![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fine-Fescue-1.jpg\")
When you live in the Garden State, you want a lawn worthy of the title. Achieving a beautiful lawn starts with choosing a grass type that thrives in New Jersey’s temperate climate and also suits your personal preferences. Not every grass is ideal for your lifestyle, after all. Whether you’re looking for something that tolerates […]
\n","content":"\nWhen you live in the Garden State, you want a lawn worthy of the title. Achieving a beautiful lawn starts with choosing a grass type that thrives in New Jersey’s temperate climate and also suits your personal preferences.
\n\n\n\nNot every grass is ideal for your lifestyle, after all. Whether you’re looking for something that tolerates the high foot traffic of Sunday afternoon flag-football games or one that doesn’t require frequent mowing, there is a grass that suits your needs.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nTurfgrasses are classified as either cool-season or warm-season grasses, and it’s essential to understand the difference between them and ensure you’re planting the right type for your climate.
\n\n\n\nIn the Northern United States, most lawns are cool-season grasses that are adapted to colder temperatures. They start growing when temperatures are just above freezing (40 to 42°F) in early to mid-spring and stay green well into October or November, when they go dormant to survive being buried under snow.
\n\n\n\nCool-season grasses grow best in the spring and late fall when soil and air temperatures are 65 to 75°F. Since they have adapted to survive below-zero climates, they aren’t as adapted to hot summers. They do well when temperatures are milder in July and August but need more water when it’s hot to stay green.
\n\n\n\nCommon cool-season grasses:
\n\n\n\nNew Jersey’s climate is characterized by cold winters and warm, humid summers. Because of this, cool-season grasses thrive in New Jersey’s climate.
\n\n\n\nWith that background, here are the best grasses for New Jersey.
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFine fescue stands out for its ability to handle shade and dry soil. It comes in many varieties, such as creeping red, hard, and sheep. It’s also popular in turfgrass mixes.
\n\n\n\nFans love the soft, fine texture of the narrow leaves on Chewings fescue, hard fescue, sheep fescue, slender creeping red fescue, and strong creeping red fescue. Fine fescues also have excellent shade tolerance, hold up to moderate foot traffic, and tolerate low soil fertility. In short, they are pretty durable.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type grass (except creeping red fescue, which may produce rhizomes)
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2.5 to 4 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate
\n\n\n\n![\"Backyard](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kentucky-bluegrass-yard.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Brenda Ryan / Wikilawn
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKentucky bluegrass is popular here due to its beauty and versatility. It adapts to many different soils and forms a thick green turf that self-repairs when damaged.
\n\n\n\nKentucky bluegrass tolerates partial shade, but it does best in full sun. The seed is slower to germinate and establish than some other grasses, but because it spreads by underground stems known as rhizomes, it holds up well and recovers quickly from foot traffic. Bare spots from kids or pets also fill in quickly.
\n\n\n\nYou’ll usually find Kentucky bluegrass in a seed mix with fine fescues and perennial ryegrass. Kentucky bluegrass is susceptible to diseases, pests, and thatch, so mixing it with other grasses lessens the damage.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Low; may go brown (dormant) during the summer without supplemental watering, but its rhizomes allow it to green up quickly once it rains and cooler temperatures return.
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2 to 3 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\n![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Ryegrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Dr Mary Gillham Archive Project / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPerennial ryegrass germinates quickly and acts as a nurse grass (a grass that protects other grasses) for slower-growing grasses. While it grows, perennial ryegrass covers the soil and prevents erosion.
\n\n\n\nBecause they can withstand cold temperatures, perennial ryegrass is grown for pasture and home lawns. It withstands foot traffic well, but is prone to diseases.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type grass
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Mow and water frequently; fertilize every 4 to 6 weeks
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2.5 to 3.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: High
\n\n\n\n![\"Tall](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tall-Fescue-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTall Fescue is a good choice for school grounds, sports fields, and parks in New Jersey. It’s commonly mixed with Kentucky bluegrass to allow the turf to spread sideways. Additionally, if you want a low maintenance lawn, tall fescue is what you want.
\n\n\n\nTall fescue grows quickly, tolerates heat and drought, and grows quickly from seeds. It’s also immune to diseases that infect other turfgrasses.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type grass
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Mow often, fertilize appropriately
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2-4 inches; higher is better (allows for deeper roots)
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/zoysiagrass-4.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Russbach at the English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nZoysiagrass is the most common warm-season grass in New Jersey. It grows well during the hot summer months and grows thickly, making weeds less of a problem. It also doesn’t need as much water compared to cool-season turfgrasses.
\n\n\n\nHowever, avoid Zoysiagrass if you have a shady lawn, as it doesn’t like shade. Additionally, because it grows thickly, you’ll need to mow it regularly in summer.
\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: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Mow about once a week
\n\n\n\nMowing Height: 1 to 2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nAll grasses require some maintenance, but fine fescue and Zoysiagrass need the least.
