![\"bright](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/24264641643_967481f69f_o-1.jpg\")
It may be the Gateway to the West, but St. Louis sits firmly in the transition zone that divides the Northern and Southern regions of the United States. This brings with it a variety of weather conditions ranging from humid summers to frigid winters, which makes finding an ideal grass type for your lawn more […]
\n","content":"\nIt may be the Gateway to the West, but St. Louis sits firmly in the transition zone that divides the Northern and Southern regions of the United States. This brings with it a variety of weather conditions ranging from humid summers to frigid winters, which makes finding an ideal grass type for your lawn more complicated.
\n\n\n\nUnderstanding the characteristics of different grasses is vital to growing a lawn that you can truly enjoy in St. Louis.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nThe most significant consideration when growing grass is whether you choose warm season or cool season grass. Each tolerates the temperature and atmospheric conditions of opposing seasons differently.
\n\n\n\nWarm-season grasses actively grow from late spring to mid-autumn. Past the middle of fall, typically around late September to early October, these grasses go dormant and turn brown. Warm-season grasses need lots of sunlight and can’t tolerate shade very well.
\n\n\n\nCool-season grasses experience active growth early in the spring and tend to remain green until late fall. Without constant watering, they will go dormant during the summer. While these grasses can tolerate shade more readily, they require at least a half day of full sun.
\n\n\n\nThe biggest challenge to planting a lawn in St. Louis is that the city’s varied temperatures mean neither warm season nor cool season grasses hold an advantage in care and longevity. So what is the solution?
\n\n\n\nFortunately, there are grass types that are hardy enough to thrive in multiple seasons. You could also mix different grass seeds to cultivate a lawn that perfectly fits your needs.
\n\n\n\nTry these four grass types in your lawn for the best-looking results.
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Forest and Kim Starr / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is a warm season grass adapted for use in the lower two-thirds of Missouri. Its stiff leaves spread into a dense carpet well suited for golf courses. However, it also makes a good choice for a home lawn.
\n\n\n\nThis grass has a very high heat tolerance but can withstand lower temperatures. However, keep in mind that it does go dormant in the wintertime. You can keep zoysiagrass looking good with minimal watering, but be mindful that it requires at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily to continue looking lush.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low to moderate.
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1-2.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3863142192_5ee6dd93d7_c-1-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nTall fescue is widely recognized as one of the best grasses for Missouri homeowners, and that includes the good folks of St. Louis. This cool-season grass grows and thrives in the shade quite well, and possesses excellent drought tolerance. In addition, tall fescue can remain green for three quarters of the year, only going dormant during the summer.
\n\n\n\nThe main drawback of tall fescue is its rate of growth. As evident by its name, tall fescue can sprout up to four feet in height if left alone. Therefore, you must mow this grass often to maintain its recommended height of two feet.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunches, occasionally rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2-3 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low
\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\nKentucky bluegrass is an excellent choice if you’re looking for general-purpose turf grass that provides a dense, lush coverage for your lawn. This cool-season grass gets its name from its blue-green leaves, which have a medium texture.
\n\n\n\nBluegrass is a rhizomatous plant that spreads quickly, so you can use it to help fill bare patches in your lawn. Even though it becomes dormant during the summer and other dry times, bluegrass is very drought tolerant.
\n\n\n\nMixing Kentucky bluegrass with other grass types, such as perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, gives it a better chance of remaining green year-round. In addition, by combining it with other grasses, you can do a lot to improve its disease resistance.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Medium to high
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1.5-3 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate
\n\n\n\n![\"green](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Buffalograss.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nBuffalograss is the only grass species that is native to North America, which makes it especially suited to our varied climates. It is particularly adapted to thrive in dry prairie lands, so it has excellent drought tolerance and heat resistance, even among other warm-season grass types.
\n\n\n\nThe main draw of buffalograss is that it makes for a low-maintenance lawn. It requires less water than many kinds of grass and is highly disease resistant. And it also has a higher tolerance for cold temperatures than many warm-season grasses, though the exact degree of cold tolerance can vary.
\n\n\n\nWhile buffalograss grows, it spreads in an “open growth habit”. Doing so leaves room for weeds to come in, so you must be vigilant about your weed control if that is an issue you want to avoid.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low – doesn’t need frequent mowing
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2-4 inches or leave unmowed
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low
\n\n\n\nYour best bet is to plant in early to mid-September. The warm soil and mild temperature during the day benefits germination, while the cooler nights are good for cool season grasses.
Tall fescue has some of the best shade tolerance of any grass you could grow in St. Louis. As a result, it requires much less sun than other species, though it should get at least eight hours of sunlight to continue looking its best.
Most grasses go dormant in the Winter because of the extreme cold. However, there is a special winterizer lawn fertilizer that is packed with nitrogen to help build up carbohydrate levels in your grass. This fertilizer gives your lawn what it needs to survive the Winter and return more robust in the Spring.
St. Louis has a wide variety of climates, making it challenging to select a particular type of grass to plant. However, if you choose hardy grass and diligently maintain it, you can have a healthy lawn all year round. And if you would like help keeping your landscape looking its best, you should turn to a local lawn care professional.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Lawn of a Building, St. Louis / Picryl
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\n","content":"\nGardening can be a drag when you struggle to keep your plants alive and vibrant, but you can enjoy a fantastic garden with one simple trick: Go with native plants that are adapted to our warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Need a guide? Here are 16 native plants that will transform your Missouri yard.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nNative plants are indigenous to an area, so they have adapted to a certain set of environmental conditions, including a region’s climate, soil, temperature, and light conditions. This happens over the course of hundreds or thousands of years.
\n\n\n\nMissouri native plants grow naturally in our climate and geology and amid our wildlife. In fact, many wildlife species depend on native plants for habitat and survival. They essentially become a part of the region’s ecosystem.
\n\n\n\nPlanting natives isn’t just easy, it’s also beneficial to your environment. Take a look at a few advantages of native plants:
\n\n\n\nHere is a collection of Missouri’s best natives that will give you a low-maintenance landscape.
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Black-eyed-Susan-Rudbeckia-hirta.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nThe showy black-eyed Susan plant is known for its yellow to orange-yellow rays and dark brown centers that attract butterflies. It is typically found in fields, prairies, open woods, waste areas, and roadsides throughout the state.
\n\n\n\nThe black-eyed Susan is a hairy, coarse, and somewhat weedy plant. And that might bother you, but the freshness of daisy-like flowers and chocolate brown disks atop a stiff, upright, leafy stem will make up for it. Black-eyed Susans are tough, too. They resist deer, insects, and diseases. They also self-seed and are perfect for mass plantings, cottage gardens, annual beds, wild gardens, and meadows.
\n\n\n\nThis native plant naturally attracts butterflies and bees, prefers dry soil, and is easy to maintain as well. It does well both in the ground and in containers.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Herbaceous perennial
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 3 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Annual (can be perennial or biennial)
\n\n\n\nBloom time: June to September
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Loam or sandy soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 7
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Cardinal-Flower-Lobelia-cardinalis.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: linnaeus / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nThis native plant produces large, distinctive, bright red petals and has a spiky, upright appearance that makes it stand out in a landscape. The cardinal flower, which takes its name from the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals, can grow as tall as 6 feet and grows naturally along stream banks, and in swamps and moist places.
\n\n\n\nThat doesn’t mean you have to live in a swamp to enjoy it. The cardinal flower grows well in average soil conditions and does well in both full sun and partial shade. The upright stems and bright flowers attract lots of winged visitors and are a popular source of nectar for hummingbirds.
\n\n\n\nThis is one of the most low-maintenance native plants you can get because it wards off pests and disease really well. In ideal growing conditions, it may self-seed.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower, herbaceous
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1 to 6 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: July to September
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade, or full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Loam, sand, clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"Blue](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Blue-Vervain-Verbena-hastata.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nVerbena hastata is also known as swamp verbena or American vervain and is found all over the U.S. Blue vervain features a hairy, stiff, straight stem that grows as tall as 5 feet and features flowering spikes of violet, deep purple, or (rarely) white blooms. Trust this plant to add texture and structure to your Missouri landscape with its upright stems and groups of bluish-purple flowers blooming from early summer to early fall.
