dark green oval leaves. The hairy stamen gives the showy flower the nickname “beardtongue.” This ornamental plant is perfect for perennial gardens and cut flowers.
\n\n\n\nDuring its growing season, this nectar-rich plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and deer. While the Hill Country penstemon is relatively short, the flowers are big in comparison, about 2 inches long. You can see the flowers in bloom in spring and early summer at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 2 feet tall; 1.5 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry, limestone-based soils: sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay.
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low; water if 3 to 4 weeks without rain
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; susceptible to brown spot; attracts deer and bees
\n\n\n\n![\"leaves](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/pxfuel.com-1-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nNative to central Texas, lacey oak trees are found in many Austin area landscapes. They’re named after Howard Lacey, who first collected specimens on his property about two hours west of Austin. The rounded-toothed leaves are peach-colored in spring and fall. In the summer, they take on a smokey grayish-green color. Lacey oaks produce yellow flowers that turn into acorns.
\n\n\n\nBecause lacey oak is resistant to wilt, they’re often preferred over live oak and red oak. The medium-sized tree is an excellent food source and shelter for small mammals and birds. Fun fact: The largest known lacey oak grows just next door in Blanco County. It stands just under 60 feet tall, and the trunk is just over 3 feet in diameter. Wow!
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 7-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 60 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry, limestone or rocky soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Very low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; attracts deer; susceptible to oak phylloxera insects
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Oenothera_macrocarpa_kz06-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Kenraiz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nDespite its name, Missouri primrose is native to the entire south-central United States, including Texas. Even though it has bright yellow elongated flowers, it’s primarily nocturnal, meaning it blooms at night and closes in the day. The Missouri evening primrose is a nectar source that mostly attracts hawk moths but also native bees and hummingbirds.
\n\n\n\nThe showy plant grows easily from seed or stem cuttings. Considered a trailing plant, the Missouri evening primrose is often grown in poor soil gardens, rock gardens, or containers. Remove dead blooms and cut back damaged leaves to promote healthy growth. You can check out these stunning, large, four-petaled blooms at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 8-10 inches
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry, rocky, gravelly, or sandy soils: calcareous, sandy, limestone-based, sandy Loam, medium Loam
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; susceptible to root rot
\n\n\n\n![\"cluster](\"https://lawnlove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rsz_4596500345_9f38e0a8fa_c.jpg\")
Native to south-central United States and Central America, prairie verbena is found in grassy areas, along roadsides, trails, and landscapes all over Texas, including Austin. In fact, they’re on display at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Austin chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center.
\n\n\n\nAlso called “moradilla,” Spanish for “little purple one,” this beautiful plant puts on a show with clusters of violet, purple, or pink flowers against dark green, unusual-shaped leaves (like large, elongated parsley leaves). This long-blooming (March through October), nectar-producing flower attracts butterflies and birds with its sweet fragrance but is deer resistant. The creeping prairie verbena provides superb groundcover in most gardens.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 16 inches tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained sand, loam, clay, caliche, and limestone
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low-medium
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; susceptible to Powdery Mildew
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rose-flower-nature-garden-flowering-plant-petal-1607880-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere
\n\n\n\nNative to the Edwards Plateau through the Rio Grande and into Mexico, the rock rose is a popular choice for Austin landscapes and perennial gardens due to its high heat tolerance and beautiful blooms. The showy, paper-thin, pink or yellow flowers contrast exquisitely with the coarsely toothed, dark green leaves. To see it up close, take a stroll through Zilker’s Botanical Gardens.
\n\n\n\nRock rose is an easily grown shrub that needs to be cut back before winter to encourage bushy, compact growth. The nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds, nectar moths, and butterflies. The flowers only bloom for a short time before falling off to make room for the next one, but the flowers bloom spring, summer, and fall. Surprisingly, the rock rose fragrance is more prominent in the foliage than the bloom.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 8-13
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 4 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers dry, well-drained, rocky or limestone soils: caliche, sandy, clay, and loam (sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam)
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; susceptible to mildew and gray mold (also known as botrytis blight)
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/18658601076_734cc969bc_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: F. D. Richards / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nThe roughleaf dogwood is an adaptable tree native to the central United States west of the Mississippi and Ontario but now flourishes amid the eastern U.S. too. The large clusters of creamy white flowers turn into bunches of fleshy white berries in late fall. The roughleaf dogwood gets its name from the hairy upper part of its oval leaf.
\n\n\n\nThe roughleaf dogwood blooms attract nectar insects like butterflies and native bees. Small birds feast on the berries while nesting amongst the branches. The tree’s also great for erosion control. While the roughleaf dogwood grows throughout Austin landscapes, it’s also featured at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 20 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry to moist, alkaline soils. Limestone-based, sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay, acid-based, calcareous
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; susceptible to several pests and diseases, but they don’t typically affect the tree’s growth
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Hesperaloe_parviflora_Ponteilla.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Sylenius / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nAlso called the hummingbird yucca or the false yucca, the Texas red yucca isn’t actually part of the yucca family. It does resemble a yucca with its long, thin, grasslike leaves and tall wand-like flower stems, but it’s classified as a succulent. Native to Texas and Northern Mexico, the Texas red yucca is heat, cold, and drought tolerant.
\n\n\n\nHummingbirds love the coral, yellow, or red flowers, but so do deer. The dark, olive-green leaves stay green all year, while the flowers bloom from February to July. This evergreen plant is ideal for rock gardens or xeriscaping but thrives in most well-draining soils. If you want to see this beautiful plant firsthand, check it out at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Succulent
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-10
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Succulent
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3-5 feet tall; 2-4 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry, well-drained sand, loam, caliche, limestone.
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Very low; no water once established, but occasional watering might be needed if no rainfall after 30 days
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Raw plant is toxic to humans and dogs, but cooked Texas Red Yucca is edible.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/800px-Leucophyllum_frutescens_Purple_Sage_W_IMG_1125.jpg\")
Photo Credit: J.M. Garg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nNative to Texas and Northern Mexico, the Texas sage has several nicknames, including Barometer Bush and Texas Silverleaf. This beautiful shrub gets the “silver” part of its nickname from its leaves that are densely covered in stellate (silvery hairs). Use it in rock gardens or as a hedge.
\n\n\n\nThe Texas sage leaves give the shrub a gray-silvery appearance, which enhances the white, pink, purple, or violet blooms. The year-round blooming flowers are about an inch wide and almost bell-shaped. The flowers bloom in periods of rain or high humidity, hence the nickname “Barometer Bush.” The nectar-producing blooms attract butterflies to your yard.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 8-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: Usually 2-5 feet, but can grow up to 10 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry, well-drained, rocky or limestone-based soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to very low; water if 3-4 weeks without rain
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; susceptible to Cotton Root Rot
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/800px-Wisteria_frutescens_Amethyst_Falls_3zz-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nAlso called the American wisteria, the Texas wisteria is native to the entire eastern half and south-central United States, including Texas. This woody, climbing vine usually produces long clusters (6-8 inches) of purple flowers in early summer. The flowers can also be pink, blue, or white. The flowers turn into large pea pods that are not edible, so keep pets away.
\n\n\n\nThe fragrant flowers produce nectar and attract butterflies and moths. While not as aggressive as the Asian cousin, Texas wisteria can crowd out other plants and is best grown on an arbor or trellis. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center proudly displays Texas Wisteria as part of its collection.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flowering vine
\n\n\n\nMature size: 25-30 feet tall; 3-6 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Rich, moist to mesic, neutral to slightly acidic soils: sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, and clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium; if there is no rainfall, water every 2-3 weeks
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to pets and humans, except flowers are edible
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Callirhoe_involucrata_20107857120.jpg\")
Photo Credit: peganum / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nThe winecup flower is prevalent throughout most of the United States and is one of the most common wild herbs in Texas. Its purple, white, or pink flowers bloom in spring and early summer. The winecup flower is used as a flower bed cover, in hanging baskets, or draping over a wall.