Fine fescue tolerates shade the best, but perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and Zoysiagrass handle shade decently.
Zoysiagrass and fine fescue handle sunlight the best.
Zoysiagrass and perennial ryegrass are the best choices if you have many feet running around the yard.
Whether you want to enhance your lawn or need help picking the right grass seed, contact Wikilawn’s lawn care pros. They don’t mind getting their hands dirty.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Wood Lawn in New Brunswick / Zeete / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n","title":"Best Grass Seed for a Beautiful New Jersey Lawn","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/1789c/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.jpg","srcSet":"/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/107df/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.jpg 320w,\n/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/293e9/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.jpg 500w,\n/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/f2cbb/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.jpg 800w,\n/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/1789c/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.jpg 960w,\n/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/c26c2/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/1dd6e/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/67b76/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.webp 320w,\n/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/8df11/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.webp 500w,\n/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/98a65/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.webp 800w,\n/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/1dd6e/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.webp 960w,\n/static/899061fa985f7683dbf768e0cb6f88bd/3cc96/Wood-Lawn-New-Brunswick-NJ.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Best Grass Seed for a Beautiful New Jersey Lawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Achieving a beautiful lawn starts with choosing a grass seed that suits New Jersey’s climate and your personal preferences"}},"relatedPosts":[{"node":{"id":"87d3348f-0de8-5a75-8c39-3d89a6894e1d","slug":"how-to-make-spring-lawn-care-miserable-what-not-to-do-this-spring","path":"/lawn-care/how-to-make-spring-lawn-care-miserable-what-not-to-do-this-spring/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Jackie Greene is a blogger, gardener, and nutrition enthusiast. She enjoys creating organic meals for family and friends using the fresh ingredients she produces from her backyard homestead.","name":"Jackie Greene","id":"fb5923e1-833b-5d9b-808e-ded0e62c0bc4","path":"/author/jackiegreene/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2c1121209a3ebfbe0a7e941d102b2971?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"September 8th, 2018","excerpt":"Ever wondered how your perfect neighbor down the street has a top-notch lawn at the beginning of every spring? Maybe the guy is a former landscaper at Augusta National Golf Club. Or maybe he sold his soul in exchange for the best lawn in your whole county, annually. I’m sure you’d like to believe one […]
\n","content":"Ever wondered how your perfect neighbor down the street has a top-notch lawn at the beginning of every spring? Maybe the guy is a former landscaper at Augusta National Golf Club. Or maybe he sold his soul in exchange for the best lawn in your whole county, annually.
\nI’m sure you’d like to believe one of those possibilities. But most likely, the man simply stays on top of his yard work during the winter time. He is prepared. His reward is not struggling during March and April in order to get his Bermuda lawn back under control.
\nWhile you are missing your kid’s ball games and skipping lake trips to fight off all manner of weeds, “Mr. Yard of the Month” has plenty of time to relax and enjoy his property.
\nSo let’s continue your streak of terrible yard experiences each and every year. Use these tips to make your spring lawn care as miserable as possible, or avoid the satire and follow these laughable statements as what to easily not do.
\nYou know deep down that your Toro mower is not designed to be a wood chipper. But you just can’t help yourself. So keep leaving those fallen tree limbs and branches all over the yard.
\nEven if you don’t want to destroy your mower deck and blades, surely you enjoy picking up limbs on the first sunny day in April, right? It sure beats a trip to your favorite hiking trail.
\nPro tip: It would be a good idea to prune any weak looking limbs during the winter so they don’t add to the fallen branches. Also, protect your eyeballs and prevent concussions. Go ahead and trim those limbs you’ve banged your head on for the past decade.
\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wheelbarrow-full-of-garden-equipment-300x200.jpg\")
Photo: Flickr / Paul Johnson
\nFor me, there is nothing better than saving money with low effort. I don’t like handing hard-earned cash over to the mower repair shop.
\nBut since you want to cause yourself plenty of stress when the flowers bloom, don’t dare winterize your lawn equipment.
\nPro tip: A couple of repair guys told me that ethanol resulted in about 80 percent of their work.
\nNobody has time for fun in the sun come May. Keep yourself busy with nonsense like cleaning out those gutters full of November leaves. Sure, you could have cleaned them out easier when they were 100 percent leaf material. Now they are wet and resemble potting soil as they decomposed over the winter. Have fun with the rubber gloves.
\nAnd most lawn procrastinators will toss the gutter debris right on the grass. That’s a great way to kill off spots of turf as the debris weighs down the young blades of grass.
\nSince you like testing yourself, let those lawn pests build up for a fight. No need battling a few ants when you can let them form an army over the winter.
\nPro tip: Fire ants may be coming to your area soon. They are found in 17 U.S. states currently and only cause $1.2 billion in damage each year.