\n\n\n\nIts densely packed flowers are used by herbalists and may also be incorporated into bath and body products such as foot creams and soaks. Blue vervain attracts butterflies, bumblebees, and birds of all sorts. It prefers well-drained soils and performs best when paired with full, bright sun.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 4 to 5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: May to September
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist or wet
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/White-Beardtongue-Penstemon-digitalis.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nAlso known as foxglove beardtongue or talus slope penstemon, this Missouri native occurs naturally in open woods, fields, meadows, and prairies, or any place that has sandy and moist soils. A perennial, the white beardtongue forms tubular clusters of showy white flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nOne of the many advantages of inviting white beardtongue into your yard is that it won’t have any serious diseases or pest issues. This plant prefers well-drained soil but is super easy to grow and maintain otherwise.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Herbaceous
\n\n\n\nMature size: 4 to 5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to July
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, loamy
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pawpaw-Asimina-Triloba.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAsimina Triloba is a small tree, though it looks more like a shrub due to its short-heightened trunk, that grows 10 to 40 feet tall. It features large, tropical-like leaves that turn from green to a beautiful yellow-green in fall and sprout purple flowers. When it has matured, pawpaw grows cylindric, yellow, or dark-green edible fruit.
\n\n\n\nThe deciduous pawpaw fruit has a banana-like taste and is typically consumed raw or used in pies and ice creams. It attracts wildlife but does not attract serious insect or disease problems.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
\n\n\n\nMature size: 4 to 5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to May
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to part shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Medium to wet, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"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\nThis widely branched deciduous flowering shrub is native to rocky wooded slopes, moist stream banks, and ravines. Wild hydrangea features broad egg-like round, dark green leaves with pale undersides, and sharp teeth all around. These leaves turn fully yellow in the fall.
\n\n\n\nIt bursts with clusters of tiny white flowers, but a few large sterile flowers may appear around the cluster margins. Hydrangea can grow in almost any type of soil but prefer to stay moderately moist at all times. It can be a good choice for a rain garden in Missouri owing to its high tolerance for wet soils.
\n\n\n\nOn the down side, wild hydrangea is susceptible to several insect and disease problems such as bacterial wilt, leaf spots, powdery mildew, and aphids.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flowering plant
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3 to 5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: June to September
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, shallow, rocky
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Flowering-Dogwood-Cornus-florida-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nThis is a popular tree found throughout the Eastern United States. It produces beautiful white blooms around April and May and develops bright red fruits in the late summer. Flowering dogwood’s green tree leaves turn into rust and then go through multiple hues of red in the fall.
\n\n\n\nThe good part is, this dogwood tree is not a high-maintenance native. In fact, it prefers partial shade to grow. However, you might want to take care of diseases because flowering dogwood can develop diseases like powdery mildew, dogwood anthracnose, root rot, and more when it’s stressed.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
\n\n\n\nMature size: 15 to 30 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to June
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade, prefers partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained, acidic, and average soil with lots of organic matter
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Blazing-Star-Liatris-spicata.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Drew Avery / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nPrairie blazing star is a low-maintenance flower that provides a nice pop of color in your garden. It produces tall, leafy stalks that develop spikes of rounded, fluffy, deep purple flower heads. Blazing star grows best in well-drained soils with a full sun but does fine in poor soils as well. It is highly tolerant of humidity and summer heat and is a generally low-maintenance plant.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: July to August
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained, average soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium, prefers dry or moderately moist soil
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Spicebush-Lindera-benzoin.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nThis deciduous shrub can grow as tall as 15 feet and have a unique aroma to it. Spicebush shrub develops a brown or gray-brown bark with light-colored lenticels speckled around. It produces clusters of small, yellow flowers in early spring and smooth-margined leaves. These leaves are crushed to extract the spicy odor they produce.
\n\n\n\nSpicebush is tolerant of deer and heavy shade. The lightly scented flora will also attract colorful birds and butterflies to your Missouri lawn. But this plant is sensitive to drought and heat. Male varieties of these plants develop relatively larger greenish-yellow flowers whereas the female spicebush may also produce a small red fruit with a male pollinator.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6 to 15 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: February to March
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Loam or sandy soils, limestone-based
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs:
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Purple-Coneflower-Echinacea-purpurea.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nEchinacea purpurea is a herbaceous perennial from the Asteraceae family and is one of the toughest Missouri native plants. It’s super easy to grow and maintain. Purple coneflower can power through several challenging environments, be it drought, humidity, heat, or poor soil conditions.
\n\n\n\nApart from its impressive adaptability, this plant may also make a popular spot for hummingbirds and insects. It typically grows up to 5 feet tall and produces daisy-like, showy flowers that bloom throughout the summer months. It also bears coarse, dark green foliage around a stiff stem that remains erect well into the winter.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: June to August
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade, but prefers full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium to low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\n![\"Blue](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Blue-Lobelia-Lobelia-siphilitica.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Agnieszka Kwiecień / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nBlue lobelia resembles cardinal flowers and is commonly known as a blue cardinal flower as well. It makes a great choice for rain gardens and is good if you wish to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to your yards. This herbaceous perennial gives blue flowers that bloom from mid-summer all through early fall. These blue flowers have striped tubes and are accompanied by leaves with toothed margins.
\n\n\n\nIt’s extremely hardy, pest-free, and fairly a low-care plant. You can count on blue lobelia to not become invasive despite being a self-seeding plant.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 4 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: September to October
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Clay, loam, sand
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High to medium
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Swamp-Milkweed-Asclepias-incarnata.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nThis moisture-loving perennial grows up to 5 feet tall in sunny openings of swamps, bogs, marshes, fens, and along stream banks. It has an erect stem with narrow, lance-shaped, and sharp-tipped leaves. Swamp milkweed develops fragrant clusters of flowers in pink, mauve, or reddish-violet color.
\n\n\n\nSwamp milkweed flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies from all around. It’s also an important source of food for monarch caterpillars. However, it also invites a variety of insects, that aren’t a problem unless the plant shows signs of sickness.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: July to August
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs:
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"Orange](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Butterfly-Milkweed-Asclepias-tuberosa.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nThis is another low-maintenance native plant that will fill your Missouri garden with a lovely color from early to mid-summer. It’s a tuberous rooted plant that occurs mostly in dry or rocky open woods, prairies, glades, roadsides, and fields. Butterfly milkweed develops clusters of yellow-orange or bright-orange flowers that sit atop hairy stems. The stems are clad with narrow, lance-shaped leaves.
\n\n\n\nThese flowers serve as a source of nectar for butterflies and its leaves are a popular food source for monarch butterfly larvae. Butterfly milkweed is also drought tolerant and well-performing in dry or poor soils.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1 to 2.5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: June to August
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\n![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pink-Turtlehead-Chelone-lyonii.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nThis tall Missouri wildflower is also known as “Rose Turtlehead.” It blooms between late summer and early fall. It produces bright pink hooded flowers that rest on top of stiff, square stems. Pink turtlehead flowers look like the heads of open-mouthed turtles and get their name from this very resemblance.
\n\n\n\nIt best grows in medium to wet soils with full sun to part shade, but can also do okay in part shade areas. Although resistant to disease and insects, pink turtlehead shows some susceptibility to mildew, especially if the soil is dry or has poor air circulation.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Wildflower
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1.5 to 6.5 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Late July to September
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, rich, clay, loamy, sandy
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Red-Buckeye-Aesculus-pavia.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Chris M Morris / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nRed buckeye is a clump-forming deciduous shrub that creates an irregular crown and bears erect, showy panicles of orange-red to red, tubular flowers. These flowers bloom in spring and begin to decline late in the season along with its dark green, shiny leaves.