\n\n\n\nThe nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and deer. The plant’s roots can be used for medicinal purposes, including for head colds and pain. The chalice-shaped flower blooms most of the year except when it goes dormant in late summer. You can see this plant throughout Austin fields, landscapes, and at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 8-12 inches tall spreading to 3 feet
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen, semi-evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained, calcareous, acid-based, rocky, gravelly and sandy soils: clay, clay loam, medium loam, sandy loam
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; susceptible to pests or diseases if the soil is too wet when it may contract root or crown rot
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iStock-1464390827-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Istock
\n\n\n\nNative to Texas and Oklahoma, Wright’s purple skullcap is also called shrubby skullcap or bushy skullcap. Named after the famous botanist Charles Wright, Wright’s purple skullcap is a popular choice for Austin landscape due to its drought and heat resistance. The small, violet, cone-shaped, nectar-rich flowers attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
\n\n\n\nWright’s purple skullcap blooms in spring and summer, attracting deer. If you want to check out this lovely, hardy shrub, you can see it on display throughout Texas, including Texas Discovery Garden in Dallas, Jacob’s Well Natural Area in Wimberly, and right here in Austin at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 7-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-10 inches
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained sand, loam, chalk, limestone
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; highly pest resistant; susceptible to rot if the soil is too wet
\n\n\n\nAnyone who lives in Austin knows that our city is much different than the rest of the state. Texas has seven geographical regions, so not all Texas-native plants are good choices for Austin.
\n\n\n\nJust because a plant is an Austin native doesn’t mean it will do well in your landscape. Make sure the plant you choose is compatible with your yard’s microclimate, such as soil type and sun exposure.
\n\n\n\nAustin’s soil consists of three ecoregions, each with different soil types: the Edwards Plateau, the Blackland Prairies, and the Post Oak Savannah Floodplains.
\n\n\n\nEdwards Plateau
\n\n\n\nBlackland Prairie
\n\n\n\nPost Oak Savannah Floodplains
\n\n\n\nLook into which soil type is found in your yard to help you determine the best plants for your landscape. While researching, discover excellent low-maintenance landscape ideas and the best grass types for your Austin lawn.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re planting in spring, plant between Jan. 15 and March 1. If you’re planting in the fall, start between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1. These ranges come from the Texas DOT and USDA plant hardiness zones. Austin’s plant hardiness zones are 8a-8b. Austin falls right on the line between those two zones. The hardiness zones help gardeners and landscapers determine what plants will thrive in a certain area based on winter low temperatures. In Austin, albeit rare, the temperature can be as low as 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why Austin falls in the 8a-8b zones.
Austin has tons of native plants according to the Native Plant Society of Texas, Austin Chapter. But there are a few things that most Austin native plants have in common.
The simple answer is “yes,” however, there are restrictions depending on the water ban stage and where you live. Here are some common watering restrictions.
If you want to introduce native plants into your landscape, source them ethically. Don’t remove plants from the wild to transplant them into your yard. You can disturb wildlife habitats and introduce pests and diseases to your landscape.
\n\n\n\nInstead, check out the plant selection at one of these local nurseries that Austin Monthly recommends:
\n\n\n\nOnce you’ve filled your garden with low-maintenance native plants, it might be time to turn your attention to the lawn. Make sure you have one of the best grass types for Austin for the healthiest lawn possible. Then, keep your grass healthy without breaking a sweat by hiring a highly-rated Austin professional to handle lawn care for you.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Daniel Norton / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n","title":"15 Best Native Plants for Austin, TX","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":2.4193548387096775,"src":"/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/1789c/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/107df/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.jpg 320w,\n/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/293e9/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.jpg 500w,\n/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/f2cbb/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.jpg 800w,\n/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/1789c/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.jpg 960w,\n/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/c26c2/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/1dd6e/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/67b76/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.webp 320w,\n/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/8df11/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.webp 500w,\n/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/98a65/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.webp 800w,\n/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/1dd6e/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.webp 960w,\n/static/3fa6c21e03d5e94735bc1596e7c28e21/3cc96/Bluebonnets_on_Lake_Austin_Boulevard.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"15 Best Native Plants for Austin, TX | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Native plants are key to the healthy mico-ecosystem of your garden and landscaping. Discover the best native plants for your Austin yard."}}},{"node":{"id":"77191444-d893-50f4-921f-e7c9fd3e7eeb","slug":"worst-backyard-pests-kansas-city","path":"/lawn-care/mo/kansas-city/worst-backyard-pests-kansas-city/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Danielle Bradley is a botanist who experiments with native plants from every region in the U.S. She’s dedicated to companion planting without the use of pesticides. Her own garden is filled with a variety of colors and textures.","name":"Danielle Bradley","id":"7329a804-3158-5b9f-94fc-835a4923557a","path":"/author/danielle-bradley/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a840af9ee5b616963d15a622658e9612?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"05d0f445-881a-5277-b62a-ce38f7c7af9f","name":"Kansas City","count":6,"path":"/category/lawn-care/mo/kansas-city/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"08e64923-2067-5321-ba20-42c35858c2cd","name":"Missouri","count":13,"path":"/category/lawn-care/mo/"}],"date":"August 1st, 2019","excerpt":"If you have pests in your Kansas City backyard — and chances are you do — you can take these steps to zap them or send them scampering off.
\n","content":"\nFleas, ticks, wasps, ants, spiders, mosquitoes — you name the pest, and Kansas City has it. The same balmy summers that make for thick lawns and backyard barbeques come with the unwanted byproduct of bugs. The worst backyard pests in Kansas City have six legs (or more), can sting or bite or, at the very least, look disgusting!
\n\n\n\nIf you have backyard intruders — and chances are you do — you can take steps to zap them or send them scampering off. Let’s look at the worst of the lot.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sRuIDQ728DZkPno9fMw9DnM0E2w1J-U1s44Q6hd8bEqYXLsEzh2gbH77-l_oV_yuzMXJG9fFWdOZw4dxxE2-cAX-ZsXFYTYmnPfBs-enLhKWQPOj5uCWhobFf3I9j3lr8jLnvTiu\")
This bloodsucker makes the top of the list because ticks transmit more diseases to humans than any other insect — and Missouri has them. The most common here, the American dog tick, carries Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and other infections. Ticks can make pets sick and kill them, and as temperatures warm, we’re seeing more of them. The CDC reports double the cases of tick-borne diseases in the past 10 years. Keeping them out of your yard is a top priority. Bifen IT, Onslaught, and Permethrin help control ticks outdoors. Keeping a well-maintained yard is also crucial.
\n\n\n\nThey buzz, and you swat. They land, and you slap. Beyond being irritating, this flying insect also carries disease. West Nile Virus, though relatively rare, can be deadly. Add to the list zika, malaria, and dengue fever, and it’s no wonder mosquitoes rank as the deadliest creature on the planet. The best preventative steps are to keep your yard clean and do not leave standing water where larvae hatch. Consider a commercial spray that contains sodium lauryl sulfate. DEET products work on skin and clothing.
\n\n\n\nWant to avoid chemicals? Surround your patio or deck with mosquito-repelling plants. The scent of petunias, mint, lavender, and chrysanthemums really bugs mosquitoes. They also hate rosemary, thyme, cilantro, and garlic.
\n\n\n\nUsually mentioned in the same breath as ticks, this tiny parasite likes the shady and moist areas of your yard. Because they feed on any warm-blooded creature, they will quickly attach to your dog, your cat, you, your kids, and your backyard guests. Left untreated, fleas can kill your pet. Flea-transmitted disease in people is rare in the U.S., but doctors are seeing more of them. This lowliest of creatures was responsible for wiping out half the population of Europe in the Black Death of the 14th century. Sprays, powders, pet collars, and ointments are readily available. Look for ones containing carbonyl.
\n\n\n\nWhen these armed insects are around, we don’t care if they’re a wasp, a hornet, a yellow jacket, or a dirt dauber. We just know they sting, it hurts, and we don’t want them on our property. They belong to the insect order of Apocrita and 58 varieties call Missouri home. The best way to be rid of them is with sprays containing tetramethrin. The task is best left to the bravest and fastest member of the family because when the spray hits the nest, they’re going to come out, well — mad as a hornet.
\n\n\n\nA word about bees and wasps. Although bees are from the same family as wasps, they’re less aggressive unless their hives are threatened. Otherwise, they’re content buzzing around and performing the crucial job of pollinating flowers. Since these bugs are essential to our food chain, it’s best to call a beekeeper if you find a hive. The aggressive Africanized or “killer” bee has not made its way to Missouri. And while wasps may bug you, they also eat the pests that feed on your vegetable plants.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Yi3CxzB1LG2HfbUuN95nw1cVBz_ZOcjC2qRFuOhDeU8YVcMxmNDfcYOm5rjfzv_NqgcTWUJ6FxvLWwxdaYpdoGhAKRRLez8RsuKNGukdJs_ZBydETaYKroZk5OT3aBaun_p58xmc\")
Like Rodney Dangerfield, spiders “don’t get no respect.” Even though most of them rid our yards of flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches, their reputation is sullied by a few bad eggs. Think the black widow and the brown recluse, which bite can hurt you. The black widow is common across Missouri and likes to hide under rocks, logs, and in your garden shed. The brown recluse, which also calls Missouri home, prefers to hang out in your closet or sock drawer. A direct shot of commercial bug spray will kill a spider, but because they’re arachnids rather than insects, routine bug sprays won’t keep them away. A smack with a flyswatter does just as good.