\n\n\n\nThis plant also produces light-brown, globular seed capsules that encase 1 to 3 shiny but poisonous seeds. These seeds ripen in the fall and are avoided by wildlife. Red buckeye flowers, however, attract hummingbirds.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Deciduous shrub
\n\n\n\nMature size: 12 to 15 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to May
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4 to 8
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Prairie-Dropseed-Sporobolus-heterolepis.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nSporobolus hereolepis is favored by many homeowners and landscapers for its decorative appearance. It is a fine-textured ornamental grass with long, arching leaves that form beautiful round tufts. From rich green hues in summer to shades of golden and orange, this Missouri native grass stays pretty late into the fall.
\n\n\n\nPrairie dropseed has resilient foliage that powers through snow and extremely low temperatures. It’s a slow-growing grass but isn’t fussy about soil type and growing conditions.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Grass
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2 to 3 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: June to August
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Rocky, sandy, clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nPicking native plants does not always turn out to be a win-win situation. The key is to select the right natives that will naturally perform well with the light, soil, and wind exposure in your locality.
\n\n\n\nTo do that, make sure you take into account the plant’s USDA Hardiness Zone range. This range essentially helps in determining the most suitable native plants for your Missouri yard. Missouri Hardiness Zone is 5b through 7a.
\n\n\n\nAnd when your new native plants have made their way to your home, it’s time to create a final look with some landscaping around the other parts of your garden. You can take a few ideas from Wikilawn’s page to pick the best grass types and low-maintenance plants for your Missouri landscape.
\n\n\n\nIf you feel like it’s a little too much to manage, call in one of our pros to handle all the planning, planting, and maintenance work for you.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo by: Lydia Fravel / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"16 Native Plants That Will Transform Your Missouri Yard","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/1789c/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/107df/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.jpg 320w,\n/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/293e9/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.jpg 500w,\n/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/f2cbb/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.jpg 800w,\n/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/1789c/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.jpg 960w,\n/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/c26c2/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/1dd6e/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/67b76/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.webp 320w,\n/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/8df11/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.webp 500w,\n/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/98a65/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.webp 800w,\n/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/1dd6e/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.webp 960w,\n/static/3629755cd576db32532f8d2dbadacd03/3cc96/Native-Plants-That-Will-Transform-Your-Missouri-Yard.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"16 Native Plants That Will Transform Your Missouri Yard | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Are you struggling with fussy plants? You can have a stunning yard without a lot of effort if you go with these 16 native plants."}}},{"node":{"id":"56837060-c0ff-50b4-8072-75151c42a948","slug":"best-plants-missouri","path":"/lawn-care/mo/best-plants-missouri/","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":"08e64923-2067-5321-ba20-42c35858c2cd","name":"Missouri","count":13,"path":"/category/lawn-care/mo/"}],"date":"May 24th, 2023","excerpt":"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\n![\"Eastern](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Eastern-Redbud.jpg\")
Photo 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
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."}}},{"node":{"id":"59c7b3ed-9e07-553c-a15d-d70fa60c2f70","slug":"7-native-plants-kansas-city","path":"/lawn-care/mo/kansas-city/7-native-plants-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":"July 31st, 2019","excerpt":"Landscaping with native plants will save you work and money. Native plants and flowers for Kansas City typically need less maintenance, use less water, and provide a natural habitat for local wildlife.
\n","content":"\nIf you live in Kansas City and are into gardening — you’re lucky! KC straddles the humid subtropical South and the humid continental climate of the North, with cool winters and long, hot summers. So you get the best of both worlds in native plant varieties. Landscaping with native plants will save you work and money. Native plants and flowers for Kansas City typically need less maintenance, use less water, and provide a natural habitat for local wildlife. They’re energy-efficient and eco-friendly as well.
The list of native trees, shrubs, and flowers for KC is long. Let’s start with the choices for flowers when it comes to hardiness and ease of care:
\n\n\n\nIt’s easy to see why Missouri named the white Hawthorne blossom (pictured above) as the official state flower in 1923. This woody plant can reach 20 feet high. It’s beautiful and functional. The fruit makes a tasty jam and provides food for birds and other native critters.
\n\n\n\nOK, so it’s the state flower of Kansas, but what says the plains of the midwest better than the sunflower? This iconic, drought-resistant plant will grow just about anywhere but loves the sunshine on our side of the river. Left on its own, it will spread, so it needs thinning every few years. It’s an excellent plant for borders or along fences.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/kq_AIQfagk065emPkQKUIrUxJ234Kkp4QOAuctVMg6uuLSZJjIzVtCY9zvqmIj72w11ddOkEnu6LGjQ3NqSmwkCR8y20ygLPZOytt6Spft1y1WT8i5ZB3Y3ESUo_AJtyUhLryX75\")
Photo credit: likeaduck on Visualhunt.com/ CC BY-SA
\n\n\n\nAs the name suggests, this plant produces vivid red flowers from July to September. Because that’s the dead of summer, the cardinal flower will do best in the shade. Make sure to give it room. Its blooms can soar 4 feet high.
\n\n\n\nGreat when you need some color in the spring. The flowers are delicate blue, and the plant will stay a vibrant green through the summer and then turn to a nice gold in autumn.
![\"\"/](\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/4C6JRIC2xS9Kff7mqHUtoFzaufz6e3sN8fA4xoxXK_CcFPKD1mwWA94bUOiWlo6R-rtLI2QK3QHOP0CxMSzyhkYHj3z5gL0tAYcLop152QyATFgT3odogsh30oVnicOWknWcgdzR\")
This tube-shaped flower adds a touch of purple to your garden, and butterflies and hummingbirds love it!
\n\n\n\nThis spring perennial gets its name from the early settlers who used it as a substitute for true indigo to make blue dye. The seed capsules are popular in dried arrangements.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9bYlkNMxKhmw66noYTwuzvC90Yzsdmm3msiqHWBFWMMNtH_TL-52xsjb9WY2kxZUivBeEfpvOAm3H3eLHST7NVzMHIjIN4ffm20EfrZ5NLgQhJbWgAreZ1ZugsKyCyWGzFUijQPj\")
Although KC is on the western fringe of its native habitat, this evergreen fern is a perennial that adds variety to a garden. It also works well in an indoor hanging basket near a sunny window.
\n\n\n\nThe Kansas City Native Plant Initiative has a wealth of information on native plants and flowers to Kansas City. The organization works to encourage gardeners to plant them instead of the invasives which threaten them.
\n\n\n\nWhen settlers came west and cleared the land, they virtually wiped out native shrub species. As towns and cities grew, developers opted for European and Asian shrubs, but now the natives are making a comeback. Our native trees are among the hardiest.
![\"\"/](\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/tk-fmCT8ah6uJL23-fzDIYzwBhmtWRYvCRqHXyalcOTjZop9rTRxPZpg2xyGhqsIXc5i7hCqv_Pdsw1yCZsLN2A_9qBwFRPmsKdC8f8jjINIc7-esrJ8t-FzQ4u_NqqxepYZh599\")
Any discussion of trees must begin with the flowering dogwood, the state tree of Missouri. You’ll find it at the edges of forests and in many neighborhoods. The red mulberry is easy to grow but has a bad reputation for producing juicy berries that stain everything they touch. Male cultivars available in nurseries do not have this trait.
\n\n\n\nThe hardy pecan drops a bountiful crop of nuts after the first freeze, and a sycamore that soars to 100-feet will impress your neighbors. Missouri even has its own magnolia tree called the cucumber tree because it produces blossoms that look like, well — cucumbers!
\n\n\n\nThe fringe tree is sometimes called old man’s beard because of its drooping clusters of white flowers in the spring. Fragrant sumac likes sunshine and tolerates drought well, and hazelnut produces an edible nut. Eastern witch hazel holds the distinction of being the last shrub to bloom in Missouri in November and December.
\n\n\n\nAlthough Kansas City has a wealth of hardy native plants and averages 42 inches of rain per year, the area is susceptible to occasional drought. Summer of 2018 was particularly bad. Winters are generally mild, but periodic extreme temperature dips can hurt plants. Native plants and flowers for Kansas City have acclimated to our climate, and withstand the changes and brighten up your landscape for years to come.
\n\n\n\nLooking to learn more about lawn care and gardening in Kansas City? Visit our Kansas City Lawn Care page.
It takes a little knowhow, but a gorgeous green lawn is possible throughout Kansas City’s hot summer. We’ll teach you how with this guide to summer lawn care.
\n","content":"\nIf you want a yard that looks like a million bucks through the summer, you have to work at it — even though it’s tempting to stay inside in the AC when the mercury rises above 90 degrees. Here’s a simplified guide to summer lawn care in Kansas City.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HTw7cXSeV6wctW5M2ruTNy-VT3FT7ENWHGK-E5hwVJ8XcyS6uhpiecYQmVGQ191sZpLTmGF-kJToZAIBiUCcjx1BR5cJ8XAW3TWk_UDs4poCaTvmThj1VqBsPxaZpQ49ArjzNdWi\")
The first thing that comes to mind is watering. Yes, your grass needs water when it’s hot, but there’s a right way to go about it. You may be tempted to over-irrigate, assuming that more is better when it’s hot. In fact, because Kansas City soil has a lot of clay, excessive water simply runs down the curb and into the gutter.
\n\n\n\nAlso, if you water too much or too often, your grass roots will stay near the surface. You want them to go deep. Make them work for their drink! In that same vein, it’s better to water about three times a week rather than every day.
\n\n\n\nYour yard needs 1-2 inches of water per week. That can come from rain or irrigation, or a combination of both. KC typically gets about 23 inches of rain between May and September — so Mother Nature does her part.
\n\n\n\nAfter watering, the soil beneath your turfgrass should be moist down to 4-6 inches deep. A way to gauge that is to shove a long screwdriver into it and measure the muddy residue on it. Water in the morning when the dew is on the blades and before the day begins baking. If you water in the afternoon, most of it will just evaporate in the hot air. Evenings are a second-best alternative, but avoid watering at night. When grass stays wet in the cool overnight, it invites in damaging bacteria and fungi.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/HYMUoACJ7JELrll3x5HrRsU71Fe6o2xbVdiwy8PmET9n-UeIYgaUyYVZ6T-Pu3P7TDpBjW_nxY2wxZtnrmNETGvVRpgVXFnAo9FBj3UVtmmfzhIj112Mt8MIeUIcz_9kQinQcFH6\")
So, the grass is watered, and the sun is shining. Next comes that all-American summertime ritual — mowing. There is a temptation to mow your lawn down until it is as pristine as a putting green. And let’s admit it – we like to cut it short to stretch out the days between mowing. Summer lawn care in Kansas City means regular mowing. The best types of grass for Kansas City are tall fescue and Zoysia. Both should stay about 2-1/2 to 3 inches tall to be healthy and to keep weeds from claiming squatters’ rights. Keep your lawn mower blade sharp. You want to clip your grass evenly — not beat it into submission.
\n\n\n\nIf you did your due diligence and treated your yard with pre-emergent herbicide in the spring, you fired the opening shot in the war on weeds. But the battle will continue through the summer.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/WZNaV71-7BBNaSkQ6BqgARMhmeobL62w-VRL_QYVN6lad9vpPOYdnmWJ1WheN0TrnKDfasRhxn8CWNWDloKavo930BJlHU2EygHudjwzvpYut97pzA9rP_LSNMqJsLqnBGqFseS6\")
You have two ways to fight it. First is the time-honored tradition of hoeing, digging, or pulling up weeds. The other is to use a post-emergent herbicide. Your best bet is a selective post-emergent product. Selective means it should kill certain types of weeds and grasses, but leave others alone. Make sure to read the label and get a product that will kill your weeds, but not your grass. Selective herbicides will kill off the top of your weeds, but will not stop buried weed seeds from germinating.
\n\n\n\nYou’ll also find nonselective post-emergent herbicides, like the popular Roundup brand. These will kill everything they touch, including your grass and yard plants. The best use of these potent products is on weeds and grasses that pop up in the cracks of your sidewalk and driveway and along fence lines.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re a conscientious lawn steward, you fertilized in the spring. Don’t do it again in the heat of summer or you’ll risk chemical burn to your grass.
\n\n\n\nKeep an eye out for brown patches in your lawn. This could be a sign of grub worms. A few grubs will not hurt a healthy lawn. But if the turf peels back easily and you see a lot of the fat little creatures, a trip to the garden center for pesticide should nip the problem. Look for a product that contains neonicotinoids or chlorantraniliprole.
\n\n\n\nKeeping a great yard all summer is an ongoing chore, but follow this regimen, and you should have plenty of time to kick back and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
\n\n\n\nLooking to learn more about lawn care and gardening in Kansas City? Visit our Kansas City Lawn Care page.
If you have a green thumb or are just one for enjoying time spent caring for your yard, you will want to take a look at this month-by-month checklist for Kansas City, MO residents. It can be challenging when gardening and caring for your lawn during the sweltering heat of the summer months since Kansas […]
\n","content":"If you have a green thumb or are just one for enjoying time spent caring for your yard, you will want to take a look at this month-by-month checklist for Kansas City, MO residents. It can be challenging when gardening and caring for your lawn during the sweltering heat of the summer months since Kansas City is not exempt from the powerful rays of the sun. Hopefully, this garden and lawn care calendar can make it easier on you this summer.
\nThe month of May is an important one when it comes to gardening and landscaping in the Kansas City area. You should begin the month by applying fertilizer to the lawn. This only needs to be done if you water regularly throughout the summer. If you let the lawn die during the summer you don’t have to put down any fertilizer.
\nThere are quite a few weeds that sprout during the summer. That’s why you need to apply a broadleaf herbicide for your lawn. Make sure there’s no rain in the forecast for the next 24 hours as water will remove the herbicide. This means you must refrain from watering the lawn for that timeframe as well.
\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/watering-the-lawn-missouri-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo: lawndoctor.com
\nJune is when the temperatures really begin to climb in Kansas City, which means you will need to start watering. You can get away with an infrequent schedule at this point in the summer. Just make sure you don’t overwater the lawn or you will begin to see fungal growth.
\nIf the grass is thin you will want to increase your mowing height to one inch. The more rapid your lawn grows, the more often you need to cut it. Don’t let it grow too tall or you can risk the development of webworm. Consider mowing at heights of 2.5 to 3 inches in order to avoid scalping the turf.
\nYou need to keep up with mowing the lawn regularly into July. Just try to avoid stressful times of the day, especially when in the middle of a heat wave. You also don’t want to mow too often when in a drought.
\nIf weather conditions continue to be hot and humid you need to adjust how much water you give the lawn and when you give it. Water between the morning hours of 6-10 to avoid the occurrence of disease.
\nYou also need to only provide about one inch of water per week. Divide this into watering two to three time per week instead of daily.
\nIf you come across brown areas of grass you need to search for grubs. If you have anywhere from five to 10 grubs in a small space you can use an insecticide specifically for grubs towards the end of July.
\nAugust is the month in which you need to begin preparing your lawn for the fall season. Even though it will still be oppressively hot and humid this is an important prep period.
\nContinue your mowing, weeding, and insect control into August. If you are considering the complete renovation of your lawn you need to kill the vegetation present using a glyphosate spray in the middle of August.
\nShould you not be too sure about the fertility level of the lawn you can have it tested. If the lawn has been dormant for the summer you can begin watering it during the final week of August so that growth in the fall can begin.
\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/dethatching-1024x768.jpg\")
Photo: lawncaresg.com
\nSeptember is the best time of year when it comes to fertilizing your lawn. Apply only 1 to 1.5 pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn.
\nIf you are putting new sod down now is the time and you should do it as early in September as possible all while keeping the soil moist. It’s not required that you aerate the new sod but it can be done if needed.
\nTowards the end of the month, you can begin raking, dethatching, and killing any weed patches you find on the new sod.