\n\n\n\nYou can control the worst backyard pests in Kansas City with pesticides and with some homemade natural remedies. But when you feel your family’s health is at risk — call in the pros!
Looking to learn more about lawn care and gardening in Kansas City? Visit our Kansas City Lawn Care page.
Little Rock is unique. Its climate is classified as subtropical, but the city experiences four distinct seasons with very short, cold winters. Named after an actual rock, “la Petite Roche” to the locals, the bustling metropolis has plenty of prime outdoor months with annual high temperatures averaging 73 degrees Fahrenheit and lows averaging 52 degrees […]
\n","content":"\nLittle Rock is unique. Its climate is classified as subtropical, but the city experiences four distinct seasons with very short, cold winters. Named after an actual rock, “la Petite Roche” to the locals, the bustling metropolis has plenty of prime outdoor months with annual high temperatures averaging 73 degrees Fahrenheit and lows averaging 52 degrees Fahrenheit. The best grass types for Little Rock need little water to survive the unique climate. Read on to discover four warm-season varieties suitable for your Little Rock landscape.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLike Goldilocks, Arkansas sits in the transition zone. This means summers are too hot for cool-season grass varieties and winters are too cold for warm-season grasses in most of the state, making it incredibly difficult to maintain your lawn.
\n\n\n\nAll types of grass are classified into one of two categories:
\n\n\n\nLittle Rock sits on the banks of the Arkansas River in the middle of the state. Cool-season grass varieties perform best in Northern Arkansas, making Little Rock best-suited for warm-season varieties.
\n\n\n\nThe following warm-season grass types are perfectly suited for the climatic and soil conditions of Little Rock:
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_4pexels-rovenimagescom-949584.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pexels
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass is the most common Arkansas grass variety, and it is adapted to the entire state. It is an aggressive grass that recovers quickly from damage. The turfgrass is moderately cold-tolerant, hardy, and fine-textured. It withstands drought and heavy foot traffic, making it a versatile option for golf courses, athletic fields, and home lawns.
\n\n\n\nLittle Rock is home to common and hybrid bermudagrass varieties. Sun-loving common bermudagrass has a light green color and coarse texture, while hybrid cultivars have a finer texture and dark green appearance. Common bermudagrass requires less maintenance than hybrid varieties but is less dense with a more sparse appearance and lower disease resistance.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Poor — needs full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1-2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Good resistance to disease; prone to spring dead spot, dollar spot, leaf spot, large patch, and sheath spot
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low resistance; prone to white grubs, hunting billbugs, mole crickets, army worms, and sod webworms
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Tolerates most soil types
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Bermuda spreads aggressively via its stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems) and can out-compete many weeds. The downside is that it also can be a nuisance and is sometimes considered invasive. You’ll often find it has tunneled underground into flower beds and spread into neighboring lawns.
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/St-Augustine-Grass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass thrives in the Little Rock summers. It is dense with deep roots and the least winter-hardy of the warm-season grasses. Luckily, it performs well in centrally located Little Rock. It has high shade tolerance, is quick-growing, and is easy to establish. However, the dense turfgrass does not stand up well to heavy traffic or herbicides.
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass is blue-green and coarse-textured. It is hardy as far north as Little Rock. The most readily available cultivar is the common St. Augustinegrass, and all cultivars are susceptible to disease and pests like chinch bugs.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate shade tolerance, among the highest of any warm-season grass; some cultivars are more shade tolerant than others
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2.5-4 inches (mow dwarf varieties from 2.5-3 inches; standard cultivars from 3-4 inches; mow tall in shade)
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate to high; prone to gray leaf spot, large patch, and take-all root rot
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: High; prone to chinch bugs, cutworms, mole crickets, grass loopers, army worms, web worms, and grubs
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Tolerates many soil types; prefers moderately fertile and moist (not waterlogged) soils; not a highly drought-tolerant grass; doesn’t tolerate soil compaction
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Native to coastal areas across the world and prefers moist soils and mild winters; will thrive in more inland areas provided growing conditions are met; good salt tolerance; will go dormant during winter in all but the southernmost regions
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Zoysia-grass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is used throughout Arkansas. This turfgrass tolerates drought, low mow heights, shade, heavy traffic, and even lower temperatures. It has low fertilization requirements and grows densely, blocking out weeds thanks to thick, stiff leaf blades.
\n\n\n\nTwo cultivars of Zoysiagrass are present in Little Rock, Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella. The attractive turfgrass is recognizable for its dense appearance and dark green color. Arkansas cultivars are not prone to disease or insect infestation, but grow slowly.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Tolerates light to moderate shade
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low to moderate nitrogen requirement; moderate mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1-2.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low; large patch, root decline, spring dead spot, rust, curvularia, and leaf spot can occur
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low; most common pests are mites, grubs, mole crickets, hunting billbugs, army worms, chinch bugs, and sod webworms
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Well-draining, some cultivars more tolerant of a wide range of soils than others
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Moderately salt tolerant; cut with sharp mower blade; mow taller if grass is in partial shade
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Centipede-Grass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James Becwar / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass is slow-growing, making it a low-maintenance choice for Little Rock lawns. Cultivars require little mowing, fertilization, or water to remain lush and green. It handles shade better than bermudagrass, but the smooth, flat-bladed grass does not handle heavy traffic, cold, or herbicides well.
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass has a pronounced medium texture and light green color. This turfgrass prefers to be left alone and is prone to pests and disease when improperly maintained or over watered.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate — at least six hours of full sun per day
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1.5-2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate; prone to centipedegrass decline and iron chlorosis
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Moderate; prone to ground pearl insects, grubs, mole crickets, sod webworms, and lawn caterpillars
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5-6
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Acidic, infertile, at least moderately good drainage (very dense, clay soils produce poor results)
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Low maintenance once established; greenish-yellow color (like a green apple) during the growing season; low fertilizer and mowing requirements; not a salt-tolerant grass
\n\n\n\nNo. While Arkansas lies in the transition zone, centrally located Little Rock is too warm to grow cool-season grasses. Cities in Northern Arkansas can grow tall fescue, a cool-season grass that tolerates heat better than other varieties.
You should plant your grass seed in May or June. This gives the seed plenty of time to germinate before the hot Little Rock summer.
St. Augustinegrass is the most shade-friendly grass type for Little Rock.
The best grass cultivars for Little Rock are warm-season varieties suited to Arkansas’ unique USDA zones, 7b to 8a. All turfgrasses have their own characteristics and needs. Choose a variety that works well for your space and lifestyle.
\n\n\n\nYour grass comes together to help form your complete landscape. There are numerous landscaping options for Little Rock, and you can take advantage of the city’s four unique seasons. Be sure to check out our guides to help you keep your lawn healthy year-round:
\n\n\n\nConquer Arkansas’ humid climate. Contact a Little Rock lawn care pro today to help you maintain a green and healthy lawn, so you have more free time outdoors.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Valis55 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n","title":"4 Best Grass Types for Little Rock","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.509433962264151,"src":"/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/1789c/Little-Rock-Lawn.jpg","srcSet":"/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/107df/Little-Rock-Lawn.jpg 320w,\n/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/293e9/Little-Rock-Lawn.jpg 500w,\n/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/f2cbb/Little-Rock-Lawn.jpg 800w,\n/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/1789c/Little-Rock-Lawn.jpg 960w,\n/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/c26c2/Little-Rock-Lawn.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/1dd6e/Little-Rock-Lawn.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/67b76/Little-Rock-Lawn.webp 320w,\n/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/8df11/Little-Rock-Lawn.webp 500w,\n/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/98a65/Little-Rock-Lawn.webp 800w,\n/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/1dd6e/Little-Rock-Lawn.webp 960w,\n/static/acc1fc681c1053d02590a90a4f6a68b0/3cc96/Little-Rock-Lawn.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"4 Best Grass Types for Little Rock | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Warm-season, drought-tolerant grasses are the best choice for Little Rock, and these four species are great options."}}},{"node":{"id":"1bb85753-2311-561e-877f-9f400556d157","slug":"best-grass-types-california","path":"/lawn-care/ca/best-grass-types-california/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Lauren Bryant is a freelance writer based out of Eugene, Oregon, with a B.A. in English and a minor in comics and cartoon studies. She is excitedly awaiting the day when she can grow her own edible garden.","name":"Lauren Bryant","id":"104563f0-6820-5e73-b732-a5aa9cd0fd4c","path":"/author/lauren-bryant/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/59c00f89f2a61befe0b5d36cc3b0cc62?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"d4a57f5d-7087-5464-8fbc-e03c067b9723","name":"California","count":13,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ca/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"May 25th, 2023","excerpt":"From Eureka to Palm Springs, homeowners all over California seek picturesque lawns to complement their landscaping. But what grass should you choose? While it depends on your specific region, some grass types do well in large portions of the state. The best grass types for California will survive and thrive in local conditions. Let’s break […]
\n","content":"\nFrom Eureka to Palm Springs, homeowners all over California seek picturesque lawns to complement their landscaping. But what grass should you choose? While it depends on your specific region, some grass types do well in large portions of the state.
\n\n\n\nThe best grass types for California will survive and thrive in local conditions. Let’s break down the pros and cons of each grass type, including which part of the state they can grow in.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\nGrass types break down into two categories based on growth patterns: cool-season and warm-season. Cool-season grasses do best in the northern part of the United States, and warm-season grasses do best in the southern part. In the middle is the transition zone, where you can grow either type.
\n\n\n\nSince California is a large state, it spans the cool-season, transition, and warm-season zones. Cool-season grasses grow in northern, central, and coastal regions. Warm-season grasses grow in southern and central California.
\n\n\n\nWhile those in the far north or south of the state may be limited to either cool or warm-season grasses, most of California can grow either. Here are some critical differences between cool- and warm-season grasses to consider.
\n\n\n\n![\"beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Agrostis_pallens_turf.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ruff tuff cream puff / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThere are multiple types of bentgrass available in California. Due to its high maintenance, creeping bentgrass is usually reserved for golf courses and lawn tennis courts. However, California native bentgrass is more suitable for home lawns. It has a medium texture, uniform growth pattern, and deep green color. It also is known as Agrostis pallens or seashore bentgrass.
\n\n\n\nCalifornia native bentgrass requires half the water of typical cool-season grasses. When faced with heavy foot traffic, its self-repairing rhizomes will heal damage. Plant it in full sun for the best growth. You can mow native bentgrass like a traditional lawn or grow it into a meadow. If you cut it back down after growing it out, gradually lower the mowing height to avoid damage.
\n\n\n\nThough California native bentgrass has many advantages, its slow growth may deter some people. Its seeds establish slowly, and sod is pricier than other cool-season grasses.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Prefers full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low; you can mow it or let it grow out
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1.5-2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: High
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5-8
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Any soil with good drainage
\n\n\n\nOther notes: This grass can be mowed or left long and meadow-like. It is best suited for coastal areas.
\n\n\n\n![\"Backyard](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Brenda Ryan / Wikilawn
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis state may not be Kentucky, but this grass can still grow well in Northern and Central California. Kentucky bluegrass is deep green with a medium texture. It creates a dense turf.
\n\n\n\nThis grass type grows well from fall through spring and needs moderate maintenance. It has an excellent cold tolerance, which makes it suitable for the intermountain west. Plant it in yards with full sun or some shade. Though Kentucky bluegrass is vulnerable to traffic damage, it will self-repair.
\n\n\n\nSummer is the slowest growing season for this grass. It will survive droughts by going dormant but become vulnerable to weeds and diseases if stressed by heat, dehydration, and poor soil quality. Kentucky bluegrass is often mixed with at least 15% perennial ryegrass to improve its performance.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low to moderate — prefers full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate, but will survive by going dormant
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low to moderate, but recuperates well
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate mowing frequency; a high-maintenance grass
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2-3 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Good drainage, fertile
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Produces a dense lawn under ideal conditions; many of these traits (shade tolerance, drought resistance, etc.) vary widely by cultivar, with newer cultivars generally being hardier, more resistant to disease, etc.; mow taller in summer; most often mixed with other species, such as tall fescue, in home lawns
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRich green and fine-textured perennial ryegrass is commonly mixed with other turfgrasses but also can be used on its own. It’s primarily found in Northern and Central California, with some viability in Southern California. It does exceptionally well in the moderate temperatures of coastal California.
\n\n\n\nThis grass type is moderate to high maintenance, depending on your desired mowing height. Due to its quick germination, perennial ryegrass is competitive against weeds and tolerates traffic well. You can plant it in full sun or partial shade. Since it is a cool-season grass, it has an excellent cold tolerance.
\n\n\n\nSome people use perennial ryegrass to improve the performance of Kentucky bluegrass lawns or preserve the color of bermudagrass lawns in winter. However, perennial ryegrass’ competitive growth could lead to it overpowering other grass types. It has a low tolerance for shade, heat, and drought.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type grass
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low — prefers full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Low (may go dormant in summer)
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High, but poor recuperative ability
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate mowing requirement, depending on cutting height (lower cutting heights require more frequent mowing)
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2-3 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: High
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Fertile with good drainage
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Most often mixed with Kentucky bluegrass in a cool-season mix; well known for its excellent striping ability, low mowing tolerance (reel mower fans, this one’s for you), and rapid germination rate (four to seven days). It needs moderate levels of fertilizer.
\n\n\n\n![\"Tall](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis grass is the most common turfgrass in the state. It has a coarse texture, but the turf-type and dwarf-type tall fescue varieties have a finer texture and shorter height.
\n\n\n\nTall fescue has a relatively good heat and drought tolerance for cool-season grass. It stays green in warm and cool weather but may turn brown in severe cold. Sunny or partially sunny yards are ideal for growth. When densely sown, this grass will have a uniform texture and strong resistance to diseases and weeds.
\n\n\n\nThough it can handle moderate traffic, it won’t fill in damaged patches due to its bunch-type growth habit. Reseed the lawn if you see thinning or bare spots. Tall fescue doesn’t grow well in high altitudes, so don’t use it if you live in the mountains.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type grass
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate, but low ability to recuperate from wear
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Fast rate of growth, so plan to mow often
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2-4 inches (many tall fescue lawns grow best when they’re mowed on the tall side); do not mow less than 1.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low to moderate under proper management conditions
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5.5-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Fertile, good drainage, but will tolerate a wider range of soil conditions
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Reseed every few years to repair bare spots and thinning; don’t plant old varieties such as Kentucky-31; look for “turf-type” tall fescue (TTTF). Seed blends with more than one TTTF cultivar give the best chance for a strong lawn.
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pexels
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDepending on the variety, bermudagrass ranges from gray-green to blue-green to dark green, with a fine to medium texture. It loves the warm weather of Southern California and the Central California coast.
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass is prepared to handle full sun, high temperatures, and drought. It’s an excellent choice for coastal properties due to its salinity tolerance. Due to its resilience to foot traffic, this grass is popular with families and pet owners. Its fast-growing nature allows it to withstand diseases and pests.
\n\n\n\nCold and shade will weaken this grass and leave it vulnerable to weeds and traffic damage. Long periods of cold weather will leave it brown, which makes it less suitable for Northern California. It also may pose problems in its active growth period. Many varieties require frequent mowing, fertilization, and dethatching. Without edging, it could spread to nearby gardens or yards.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Poor — needs full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1-2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Good resistance to disease, although diseases like spring dead spot are common; low resistance to insects like bermudagrass mites, dichondra flea beetles, and fiery skippers
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Tolerates most soil types
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Bermuda spreads aggressively via its stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems) and can out-compete many weeds. The downside is that it also can be a nuisance and is sometimes considered invasive. You’ll often find it has tunneled underground into flower beds and spread into neighboring lawns.
\n\n\n\n![\"California](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UC-Verde-Buffalograss-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Susan Harris / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis grass type has a fine texture and grayish-green color. Buffalograss is native to North American Plains but can do well in California. Researchers at UC Davis and UC Riverside developed the UC Verde variety to suit this state’s hot, dry summers.
\n\n\n\nUC Verde buffalograss is very low-maintenance with good resistance to diseases and pests. It requires at least 50% less water than tall fescue and bermudagrass. You can mow as often as once a week or as infrequently as once a year, depending on how manicured or natural you want it to look. UC Verde is allergy-friendly due to the low number of seedheads produced.