\nThe end of the month is the best time for you to apply broadleaf herbicides to the lawn.
\nAs you can see, caring for your lawn and garden takes a lot of time and effort. For the best results, follow this monthly calendar in Kansas City, MO each year.
\nStill have questions about lawn care? Visit our lawn care page to read more articles like this one.
\nTop photo: trulia.com
\n","title":"A Monthly Lawn Care Guide for Kansas City, Mo Residents","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.4803392444101773,"src":"/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/1789c/kansas-city-house.jpg","srcSet":"/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/107df/kansas-city-house.jpg 320w,\n/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/293e9/kansas-city-house.jpg 500w,\n/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/f2cbb/kansas-city-house.jpg 800w,\n/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/1789c/kansas-city-house.jpg 960w,\n/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/4fb49/kansas-city-house.jpg 1920w","srcWebp":"/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/1dd6e/kansas-city-house.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/67b76/kansas-city-house.webp 320w,\n/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/8df11/kansas-city-house.webp 500w,\n/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/98a65/kansas-city-house.webp 800w,\n/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/1dd6e/kansas-city-house.webp 960w,\n/static/93fcc15794bd97ffc41421981893e8f6/62477/kansas-city-house.webp 1920w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"A Monthly Lawn Care Guide for Kansas City, Mo Residents | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"4f4b8aaa-1587-5eed-a6b6-34f017b9275b","slug":"best-grass-for-missouri","path":"/lawn-care/mo/best-grass-for-missouri/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Farah Nauman is a freelance writer and an accountant based in Pakistan. She spends most of her time combating the South Asian heat and being a mom to her three fluffy cats and a dozen little Aloe Veras in her house.","name":"Farah Nauman","id":"26059a96-5dc7-50a2-8fe4-f35b865ab4a8","path":"/author/farah-nauman/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ec8e652d318d98583d29f520928b219?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"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":"May 25th, 2023","excerpt":"In the Midwestern transition zone, your Missouri lawn endures both sweltering summers and freezing winters. This makes a perfect recipe for a dull, grim lawn if your yard doesn’t have the right grass seeds to pull through the temperamental climate. In this article, we look at warm- and cool-season grass varieties that work well in […]
\n","content":"\nIn the Midwestern transition zone, your Missouri lawn endures both sweltering summers and freezing winters. This makes a perfect recipe for a dull, grim lawn if your yard doesn’t have the right grass seeds to pull through the temperamental climate.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we look at warm- and cool-season grass varieties that work well in Missouri, along with their pros and cons to help you pick the best grass for your Missouri lawn.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nBefore we get to the list, here’s a quick rundown of what cool-season grasses are like:
\n\n\n\nLet’s dig into these three best cool-season grasses for your Missouri lawn:
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tall-Fescue.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nTurf-type tall fescue is excellent for a Missouri landscape. It’s developed by seed or sod and grows coarse-to-medium-textured, tall turfgrass. This grass tolerates high temperatures, heat, drought, and shade. Given proper care, tall fescue lawns can even stay green all around the year. Plus, it’s a pretty low-maintenance grass.
\n\n\n\nTall Fescue may struggle a little in hotter parts of Missouri during the summer months but survives better in the heat than all other cool-season grasses. It can grow in poor soil conditions and with little fertilization, too. Generally, tall fescue is also highly resistant to pests and diseases and grows best during the fall and spring months.
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate to high – may need irrigation during dry summers
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Very low
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2 – 4 inches
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5.8 – 6.5
\n\n\n\nPros:
\n\n\n\nCons:
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Perennial-Ryegrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nThis dark green, fine-bladed grass type will give your Missouri lawn a temporary pop of color for the winter. Perennial ryegrass is fast germinating and suppresses weeds naturally by establishing quickly.
\n\n\n\nOf all cool-season grasses, ryegrass has the highest wear tolerance, which is why it is popular for parks and golf courses. However, it is less tolerant of heat and drought compared to other species.
\n\n\n\nPerennial ryegrass develops tapered, fine-textured, shiny blades that require regular maintenance to keep a uniform look. It is considered a nurse grass, meaning it’s often mixed with other grasses to provide shade and protection to less hardy grass types, such as Kentucky bluegrass.
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type, extends with tillers
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: High, look out for red thread, brown patch, and rust
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1.5 to 3 inches
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6.0 – 7.0
\n\n\n\nPros:
\n\n\n\nCons:
\n\n\n\n![\"Kentucky](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Kentucky-Bluegrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Lavin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nKentucky bluegrass establishes a dense turf and is a popular choice for northern areas due to its winter hardiness. It has a bluish-green color and has a medium texture – not too hard, not too soft – to make a great “barefoot grass”.
\n\n\n\nBut Kentucky bluegrass is high-maintenance. It needs more water and fertilizer than any other cool-season grass type. It prefers areas with partial shade and spreads quickly by rhizomes. It is often mixed with other grass species, typically perennial ryegrass, to create a disease-resistant, tough turf that maintains a nice green appearance year-round.
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low, prefers sunlight
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2.5 to 3 inches
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6.0 – 7.0
\n\n\n\nPros:
\n\n\n\nCons:
\n\n\n\nA quick overview of warm-season grasses:
\n\n\n\nHere are two warm-season grasses that do well in Missouri lawns:
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bermudagrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson / Flickr / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass is the most widely used grass in Southern Missouri. It’s well suited for your Missouri lawn because it is hardy, low-maintenance, and develops dense turf. Bermudagrass spreads vigorously with stolons and rhizomes and has excellent resistance to foot traffic and wear due to these woven roots.
\n\n\n\nThe dense Bermudagrass turf also naturally crowds out weeds. This grass type is fast-growing and resistant to salinity, heat, and a wide range of soil pHs. However, the rapid growth rate can become a nuisance if the grass invades gardens or flower beds.
\n\n\n\nBermudagrass needs full, bright sun to thrive and regular dethatching to stay disease free. It goes brown and dormant in the winter and greens back up around early April.
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes and stolons
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1 to 1.5 inches
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5.8 – 7.0
\n\n\n\nPros:
\n\n\n\nCons:
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Zoysiagrass.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nThis is a cold-tolerant and thick warm-season grass that will keep your Missouri lawn green for the most part of the year. It’s a popular choice for homeowners with kids and pets because of its hardiness and impeccable foot traffic tolerance.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass thrives in direct sunlight and develops a dark green color turf. This lush green color slowly fades as the temperature drops but won’t turn brown or tan. Since it develops into a dense lawn by stolons and rhizomes, Zoysia lawns are often vulnerable to thatch.
\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass needs frequent watering during the summer but is super easy to maintain otherwise. It tackles a good amount of foot traffic too.
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes and stolons
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 1 to 2.5 inches
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5.8 – 7.0
\n\n\n\nPros:
\n\n\n\nCons:
\n\n\n\nThe most commonly used grass in Missouri is turf-type tall fescue. It is drought, heat, disease, and insect resistant and does fine with moderately shaded environments too.
The optimal time to plant grass in Missouri is late August to mid-October, September being ideal. At this time, the soil is still warm but the chilly breezes help grass seeds germinate faster.
Tall fescue can maintain a deep green color all year if you care for it properly. It’s well-known for its ability to thrive in transition zones with minimal maintenance.