\n\n\n\nBuffalograss won’t die if you walk over it sometimes or hold the occasional backyard event, but it’s not a good choice if you expect lots of activity on your lawn. It’s also not suited for shady yards. Buffalograss may turn brown and dormant in winter and in summer drought but will recover well. Expect to pay a higher-than-average price whether you buy seed or sod.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Very low — best suited for full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Very low, but light use or rare heavy use is OK
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low mowing frequency — once per week or less
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2-4 inches or leave unmowed; UC Verde doesn’t grow taller than 4-6 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Good tolerance against diseases and insects
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6.5-7.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Prefers soils that aren’t sandy
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Buffalograss often turns brown in winter. Because of its few flowerheads, it produces little pollen and seeds, making it suitable for those with allergies.
\n\n\n\n![\"Bubble](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bubble-on-St.-Augustine-grass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jay Morgan / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you live on the SoCal coast or in the coastal valleys, consider St. Augustinegrass. It produces a dense lawn with broad leaves and a medium green color.
\n\n\n\nThis grass has few weeds and pest problems. It also can handle drought and salinity. St. Augustinegrass thrives in moderate temperatures and grows most in summer, with slow growth in spring and fall and dormancy in winter. It is one of the best warm-season grasses for shady yards but will do best in full sun.
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass isn’t ideal for the cold northernmost regions of California. It requires frequent mowing, fertilization, and dethatching to keep it healthy. This grass is better for decorative lawns than high-use ones due to low traffic tolerance.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate shade tolerance, among the highest of any warm-season grass; some cultivars are more shade tolerant than others
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2.5-4 inches (mow dwarf varieties from 2.5-3 inches; standard cultivars from 3-4 inches; mow tall in shade)
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate to high; watch out for iron deficiency, fiery skippers, and Southern chinch bugs
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Tolerates many soil types; prefers moderately fertile and moist (not waterlogged) soils; not a highly drought-tolerant grass; doesn’t tolerate soil compaction
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Native to coastal areas across the world and prefers moist soils and mild winters; will thrive in more inland areas provided growing conditions are met; good salt tolerance; will go dormant during winter in all but the southernmost regions
\n\n\n\n![\"lush](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/zoysiagrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Russbach at the English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass creates dense, uniform, prickly turf. It has a medium to fine texture and dark green color. It does well in Southern California and the coasts of Central and Northern California.
\n\n\n\nThis low-maintenance has few pest problems and resists drought, heat, and foot traffic. The most drought-tolerant variety is Zoysia japonica. Though Zoysiagrass needs little fertilizer, fall fertilization can improve its typically brown winter color. Plant it in full sun or partial shade.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass establishes slowly, but the “DeAnza,” “El Toro,” “Emerald,” and “Victoria” varieties establish quicker. Use sod instead of plugs if you want an instant lawn. This grass type requires moderate mowing to avoid scalping. Dethatch yearly to avoid matting. A thatch-filled Zoysiagrass lawn will be challenging to mow evenly.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Tolerates light to moderate shade
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low to moderate nitrogen requirement; moderate mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1-2.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Not prone to disease and insects; good disease tolerance overall; watch out for nematodes
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Well-draining; some cultivars more tolerant of a wide range of soils than others
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Moderately salt tolerant; cut with sharp mower blade; mow taller if the grass is in partial shade
\n\n\n\nCalifornia not only has a diverse culture but a diverse climate. You can narrow your turfgrass choices by general regions, such as Northern, Central, and Southern.
\n\n\n\nThe grass types listed under each region will work in most of that area. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean every city will be well-suited for those grass types or that you can’t use other grass types. For example, you will still need to consider whether you live by the ocean, inland, or in the mountains, as growing conditions will vary greatly.
\n\n\n\nSeashore bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue can stay green all year in California. These grasses may need irrigation to maintain their color year-round. Severe temperatures and drought also may cause lawns to turn brown and dormant.
The most heat-tolerant grass types in California include tall fescue, Zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, and buffalograss. Keep in mind that heat tolerance does not always equal drought tolerance. Just because a lawn can handle a heat wave doesn’t mean it won’t want water.
If you don’t want to spend all your time mowing, fertilizing, and irrigating your lawn, consider seashore bentgrass, UC Verde buffalograss, or Zoysiagrass.
The most drought-tolerant grass types in California are bentgrass, bermudagrass, buffalograss, and Zoysiagrass.
Turfgrasses and other plants do best when they’re well-adapted to the area. California native plants are more likely to be low-maintenance and fire-resistant than non-native plants. That said, non-native plants can still be adapted to the California climate and suit your needs.
\n\n\n\nEven when broken down into Northern, Southern, and Central, California has many climates and soil types. Your property may face unique challenges that make landscaping by yourself difficult or time-consuming.
A local lawn care or landscaping professional can take yard chores off your to-do list and provide grass and plant recommendations based on your unique needs. Wikilawn can connect you with pros in Los Angeles, San Jose, Bakersfield, and many other California cities.
Main Photo Credit: Sonoma Plaza / Carlton A. Lear / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n","title":"8 Best Grass Types for California","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.4796547472256474,"src":"/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/1789c/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..jpg","srcSet":"/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/107df/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..jpg 320w,\n/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/293e9/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..jpg 500w,\n/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/f2cbb/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..jpg 800w,\n/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/1789c/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..jpg 960w,\n/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/c26c2/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/1dd6e/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/67b76/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..webp 320w,\n/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/8df11/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..webp 500w,\n/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/98a65/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..webp 800w,\n/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/1dd6e/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..webp 960w,\n/static/9a8d42ef28448436d946885b593e8bf1/3cc96/Sonoma-Plaza-in-Sonoma-California-a-registered-national-historical-landmark..webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"8 Best Grass Types for California","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"The best grass types for California depend on which part of the state you live in. We’ll break down the pros and cons of each of the eight turfgrasses."}}},{"node":{"id":"a7d4f1dc-205b-5939-88f1-10ed1b0aabd9","slug":"low-maintenance-landscaping-alabama","path":"/lawn-care/al/low-maintenance-landscaping-alabama/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"LaShonda Tucker is a freelance writer, poet, and spoken word artist in Atlanta. She earned her masters from the University of Georgia and enjoys playing her violin.","name":"LaShonda Tucker","id":"f7fdb6d3-a89a-5295-963a-aac47afa7cee","path":"/author/lashonda-tucker/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ce61747b62dbfb82f56a8611f2835988?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"f574154e-1209-591b-9c1d-0250dfe4c10b","name":"Alabama","count":6,"path":"/category/lawn-care/al/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"May 14th, 2023","excerpt":"After taking in the views at Cheaha State Park, returning to a home landscape that provides the same serenity and aesthetic pleasure is a welcoming thought. We’ve compiled eight low-maintenance landscaping ideas for Alabama homeowners to help you do just that. While you may not be able to duplicate the wonders of Cheaha in your […]
\n","content":"\nAfter taking in the views at Cheaha State Park, returning to a home landscape that provides the same serenity and aesthetic pleasure is a welcoming thought. We’ve compiled eight low-maintenance landscaping ideas for Alabama homeowners to help you do just that. While you may not be able to duplicate the wonders of Cheaha in your yard, you can create a breathtaking landscape that is just as appealing.
\n\n\n\nAnd let’s be honest, the breeze from the Gulf of Mexico is nice, but sometimes the summers get really hot. These ideas will help you stay out of the heat, or at least allow you more time to enjoy the beaches at Gulf State Park when you are outdoors, instead of spending a lot of your time doing yard work. A spectacular-looking yard does not have to mean a lot of sweat and labor.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/36415538275_740f5f1f45_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Plant Image Library / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlanting perennials has many benefits. Annuals only last one season and must be replanted. Perennials, on the other hand, last many seasons after being planted only once. They require maintenance, but usually less than annuals. Most perennials require dividing for healthy growth and continued flowering.
\n\n\n\nMany perennials thrive as long as they receive sunshine and are planted in well-drained soil. The deep root systems of perennials help prevent erosion and promote healthy soil composition.
\n\n\n\nPerennials come in multiple colors, sizes, and textures, so you can have the same diversity as you would with annuals. Planting different perennial varieties means they’ll blossom at different times, giving you a colorful garden longer.
\n\n\n\nCheck out these Alabama hardy native perennials:
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of perennials:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: The cost of perennials depends on the plant type and size, purchase location, and if you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional. It costs between $650 and $3,000 for professional flower bed installation, depending on plant type and size, and the number of plants. Expect to pay between $10 to $100 per plant if you’re DIY’ing it. A package of seeds typically costs less than $2.
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Oakleaf-Hydrangea.jpg\")
Photo Credit: normanack / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFill your flower bed and other areas of your yard with a diverse collection of native plants. From shrubs to sedums to ornamental grasses, native plants add variety, color, and interest to any home.
\n\n\n\nNative plants can make your life a little easier and promote a healthier environment. Most native plants are low maintenance because they have adapted to the Alabama climate. They require less watering and fertilizing and are more tolerant of local diseases and pests. As a result, fewer chemicals are needed to maintain native plants, meaning fewer harmful chemicals run off into the water supply and contaminate the environment.
\n\n\n\nNative plants provide habitat and nourishment for local insects, butterflies, birds, and wildlife, sustaining biodiversity and promoting a healthy ecosystem.
\n\n\n\nHere are some attractive Alabama native plants:
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of native plants:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: Native plant prices depend on plant type, size, and purchase location. Shrubs cost between $15 to $50. Expect to pay between $5 to $50 per vine. A tree averages between $200 to $1,500.
\n\n\n\n![\"Plants](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Plants-with-Mulch.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxHere
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMulch is a low-maintenance idea that saves time and money and benefits your soil and plants. Mulch protects the soil from direct sunlight, which reduces water evaporation and conserves water. It also prevents erosion, suppresses weeds, and protects the soil from extreme temperatures that can injure plant roots.
\n\n\n\nWeed suppression means less time and money spent on herbicides. When plant roots are protected from injury, like frost in the winter, you do not have to spend time repairing the damage or replacing plants. When you replace grass in difficult-to-mow areas with mulch, you reduce the time otherwise spent mowing the lawn.
\n\n\n\nYou have two choices for mulch: organic and inorganic. Organic mulch can improve soil quality, aeration, and drainage. As it breaks down, it adds nutrients to the soil. Both organic and inorganic mulch can add aesthetic value to your home.
\n\n\n\nMulch comes in different textures, colors, and styles. Here are some examples:
\n\n\n\nOrganic mulch:
\n\n\n\nInorganic mulch:
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of mulch:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: Organic mulch typically costs about $50 to $150 per cubic yard. Inorganic mulch costs about $20 to $400 per cubic yard. You can typically get mulch at $3 to $7 a bag.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fire-Pit.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Rochester Concrete Products / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHardscapes are non-living, man-made features. Although they cost more upfront, after they are constructed, they provide years of low-maintenance visual appeal and functionality.
\n\n\n\nOnce you’ve installed a flagstone pathway and wrap-around porch as inviting entryways to your home, you’ve created a landscape design that does not need mowing, weeding, or fertilizing. The more hardscapes, the fewer lawn care and gardening tasks you’ll have to do.
\n\n\n\nYou might like some of these hardscape ideas:
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of hardscapes:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: It costs an average of $4.50 to $17 per square foot for professional hardscaping, depending on the type of project, or between $3,300 to $13,200 per project. A walkway costs between $335 and $2,840. A retaining wall is one of the more expensive landscape designs, costing between $3,600 to $9,500.
\n\n\n\n![\"Xeriscaping](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Xeriscaping.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jeremy Levine / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nXeriscaping is another landscaping idea that saves water and time. This type of landscaping uses drought-tolerant plants and other low-maintenance features to replace grass. Succulents, native plants, and other plants that require little water, like liriopes, create an efficient and diverse display. Many xeriscaping features require no fertilization and little to no pruning.
\n\n\n\nLet’s look at some ways to xeriscape:
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of xeriscaping:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: Expect to pay between $5 to $20 per square foot for professional installation, depending on materials, type of feature, and the size of your yard.
\n\n\n\n![\"Lilyturf](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Lilyturf-Blooming.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUsing groundcover instead of grass eliminates or reduces the need to mow. Choosing low-maintenance groundcover means less watering, fertilizing, and other activities necessary to maintain grass.
\n\n\n\nYou can replace your grass with plants that are low-maintenance and look like grass, with a touch of color. Liriopes are a category of grass-like plants that also flower. They spread to make an excellent groundcover.
\n\n\n\nLiriopes (Liriope muscari) are not native to Alabama, but some, like monkey grass, are popular amongst Alabama homeowners. Liriope is very low-maintenance. It is drought, heat, and high-traffic tolerant. It suppresses weeds and requires little, if any, fertilizer.
\n\n\n\nMixing different types of groundcover plants can give your yard a more interesting and colorful landscape than having a lawn made of only grass. Groundcover also prevents erosion.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re looking for interesting groundcover to partially or completely replace your grass, you may like these plants that are either drought-tolerant, native to Alabama, or both :
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of groundcovers:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: The cost of groundcover plants depends on the plant type, size, how they’re sold, and purchase location. A container plant costs about $40. Plant trays cost about $10. The same plant may cost between $4 and $400 when sold as seeds, depending on the number of seeds.
\n\n\n\n![\"Artificial](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Artificial-Grass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Nick Bastian / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtificial grass means no more mowing, watering, fertilizing, dethatching, or any of those maintenance chores associated with real grass. Although artificial grass is costly initially, you’ll only have to do occasional maintenance, like cleaning it and keeping it free of debris.
\n\n\n\nYou’ll also contribute to a cleaner environment. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that would have been used to maintain your lawn will no longer be applied and run off into the water supply.
\n\n\n\nIf you choose artificial turfgrass, be aware that it reduces the nutrients the soil underneath it receives. So, the soil can be damaged.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of artificial grass:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: Expect to pay an average of $5.50 to $19.75 per square foot for artificial grass installation, depending on the material, property size, and yard shape.
\n\n\n\n![\"Showy](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Showy-stonecrop.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Kroton / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSucculents are great for low-maintenance landscapes and well-suited for the dry, hot Alabama climate. These plants store water in their stems, roots, and leaves, allowing them to thrive with little watering. They are drought-tolerant and usually require less pruning and fertilization than other plants.
\n\n\n\nSedums are a category of hardy succulents. Not all sedums are succulents, but most are, and they come in multiple colors, sizes, and styles. Their flowers usually blossom late in the growing season, so sedums help you keep some visual excitement in your flower bed a little longer.
\n\n\n\nHere are some sedums and other succulent plants for your Alabama garden bed:
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of succulents:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: Succulents cost an average of $10 to $75 per plant, depending on plant type and size.
\n\n\n\nPlants native to Alabama thrive best. You can choose non-native plants, but you want to identify options that will grow well in Alabama’s climate. One way to do this is by referring to the plant’s USDA hardiness zone.
Zones indicate the plants that will survive an area’s lowest winter temperatures. Zones differ by 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Alabama’s zones are 7b to 8b. So choose plants within your zone for the best success.
Invasive plants can outcompete native plants, causing them to be greatly reduced or completely replaced. This means hummingbirds, insects, and wildlife can no longer depend on native plants for food and habitat. The ecosystem can become unbalanced and some insect and animal species can begin to decrease. Here are some ways to manage invasive plants:
• The best way to keep them from spreading is to remove the plant.
• If the seed has not formed yet, remove the flowers by deadheading.
• Pull up small plants or seedlings.
• Cut down large, woody varieties and treat the stump with an herbicide.
Drip irrigation systems allow homeowners to save water by watering more efficiently. They are excellent choices for xeriscape designs. Drip irrigation systems usually result in using less water than sprinkler irrigation. You can use a simple drip irrigation system under mulch, or a more elaborate system for larger areas.
With these eight ideas, you can create a beautiful landscaping design that reduces the time it takes to keep it healthy and visually appealing. Alabama has over 15 state parks. Why spend your time maintaining your yard when you can spend it enjoying walking trails, beaches, biking, and other recreational activities?