If you’re confused about what grass type suits your lawn, when and how to plant it, or you don’t have the time to set a lawn up by yourself, call in one of our lawn care pros to help. Our pros come equipped with all the knowledge, equipment, and expertise that you need to choose the right grass type for your Missouri lawn.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo By: Hippopx
\n","title":"Best Grasses for Your Missouri Lawn","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/1789c/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/107df/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.jpg 320w,\n/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/293e9/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.jpg 500w,\n/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/f2cbb/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.jpg 800w,\n/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/1789c/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.jpg 960w,\n/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/c26c2/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/1dd6e/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/67b76/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.webp 320w,\n/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/8df11/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.webp 500w,\n/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/98a65/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.webp 800w,\n/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/1dd6e/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.webp 960w,\n/static/e8d5f20dbd7eb3d842f37a0bb26e0249/3cc96/Grasses-for-Your-Missouri-Lawn.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Best Grasses for Your Missouri Lawn | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Trying to find a grass that will survive the temperamental climate of Missouri? Here are five best grasses to liven up your Missouri lawn."}}},{"node":{"id":"d8e87480-1a22-5b75-9637-ce33b462bff6","slug":"low-maintenance-landscaping-missouri","path":"/lawn-care/mo/low-maintenance-landscaping-missouri/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Farah Nauman is a freelance writer and an accountant based in Pakistan. She spends most of her time combating the South Asian heat and being a mom to her three fluffy cats and a dozen little Aloe Veras in her house.","name":"Farah Nauman","id":"26059a96-5dc7-50a2-8fe4-f35b865ab4a8","path":"/author/farah-nauman/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ec8e652d318d98583d29f520928b219?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"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":"May 15th, 2023","excerpt":"Lawn maintenance is no joke. There’s a lot of time, tools, planning, sweat, and hard work involved in getting a lawn to look great all seasons of the year. Makes you wonder if it’s even possible to achieve an all-year green landscape, right? It is. Consider incorporating low-maintenance landscaping for your Missouri yard and save […]
\n","content":"\nLawn maintenance is no joke. There’s a lot of time, tools, planning, sweat, and hard work involved in getting a lawn to look great all seasons of the year. Makes you wonder if it’s even possible to achieve an all-year green landscape, right?
\n\n\n\nIt is. Consider incorporating low-maintenance landscaping for your Missouri yard and save tons of exhausting upkeep hours. Low-care landscaping is simply just using plants that don’t require much mowing, fertilizing, watering, weeding, or pest control and, consequently, cutting down your maintenance costs and time.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we will explore these 10 low-maintenance landscaping ideas:
\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\nPatios, decks, and other such hard surfaces add a nice, long-lasting usable living space in your house. Not to mention, they require little to no maintenance. For instance, concrete pavers give a more structured and cleaner look for spaces like walkways, and the upkeep is relatively easier than other alternatives.
\n\n\n\nYou can also incorporate fences, sidewalks, and edging around beds to minimize the need for hand trimming. Also, make sure you keep the edges of these hard surfaces flat and low to eliminate the need for hand edging when using a power mower – it can easily ride over if the surface is flat, saving you time and energy.
\n\n\n\nOther examples of hardscapes that make a great addition to any yard include:
\n\n\n\nAdding more hardscapes to your home also means you will have fewer living plants to tend to. This means less mowing, pruning, watering, weeding, or dealing with pests. All you have to do is do some occasional cleaning.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of Hardscapes:
\n\n\n\nThe position and placement of plants, whether they are potted or planted, are important. If plants in your yard are scattered, they need more care than plants that are massed in groups. You will have to expend more time hand-edging and trimming individual plants if they’re apart.
\n\n\n\nPlus, flaws on a single shrub, tree, or flower will stand out more and call for immediate remedy whereas plants in clusters easily conceal each other’s shortcomings. Periodic maintenance of packed-together plants also costs you less, both in terms of money and time.
\n\n\n\nGroup plants that have the same environmental preferences instead of planting a variety of plants with dissimilar needs.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of Grouping Plants:
\n\n\n\n![\"Artificial](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Artificial-Turf.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nThe most prominent and largest part of almost every Missouri landscape is grass. It’s the base. Grass adds the texture, color, scent, and comfort that a lawn needs. But this turf also requires consistent care and maintenance to look its best.
\n\n\n\nTry to reduce grassy areas in your landscape if you’re looking to cut some maintenance costs. Lawn alternatives, such as artificial turf, do not require water, mulch, fertilizer, or sunlight to stay alive and green.
\n\n\n\nSynthetic grass looks real (you can barely tell the difference), stays fluffy, and need no maintenance at all. The initial cost may seem a bit high, but it’s a worthwhile investment.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of Lawn Alternatives:
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4608457413_921dff2b0e_c-2.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nMulch is essentially a layer of organic, or inorganic, matter that suppresses weeds, helps in breaking down fertilizer, and protects soil moisture in your landscape beds. It’s quite inexpensive and needs no care or maintenance whatsoever. Additional advantages of layering up mulch include reduced soil compaction, erosion control, and soil temperature moderation.
\n\n\n\nUse two to four inches of mulch around your plants. Organic mulch is made of shredded bark or wood chips that add organic matter to the soil. Mulching your garden beds, shrubs, and trees will facilitate mowing and reduce the chances of damage from string trimmers of mowers to the stem. This will reduce your lawn work by a great deal.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of Mulch:
\n\n\n\nHome landscaping looks and feels more intimate if you keep it small and cute. If you’re looking to create a low-maintenance lawn but don’t have the time to keep a manicured look, maybe consider downscaling it a little.
\n\n\n\nIt takes no time to plant a flower garden or colorful vegetable, but it takes considerably more time to keep it healthy, watered, and harvested. You can reduce the size of the maintenance-needing part of your landscape by turning it into a container garden or putting in small potted plants.
\n\n\n\nThey are easier to look after and you can move them around to refresh your landscape view any way you feel like.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of Reducing Landscape Size:
\n\n\n\n![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/lawn-in-missouri.jpg\")
Main Image Credit: HornColumbia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nThe simpler your landscape is, the easier it is to look after it and maintain your curb appeal. Low-maintenance landscaping involves clean designs and fewer features that won’t require a village for periodic cleaning and care.
\n\n\n\nIf your lawn has frills such as water features and statues, eliminate them or redesign them for easy care and maintenance. Also, avoid over-planting so you don’t have to constantly spend time and money on pruning.
\n\n\n\nPlant several different kinds of plants for more texture and color in your landscape, but make sure you don’t go overboard as it may create a busy appearance.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of a Simple Design:
\n\n\n\nCreating more living space and limiting the grassy areas in your landscape can save you time and energy spent on tending to a lawn. You can do so by building a nice grilling area, deck, patio, fire pit, or outdoor dining area where you can enjoy with friends and family.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of Outdoor Living Spaces:
\n\n\n\n![\"Xeriscaping](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/xeriscaping.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Tom Hilton / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nXeriscaping is a design approach that assembles a landscape in a way that limits or eliminates the need for irrigation. This method mostly uses drought-tolerant plants and hardscaping features to promote water movement only to areas where that need it.
\n\n\n\nAfter xeriscaping, your landscape will do just fine with the water it receives from natural rainfall. But before plan, consult a professional or research thoroughly on how to prep for xeriscaping since it can be a long process.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of Xeriscaping:
\n\n\n\nPerennials are known for their hardiness and ability to stick around all year round. When you’re choosing flowers or grass beds for your Missouri landscape, make sure you plant plenty of perennials instead of annual plants.
\n\n\n\nWith annuals, you have to replant them every year but they continue to grow all season long. This is not the case with perennials. You won’t have to replant them every year, perennials simply go dormant and come back to life once their blooming season arrives, year after year. However, they may bloom for a shorter period compared to annuals.
\n\n\n\nA few popular perennials you can use:
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of Planting Perennials:
\n\n\n\nThese 10 tips to create a low-maintenance landscape may look too much but are pretty doable if know what you want and how to do it.
\n\n\n\nBut if you don’t, you can always reach out to a local pro at Wikilawn to help you plan and execute a low-care landscape for you.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Paul Sableman / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"Low-Maintenance Landscaping for Missouri","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/1789c/lawn-in-missouri-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/107df/lawn-in-missouri-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/293e9/lawn-in-missouri-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/f2cbb/lawn-in-missouri-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/1789c/lawn-in-missouri-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/c26c2/lawn-in-missouri-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/1dd6e/lawn-in-missouri-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/67b76/lawn-in-missouri-1.webp 320w,\n/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/8df11/lawn-in-missouri-1.webp 500w,\n/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/98a65/lawn-in-missouri-1.webp 800w,\n/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/1dd6e/lawn-in-missouri-1.webp 960w,\n/static/1e9cde03113c794a974debafcc26eb8f/3cc96/lawn-in-missouri-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Low-Maintenance Landscaping for Missouri | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Reflect natural beauty in your own yard without being overwhelmed by the maintenance with these low-maintenance landscaping tips for Missouri"}}},{"node":{"id":"9ba1fa4f-94e7-5631-9b5d-c0a994fdfbeb","slug":"spring-lawn-care-tips-st-louis","path":"/lawn-care/mo/st-louis/spring-lawn-care-tips-st-louis/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Nick Crawford is a blog writer based in Philadelphia. He enjoys writing just as much as he enjoys reading a good book, cooking, and working out in his spare time.","name":"Nick Crawford","id":"5213edde-9943-5767-a5ae-163493ecfae5","path":"/author/nick-crawford/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7ce3281d49bd9eb99cb1c4f0200247d3?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"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/"},{"id":"3f02f7ac-cb76-5555-b9a8-490ee8121fe0","name":"St. Louis","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/mo/st-louis/"}],"date":"May 15th, 2023","excerpt":"Spring in St. Louis can be gorgeous, especially once that signature Midwest frost begins to thaw. But don’t stand around too long admiring the scenery. There are some things you need to do to get your own yard in shape. If you follow these six tips to boost your lawn care routine in the spring, you’ll […]
\n","content":"\nSpring in St. Louis can be gorgeous, especially once that signature Midwest frost begins to thaw. But don’t stand around too long admiring the scenery. There are some things you need to do to get your own yard in shape. If you follow these six tips to boost your lawn care routine in the spring, you’ll get the most out of your grass all year long.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/solar-panels-working-14.jpg\")
Photo Credit: KathrynHatashitaLee / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nCaring for your lawn always requires a proper lawn mower. But your mower also needs care, especially after sitting in your garage for the winter. By performing this maintenance early in the Spring, you can avoid having to do it during the summer when the necessary yard work begins to pile up.
\n\n\n\nHere are the things you need to do to get this essential piece of lawn care equipment ready for use.
\n\n\n\nSharpening your lawn mower’s blades is one oft-forgotten bit of maintenance. Trying to cut your grass with a dull blade is similar to shaving with a dull razor. You may end up tearing or ‘bruising’ the grass rather than shearing it neatly, which will hinder growth. And if your mower has a motor, it’ll have to work harder to get through your grass with a dull blade, which will wear it out faster.
\n\n\n\nHere is how to sharpen your lawn mower’s blades:
\n\n\n\nAs a quick note, you can use a hand grinder to sharpen a lawn mower blade. However, these blades are made with soft metal, and the friction from a grinder could heat the metal enough to damage it if you’re not careful.
\n\n\n\nIf you have experience using a grinder, you can follow the same procedure as you would with a file. Should the blade begin to heat up, stop for a minute and let it cool down, or run some water over it.
\n\n\n\nJust like your car, your lawn mower needs oil to reduce friction within the engine’s parts. The heat from the engine eventually causes the oil to break down, which is made worse if that oil sits in your mower over the winter.
\n\n\n\nYour lawn mower’s engine oil should be changed every 50 hours of mowing or once every spring and summer, whichever comes first. Use a dipstick and only fill the oil to the designated mark.
\n\n\n\nUse high-quality engine oil in your lawn mower. 10W30 is the most common grade of motor oil, and it should be as suitable for most mowers as it is for cars and trucks.
\n\n\n\nHowever, check the owner’s manual to find out if your lawn mower has a four-stroke engine or a two-stroke engine. A two-stroke engine requires a mixture of gasoline and oil to function, usually ranging from 30:1 to 50:1 for the ratio of gas to oil. Two-stroke engines aren’t as common thanks to emissions regulations, but they are still around.
\n\n\n\n![\"Brown](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rake-Debris.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David Goehring / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nDead leaves, twigs, and branches can accumulate on your lawn over the fall and winter, especially if there are trees on or near your property. When it snows, this detritus will form a tightly packed carpet over your lawn that prevents your grass from getting enough sun.
\n\n\n\nYou should remove as many twigs and branches as you can in the spring so they don’t interfere with mowing or seeding. As for the fallen leaves, the traditional approach is to rake them, bag them, and have them taken to your local landfill. But, there is a better solution.
\n\n\n\nFallen leaves make fantastic organic compost. Simply shred the leaves into smaller bits with your lawn mower for easier absorption as they decompose. You can even add grass clippings and spread the mix around your flower bed as mulch.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/pxfuel.com-7-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nMany homeowners don’t realize that the soil in their lawn is just as alive as the plants that grow from it. It can change due to pollution, but the seasons also affect soil composition.
\n\n\n\nMissouri is home to over 500 types of soil, though menfro is the state soil. This clay-rich forest soil is well-drained and densely packed with decaying plant matter, making it very fertile. However, St. Louis’ location along the Central Missouri valley means that soil erosion sometimes makes for weak topsoil.
\n\n\n\nThough menfro soil is well known, you should still have your soil tested to determine whether you need to supplement it with more nitrogen, calcium, lime, or other minerals.
\n\n\n\nTypically, you would fertilize in the fall to provide your lawn with enough nutrients to get through the winter, especially if you have warm-season grass. However, you can help boost new growth with a light layer of fertilizer once during the spring.
\n\n\n\nIf you choose to add fertilizer in the spring, use a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. Faster fertilizers may encourage faster growth, but that isn’t always the best thing for young growth. You could even end up burning and damaging your grass.
\n\n\n\nTo fertilize your lawn, apply a thin, even layer using a spreader. Hand-spreading the fertilizer may result in an inconsistent coating and missed spots. You also run the risk of adding too much fertilizer, and too much of a good thing is never good.
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mow-More-Cut-Less.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxHere
\n\n\n\nGrowing your grass is like growing hair, and a timely trim of both can help maintain a desirable appearance. But don’t wait until the summer to start up the lawnmower. Keeping your lawn well-groomed early on can go a long way toward preventing weeds from popping up.
\n\n\n\nThere are a few rules of thumb when it comes to mowing your lawn:
\n\n\n\nPlants need water to survive, and your lawn is no different. However, you shouldn’t irrigate your lawn until after the grass begins growing. The soil will still have leftover moisture from the temperature change and any snow or ice that may have thawed.
\n\n\n\nWhen watering your lawn, you should only water until the top six to eight inches of topsoil is wet. That’s the layer where most turfgrasses establish their roots.
\n\n\n\nDo not overwater your lawn. It may be tempting to simply dump a large amount of water on your soil and leave it for the week, but you could easily drown new grass. Too much water can also leave your lawn vulnerable to fungi and disease due to shallow root growth.
\n\n\n\nThe best practice is to water your lawn three times a week in the spring. Check your local weather to avoid watering on a day when it’ll rain.
\n\n\n\nOn the opposite end, don’t underwater your lawn, either. Lack of water will dry out the soil, which can already be a common problem with menfro soil.
\n\n\n\nYou can test the moisture level of your soil with a screwdriver. Insert the head of the tool into your lawn. If you can push it in easily, the soil is moist. If you need to apply pressure or hear a ‘crackling’ sound as the dirt breaks, you need to add more water to your lawn.
\n\n\n\nFrontloading your yard work while your grass is still growing will pay off when you can spend more time simply enjoying the lawn when the St. Louis weather turns warm. But, the key word is work. You’ll have to put in the time and effort to cultivate a beautiful lawn.