\n\n\n\nIf you’re ready to treat yourself to a well-kept lawn without all the effort, contact a local lawn care professional.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Bellingrath Gardens / Pixabay
\n","title":"8 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Alabama","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/1789c/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/107df/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.jpg 320w,\n/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/293e9/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.jpg 500w,\n/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/f2cbb/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.jpg 800w,\n/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/1789c/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.jpg 960w,\n/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/c26c2/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/1dd6e/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/67b76/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.webp 320w,\n/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/8df11/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.webp 500w,\n/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/98a65/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.webp 800w,\n/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/1dd6e/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.webp 960w,\n/static/3b66aa278d344631f04fbda749a9e0a8/3cc96/Bellingrath-Gardens-Alabama.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"8 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Alabama","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Reduce your yard work and increase your free time with these low-maintenance landscaping ideas for your Alabama home."}}},{"node":{"id":"6c798452-bc51-55b6-87de-d7ee42e05dd1","slug":"best-native-plants-murfreesboro","path":"/lawn-care/tn/murfreesboro/best-native-plants-murfreesboro/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kimberly Magerl enjoys growing fruits and vegetables in her garden. When she isn't gardening, Kimberly enjoys trying new recipes and cooking with her home-grown herbs.","name":"Kimberly Magerl","id":"bdf803c6-4d01-5c0e-88b1-1ea590340a8a","path":"/author/kimberly-magerl/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/45ebe89479badde7ee7cb5108a96462c?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"27e940f6-30a2-50ad-939d-b73973245b23","name":"Murfreesboro","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/murfreesboro/"},{"id":"5b679b70-01bd-54c3-aa31-693dd631b9f5","name":"Tennessee","count":11,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tn/"}],"date":"April 12th, 2023","excerpt":"Named the Most Livable Town in Tennessee, Murfreesboro offers excellence in education, medical facilities, employment opportunities, real estate, and recreational programs. Located in the Nashville metropolitan area of middle Tennessee, the city houses over 1,200 acres of award-winning parks and outdoor spaces. Murfreesboro is the 3rd Fastest Growing City in America. The small city has […]
\n","content":"\nNamed the Most Livable Town in Tennessee, Murfreesboro offers excellence in education, medical facilities, employment opportunities, real estate, and recreational programs. Located in the Nashville metropolitan area of middle Tennessee, the city houses over 1,200 acres of award-winning parks and outdoor spaces.
\n\n\n\nMurfreesboro is the 3rd Fastest Growing City in America. The small city has a lot of urban amenities and all the country charm you could ever dream of. Invite some Tennessee nature and southern beauty into your landscape by filling your yard with some of the best native plants for Murfreesboro.
\n\n\n\nNative plants offer many landscaping benefits, including:
\n\n\n\nNative plants help promote a healthier Tennessee ecosystem. Check out these 17 native plants for Murfreesboro to help you plan your charming landscape.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/American-Persimmon.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Katja Schulz / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAmerican persimmon, also known as common persimmon and eastern persimmon, is a small to medium-sized tree that reaches heights up to 80 feet tall. Native to Tennessee and the Eastern United States, this shade tree produces small white and yellow flowers followed by edible orange fruits in September and December.
\n\n\n\nAmerican persimmons have a short trunk and spreading growth habit with a broad and rounded canopy. The tree invites local wildlife such as pollinators, songbirds, deer, and flying squirrels, and is the larval host for the Luna moth. Persimmon trees grow well in all soil types and habitats, from shaded valleys and home lawns to wide-open sunny fields and the shores of Percy Priest Lake.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 30-80 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; low-nutrient, rich, acidic, alkaline, neutral, moist, well-drained, poorly drained, loam, sand, silt, soil, rock, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; water 1 inch per week if it does not rain and allow to dry out between waterings
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible fruits
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/American-witch-hazel.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nAmerican or common witch-hazel is a small deciduous tree with a vase-shaped growth habit found in Tennessee and the Eastern United States. It has scaly, light brown bark, oval leaves, and small, spindly yellow flowers that bloom in fall. The small tree produces wood fruit following its fragrant fall blooms, and its leaves turn a clear yellow in autumn.
\n\n\n\nAmerican witch-hazel loves shady areas and adapts to most soil conditions. The large shrub is often found in wetlands, woodlands, and stream banks. Witch-hazel grows well as fringe trees in home lawns that back up to wooded areas. The tree also makes a great border shrub and grows extremely well under the canopy of a large shade tree for landscape dimension.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Small tree or large shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 10-20 feet tall and wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; low-nutrient, rich, acidic, alkaline, neutral, moist, well-drained, loam, sand, silt, or soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Natural rainwater is sufficient; may need 1 inch of water per week during extremely dry conditions
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Aster.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Hedwig Storch / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nAsters are a family of flowering perennials with several species native to Tennessee. Vibrant late summer and early fall blooms attract pollinating insects, while the dried stalks and leftover seeds provide food and shelter for songbirds in the winter.
\n\n\n\nAsters prefer full sun and thrive in the well-drained loamy soils found in Murfreesboro. Plant these beautiful blooms in flower beds, containers, or butterfly gardens. The three most prominent asters native to Tennessee include:
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herbaceous flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-6 feet tall and 1-4 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefer neutral or acidic well-drained loamy soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; may need weekly watering during extreme dry spells; do not tolerate standing water
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible flowers
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bee-Balm-Monarda-Didyma.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nWild bergamot, affectionately known as bee balm, is a Tennessee wildflower in the mint family. It blooms in the summer with showy white or purple flowers that look like pom-poms. Bee balm grows well in garden beds and containers. The subshrub is often used as a medicinal plant or honey plant in pollinator gardens.
\n\n\n\nThe perennial has aromatic leaves that can be used for mint tea. Its medicinal properties are often used to treat respiratory ailments. Wild bergamot reaches up to 5 feet and grows well in all soil types, but does not tolerate flooding. The fragrant shrub attracts many pollinators to your garden but, like all plants in the mint family, is resistant to deer and mosquitoes.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb or subshrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2-5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers well-drained acidic soil, sandy loam, loam, clay, or lime-based soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought tolerant; water every 7-10 days during dry periods
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible leaves and flowers; medicinal uses for respiratory ailments
\n\n\n\n![\"Orange](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Milkweed-Asclepias-tuberosa.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed is a native species of milkweed and is extremely important to healthy Tennessee landscapes. It is an attractive flowering plant and a nectar source for bees and pollinators and a host plant for caterpillars, including the Monarch butterfly, Dogbane Tiger moth, and Milkweed Tussock moth. There are around 14 native species of milkweed that call Tennessee home.
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed produces bright orange or yellow flowers from summer to fall. The attractive plant is hardy and loves full sun. It tolerates most soils but prefers sandy well-draining soil and is moderately drought-tolerant.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-4 feet tall and less than 1 foot wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial though some species are annuals
\n\n\n\nFoliage: N/A
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers dry, sandy soil or gravel
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Semi drought-tolerant; prefers to dry out between waterings
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; milky sap irritates humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"Eastern](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/eastern-redbud.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nEastern redbud, or Tennessee pink to the locals, is a small deciduous tree with a dense canopy. It produces small clusters of showy pink flowers over its bare branches in spring. Blooms last for two to three weeks before giving way to heart-shaped dark green leaves that turn golden in the fall.
\n\n\n\nTennessee pink works well as shrub borders and fringe trees. Those low-maintenance cultivars require little pruning and attract many birds and pollinators. They have a short trunk and rounded crown of spreading branches. Unfortunately, these beautiful trees have a short lifespan of around 50 years.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 30 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water once weekly during dry spells
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: High toxicity; poisonous to dogs and cats
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Flowering-Dogwood.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Derek Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nFlowering dogwood is a small flowering understory tree. Producing one of the most popular and recognizable spring flowers in Murfreesboro, this small tree blooms white or pink flowers of modified leaves in April and May and produces bright red berries in the fall.
\n\n\n\nFlowering dogwood is single or multi-trunked with sprawling branches. Plant anywhere your yard receives shade and filtered light. The berries of this small tree provide food for birds, deer, and small mammals while its flowers attract Tennessee pollinators. Flowering dogwood is also a larval food source for the Spring Azure butterfly.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 15-30 feet tall and wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers rich, acidic, well-drained, soil, sand, loam, or medium loam
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water 1 inch per week in place of rainfall
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Moderate toxicity; fruit is poisonous to humans
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lemon-Mint.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Krzysztof Golik / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nAnother member of the mint family, lemon mint, also known as lemon bee balm and purple horsemint, is an aromatic winter annual native to Tennessee. It produces unique, tufted, whorled lavender-pink flowers on elongated spikes in the spring through fall. This drought-tolerant plant requires annual reseeding in Murfreesboro.
\n\n\n\nLike all plants in the mint family, horsemint is used for tea and has a distinctive citrus-lemon mint scent that attracts bees and butterflies but repels mosquitoes and deer. It grows in all soil conditions and is commonly found alongside Tennessee highways, pastures, hillsides, prairies, savannahs, and plains. Lemon mint is low-maintenance and aggressive and prefers to be left alone. The winter annual grows well in garden beds or along garden margins, anywhere it will be neglected.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb or subshrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 30 inches tall and 7-12 inches wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Short-lived perennial or annual
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers sandy loam, rock, clay loam, medium loam, sand, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Prefers regular watering to keep the soil moist; grows well with a layer of mulch to retain moisture
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible leaves and flowers used for tea, salads, and cooked foods
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mapleleaf-Viburnum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nMapleleaf viburnum is a low-growing, dense shrub. It has bright green maple-shaped deciduous foliage that turns shades of pink and purple in the fall. The attractive shrub blooms white flowers in the spring followed by berries in late summer and early fall that turn from red to dark blue.