\n\n\n\nAlternatively, you could put your lawn in the hands of a local lawn care professional, who will know exactly what needs to be done to clear your spring landscaping checklist.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Neighborhood, St. Louis / Unsplash
\n","title":"6 Spring Lawn Care Tips For St. Louis","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/1789c/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/107df/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/293e9/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/f2cbb/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/1789c/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/c26c2/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/1dd6e/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/67b76/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.webp 320w,\n/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/8df11/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.webp 500w,\n/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/98a65/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.webp 800w,\n/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/1dd6e/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.webp 960w,\n/static/2208716b6c1c53d33980b6c9d8ae2573/3cc96/kay-ingulli-n4WOKspqr4-unsplash-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"6 Spring Lawn Care Tips For St. Louis | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Spring is a critical time for your grass. It needs some TLC, and doing it correctly will give your lawn the foundation it needs to thrive all year long"}}},{"node":{"id":"921850b6-f9fe-5b47-b731-ce364f72d2d6","slug":"worst-weeds-kansas-city","path":"/lawn-care/mo/kansas-city/worst-weeds-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":"You may be singing the Kansas City blues if any of these weeds sprout in your lawn. Here are the worst KC weeds, and what to do about them.
\n","content":"\nIf your weeds are sprouting up green, you may be humming the Kansas City blues. It would be lovely if a day with the hoe or a quick trip to the garden center for herbicide would change your tune to Good Day Sunshine. Yes, you can control the worst weeds in Kansas City — but plan for a Long and Winding Road.
\n\n\n\nKansas City straddles the boundary between the subtropical climate of the South and the humid continental climate of the North. That makes it perfect for some all-American and very stubborn weeds.
\n\n\n\nHere are the worst weeds in Kansas City and how you can wage war against them:
\n\n\n\nThe dandelion makes a pretty yellow flower in the spring and shoots up a stalk with a puffball of seeds that scatter in the breeze or with a child’s breath. It’s also invasive, insidious and can take over your yard. You can hoe, dig and pull until you’re blue in the face and it’s not going to do much good. Using a pre-emergent herbicide in late winter or early spring before the weed sprouts can be effective. Use one that contains dithiopyr or isoxaben. If the weed has already popped out of the ground, choose a post-emergent herbicide that contains glyphosate, triclopyr, 2-4-D, or dicamba. Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide that will kill anything it touches, so be careful when applying it around grass and plants. The others are nonselective and will spare some — but not all — surrounding vegetation. Know what kind of grass you have and do some herbicide research before you fire up the sprayer.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2nkmI7HSysqkb0Z9lqVm2RsGsNEI-TSw1ZTNKVf-CuKk3UplusSobj8q23svOCplCd4vNjlBefAh3CC9V7uklEBgu5qCKrC_fbDOhDtUBDt4BdsK2aYyqOXixicpnIPSWomiFy7E\")
This is perhaps the most infamous weed in America. It spreads horizontally from a central root, snaking its stems along the ground like crab legs. It likes to grow at the edges of sidewalks and driveways where its tentacles taunt your weed whacker. When it grows along these borders — or pops up in cracks in the concrete — carefully applied doses of glyphosate (Roundup) should make short work of it. But if it moves into your yard that’s not the best option. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in late winter or early spring before it sprouts. Choose a product that contains benefin, bensuline, pendimethalin, or trifluralin.
\n\n\n\nThis favorite of poets, songwriters, and leprechauns is an easy weed to control — but it takes some elbow grease. Use a hoe or pull it up by hand. You can also spread a few inches of organic mulch or woven yard fabric over the infested area. If the clover is more widespread, a broadleaf herbicide labeled as a clover killer safe for your grass variety may be applied.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qBztNPfczU2p3W3q9dEM_SHjNvWKa7U8DClEj6FbW9tmzkw2cmI_YDKi6BFU0XRfB8QQr7r921Z-fTIJ-_XkHMgjZQICQZGZ_L3JLn2wvaAQFQZ_wTWtxuhzLh5RHbjE4-EerWdP\")
Like clover, the best weapons against this matty weed are hoe and hand pulling in the spring before the tiny white flowers bloom. Pre-emergent herbicide applied in late fall or early winter can curtail its return in spring. Dusting chickweed with ammonium sulfate while it’s moist with dew can also help.
\n\n\n\nThis weed, sometimes called nutgrass, is a devious master of disguise. It looks like regular grass, but you can spot it because it likes to hang out in soggy areas and will grow faster than the rest of your lawn. It has a triangular main stem that you can feel if you roll the stem in your fingers. You can pull it up by hand if there are fewer than six leaves, before its underground tubers form. If there are six or more, do not pull it up by hand! That breaks off the tubers, which wake up and become active. Pre-emergent herbicides made for other weeds do not control nutsedge in lawns. This is a tough nutgrass to crack. Keep soggy areas well-drained. Consider tarping a heavily affected area with clear plastic to starve it. There are specialty herbicides made just for nutsedge, but apply with care.
\n\n\n\nThe best deterrent to weeds is a well-maintained yard that is properly watered, fertilized, aerated, and mowed. Neglected, poorly-tended yards are much more vulnerable to invasion.
\n\n\n\nFinally, be realistic in your expectations. You won’t get instant gratification from any kind of weed control product or practice. Commitment and perseverance are the most effective ingredients.
\n\n\n\nWant to learn more about lawn care and gardening in Kansas City? Visit our Kansas City lawn care page.
\n\n\n\n
Main image photo credit: Paul Houle, Flickr
There are no current watering restrictions in Kansas City, which gets an abundant supply of water from the Missouri River. But conservation is still a good idea.
\n","content":"\nUnlike many other cities across the United States, Kansas City is in a fortunate position when it comes to water supply. The Missouri River provides an abundance of water flowing through the metropolitan area — more than enough to provide for Kansas City’s drinking and irrigation needs, without the need for water restrictions.
\n\n\n\nBut during hot, dry summers and periods of unexpected drought, the KC Water division will put the kibosh on your watering plans. While the city can usually handle its water needs, you’ll want to keep your eyes and ears open for news of any watering restrictions in Kansas City, Mo.
\n\n\n\nThe city treats and distributes water to 170,000 residences and businesses in greater Kansas City, as well as 32 wholesale customers in the metro area. The water division is now working on system development plans for expected growth within the region.
\n\n\n\nMunicipalities within a short drive from KC are likely to have watering restrictions when water treatment facilities hit their near-capacity for several days in a row. This sometimes happens in Gardner, Kansas. When the Hillsdale Water Treatment Facility operates at more than 90 percent capacity for five days straight, Gardner will issue the following mandatory water cutbacks:
\n\n\n\nLawn watering and car washing for even-numbered addresses are OK in Gardner before 10 a.m. and after 9 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Homeowners whose addresses end in odd numbers may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. When it comes to refilling a swimming pool, you can do that only one evening a week after sunset. Want to completely fill a privately owned pool? That will have to wait until the city lifts the watering ban.
\n\n\n\nNearby Cameron, Mo., has seen its share of drought during the last few summers. Even with four reservoirs, mandatory water restrictions go into effect during these droughts and high usage. Cameron is part of the Tri-State Water Resource Coalition, which is building new water lines for surrounding areas.
\n\n\n\nIt’s easy to forget that water is a precious resource. There are several ways to preserve this liquid gold:
\n\n\n\nA single person uses about 100 gallons of water a day to drink, bathe, perform personal hygiene, and clean their house. That number goes up significantly when you water the lawn or fill the swimming pool.
\n\n\n\nThe best reason to conserve water is so that we don’t run out. This is a community-wide effort because it’s easy to assume the tap will continue to flow, even in severe drought. Your water company does its best to fulfill demand, but it cannot control the weather. Another reason to cut back on water and energy usage is more tangible. Who doesn’t want lower utility bills?
\n\n\n\nYour water division is working on long-term projects to improve the water main lines. Updating the infrastructure of KC includes improving sewers and wastewater treatment. The city gets its drinking water from the Missouri River and surrounding floodplain. It’s cleaned and sanitized from lawn fertilizers, oil, dirt, pet waste and whatever other pollutants it picks up along the way.
\n\n\n\nIf you have questions about Kansas City tap water, or if there are restrictions in place, the division is open during regular business hours.
\n\n\n\nDo you have questions about lawn care and gardening in Kansas City? Visit our Kansas City lawn care page.
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.
![Source](\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Liatris_spicata_Purple.jpg/1200px-Liatris_spicata_Purple.jpg\"){kind=link}