\n\n\n\nMapleleaf viburnum grows best in partial shade. The low-maintenance shrub grows well alone and in clusters and responds well to pruning after they bloom. Its berries attract birds and other wildlife and it is a larval food source for the Spring Azure butterfly.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 4-6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers dry, acidic, rock, sand, loam, medium loam, clay loam, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; may need weekly watering during extreme dry spells
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: normanack / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nOakleaf hydrangea is a shade-loving shrub found in the understory of large trees like Tennessee black walnuts, maples, and dogwoods. It is coarse-textured with large, cone-shaped flower clusters that bloom for months every summer and change colors from white to light pink and purple.
\n\n\n\nThe fast-growing deciduous shrub gets its name from its dark green, oak-shaped leaves that turn red, gold, or purple in the fall. Oakleaf hydrangea reaches heights up to 10 feet tall and thrives in fertile, well-drained soil. Smaller cultivars like “Pee Wee” are available for homeowners with limited space.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5b-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-10 feet high and 6-8 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full shade to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers, fertile, well-drained soil; adapts to most soil conditions, including moist, acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderately drought-tolerant; prefers moist soil
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic; all plant parts are poisonous to humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Sugar-Maple.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nSugar maple is a native deciduous tree with sap used to make maple syrup. It is a large tree, growing 40 to 80 feet tall in most landscapes. Sugar maple has a dense, rounded crown with foliage that turns yellow, orange, red, and bronze in the fall. It has shaggy brown bark and widespread branches.
\n\n\n\nSugar maple produces hardwood used for home furniture and flooring. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Keep in mind that this shade tree has shallow roots that can disrupt the growth of plants and grass growing under its canopy.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 40-80 tall feet and 30-60 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Deep, well-drained, acidic or slightly alkaline soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water every 3-5 days, especially in dry conditions
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Moderate toxicity; only poisonous to horses
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8634828149_21c0f182e9_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: NatureServe / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nSpicebush is an ornamental shrub that is disease and pest-resistant. It produces small bright yellow, fragrant flowers in spring and bright red berries in September. The multi-stemmed shrub has medium green leaves that turn clear yellow in fall. It occurs naturally in wooded areas and pond shores, preferring fertile loam soils.
\n\n\n\nSpicebush adapts to a range of lighting conditions, from full sun to full shade. It is an important plant for the Tennessee ecosystem. This shrub attracts birds and pollinators and is the nesting ground for the Spicebush Swallowtail. Grow spicebush in dappled shade covered with organic mulch. It is ideal for woodland gardens, borders, mass plantings, and landscapes near streams or ponds.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-12 feet tall and wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to heavy shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers acidic or alkaline, fertile loam; will tolerate loamy sand, medium loam, and silty loam
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Adaptable; does not require watering outside of rainfall
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible leaves and berries
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tennessee-Coneflower.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wallpaperflare
\n\n\n\nTennessee coneflower was on the verge of extinction until 2011 when officials removed it from the endangered species list. This Tennessee native is slow-growing and perfect for prairies, meadows, flower beds, containers, and rock gardens. Tennessee coneflower produces bright fuchsia daisy-shaped blooms with burgundy and orange centers atop long vertical stems.
\n\n\n\nThese vibrant wildflowers tolerate drought, humidity, heat, and poor soils, and have no serious pest or disease issues. Coneflowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, but also make a great deer-resistant addition to your Murfreesboro lawn. They are also an important food source for winter songbirds.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herbaceous flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 18-24 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers well-drained, acidic, alkaline, neutral, chalk, loam, or sand
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; requires weekly watering during extreme dry periods
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wild-Geranium-Geranium-Maculatum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nWild geranium is another herbaceous perennial with beautiful blooms, intricate foliage, and medicinal uses. This Tennessee native attracts mourning doves, quail, and white-tailed deer. Bright lavender flowers bloom in loose clusters atop long stems from March to July, attracting pollinators.
\n\n\n\nThis shade-loving herb’s Intricate, lobed leaves can be boiled into tea to treat inflammation. Grow wild geranium in containers, shaded areas, flower beds, and rock gardens.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-2 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Semi-evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers rich, acidic soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water frequently; needs daily watering in the summer
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible; used medicinally as tea to fight inflammation
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Red_Columbine_3630187830-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jason Hollinger / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nWild red columbine is a perennial herb and a member of the buttercup family. Also known as red Columbine, this Tennessee native grows up to 3 feet tall with showy, tuberous red and yellow blooms that droop, exposing bright yellow stamens.
\n\n\n\nWild columbine has an erect growth pattern and bright green leaves. Its flowering tubes attract hummingbirds and butterflies and rabbits love to munch on its foliage. This herbaceous perennial prefers partial shade. Red columbine struggles when other plants compete with its root systems and prefer to grow alone as a groundcover in flower beds, at the edges of gardens, or in containers.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-4 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Semi-evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to full shade; prefers partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers neutral, sandy, well-drained sand, medium loam, sandy loam, or limestone-based soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; may need weekly watering during extreme dry spells; does not tolerate standing water
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Winterberry-Ilex-Verticillata.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Derek Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
\n\n\n\nWinterberry is a deciduous tree in the holly family. This low-maintenance accent plant is often found in swamps, forest wetlands, and bogs. It grows well in mass plantings, shrub borders, wet soils, and near water.
\n\n\n\nWinterberry is the hardiest of all native hollies. Green and white-hued flowers bloom in June while some plants produce bright red berries in late summer that last through winter, attracting birds and wildlife. Winterberry is resistant to both pests and diseases.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Small tree or large shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-10 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to full shade; prefers partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers moist, acidic soil, sand, loam, medium loam, clay loam, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High; ensure the soil is moist; water once per day during dry periods in spring and summer
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Moderate toxicity; fruits and foliage poisonous to humans
\n\n\n\n![\"Woodland](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Woodland-Phlox.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nKnown in Murfreesboro as woodland phlox or wild blue phlox, this fragrant flowering plant forms colonies of showy star-shaped purple and blue blooms in spring as the plant crawls across unoccupied grounds. Woodland phlox works well in garden beds as a low-maintenance groundcover, mass plantings, and border edging.
\n\n\n\nThis perennial herb has bright green foliage that rabbits love to nibble on and a dense growth pattern, making it a great hiding spot. It is deer-resistant and thrives in shady areas and most soil types.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 20 inches tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers rich, moist, acidic soils, sand, loam, medium loam, clay loam, and clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Maintain moist soil, ensuring the plant is never waterlogged; apply organic mulch to help retain moisture
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\nYour yard has its own unique microclimate, and all native plants have specific needs. Not all native plants will grow well in your yard. Be sure to select plants suitable for the soil, sun exposure, and watering capabilities of your landscape.
\n\n\n\nMurfreesboro sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a, indicating the coldest annual temperature is 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Tennessee native plants are cold-hardy to the minimum temperature in Murfreesboro’s hardiness zone. Keep your zone in mind when selecting non-native plants for your landscape.
\n\n\n\nMost flowers and shrubs should be planted after the last frost in late April. Check your local weather forecast before introducing new plants to your yard. Typically, the frost-free seasons last from April 20 to Oct. 11.
Murfreesboro’s diverse landscape is home to many soil types. Some areas consist of well-drained, fertile loam, while others are limestone-based or compacted clay. The best way to identify your landscape’s soil type is to send a sample of your soil in for testing to the local University of Tennessee extension office.
Early morning or evening are the best times to water your native plants. Winds are calmer and temperatures are lower, so there is less risk of water loss from evaporation or scorching from the sun. Additionally, foliage needs time to dry before nightfall. Wet foliage can lead to disease and rot.
Chances are good you already have native plants in your yard or around your neighborhood. If you want to introduce more plants into your Murfreesboro landscape, be sure to source your plants ethically and never transplant them from the wild.
\n\n\n\nCheck out these local nurseries in the Murfreesboro area:
\n\n\n\nFilling your yard with native plants is only one step in your landscaping design project. Be sure to maintain your new landscape with our spring lawn care tips for Murfreesboro and our fall lawn care checklist.
\n\n\n\nWhen you are ready to turn over the hard work and lawn upkeep to a professional, let WikiLawn connect you with a local landscaping pro in your area.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Hectonichus / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
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