\nDon’t bother using these tricks to get a jump on lawn pests:
\nYour neighbor with the lush lawn likes pre-emergent herbicides to keep weeds away. But you wouldn’t want to bother with that in the winter. You have better things to do, like watch 23 meaningless college football bowl games.
\nPre-emergents work gradually so they are used by homeowners with patience. Guys who don’t use them end up using post-emergents all spring and summer. It’s a giant time-suck!
\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/flower-bed-spring-lawn-care-300x221.jpg\")
Photo: Flickr / danielle_hp
\nLeaves in the flower beds may look festive in the fall, but not in December. It’s a miserable chore to get those soggy leaves out of mulch beds in March. Dry leaves can be blown easily with a blower in the fall. But be prepared to get your hands dirty and blistered with a rake once they have been in the beds for three long months.
\nA proper lawn guy would wait no later than mid-November to clean those flower beds up. You want to have a neat yard when the family visits on Thanksgiving anyway.
\nIt can cost you a pile of money to buy yard tools that you only use once per year. Do you really need a 10-foot extendable gas-powered chainsaw very often? It would be a good plan to get together with five of your buddies from the neighborhood and create a tool co-op. This setup allows you all to use each other’s tools. Most homeowners don’t need ten different lawn tools. Share and save money.
\nBy the way, this is another way to stay connected to your neighbors. Flying solo is unhealthy mentally. Be the lone wolf and enjoy the misery. Or join the pack so you can break your tool addiction.
\nWinter time is a good opportunity to adapt to “The Great Outdoors” of your backyard. If you can come up with ways to enjoy the patio when it’s really cold, then you can enjoy the days in April – September with less than perfect weather. Storms and cold fronts also come in the warmer seasons.
\nBut if you love misery, just stay piled up on the couch all winter. Don’t give any thought to the ways you can heat the patio with a chiminea, natural gas heater, or a simple DIY fireplace. Your pasty skin will be your reward.
\nSince you treat your mower like a tank when in use, you can do the same while it sits idle before spring. It would be a waste of time for you to inspect the tires, right? You never ran over any debris last year I’m sure.
\nPro tip: Even with tough “no-flat” type tires, you may have wheel bearings that get dirty and need greasing.
\nAnd mower belts last forever, don’t they? They must be in great shape even after chips of limbs flew around the belts with your patented wood-chipping style! And since you’re not a mower repair expert, belt replacement will eat up half of your Saturday in early spring.
\nTo make your mowing take longer and damage your grass, don’t even think of sharpening the blades after your last cut in the fall. Just do your usual… buy new blades once you see chunks of metal missing (unsafe… do not do!).
\nThose tips should make your life pretty tough when spring pops up. Maybe you learned this vicious cycle from your dad. You must think it’s a rite of passage to struggle in the springtime with mowing, lawn pests, and running to Home Depot every day.
\nIt is not!
\nJust take a look at “Mr. Yard of the Month” as you drive by this spring. He’s laying up in his hammock, sipping a cold one, and teaching his dog to fetch. He’s also found time to coach his daughter’s softball team to a 5-0 record. And I bet he walks around barefoot on that awesome lawn for the heck of it.
\nThere’s still time for that to be you. All it takes is some attention to your yard when the weather is not so perfect. For additional reading on how to actually take care of your lawn and prepare it for the spring, here a couple resources:
\nArkansas is best known for its scenic lakes, rivers, and hot springs, but it’s also home to the only active diamond mine in the U.S. How’s that for fancy? Arkansas’ climate is classified as humid subtropical, but the Natural State experiences four seasons with plenty of precipitation and short, cold winters. Arkansas has plenty of […]
\n","content":"\nArkansas is best known for its scenic lakes, rivers, and hot springs, but it’s also home to the only active diamond mine in the U.S. How’s that for fancy? Arkansas’ climate is classified as humid subtropical, but the Natural State experiences four seasons with plenty of precipitation and short, cold winters.
\n\n\n\nArkansas has plenty of prime outdoor months for the avid adventurer with high temperatures averaging 74 degrees Fahrenheit and lows averaging 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The six best grass types for Arkansas need little water to survive the unique climate. Read on to discover varieties suitable for your Arkansas landscape.
\n\n\n\nArkansas sits in the transition zone, a region ranging from East Coast states like Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina all the way west to Missouri, Kansas, Eastern Oklahoma, and Arkansas. This zone has incredibly unique weather, and neither warm nor cool-season turfgrasses completely adapt to the region.
\n\n\n\nIn the transition zone, summers are too hot for cool-season grass varieties and winters are too cold for warm-season grasses, making it incredibly difficult to maintain your lawn.
\n\n\n\nAll types of grass are classified into one of two categories:
\n\n\n\nArkansas is a landlocked state just south of its transition zone neighbor, Missouri. Cool-season grass varieties grow best in Northern and Central Arkansas, while the entire state is suited to growing most warm-season cultivars.
\n\n\n\nThe following grass types adapt to the climatic and soil conditions of Northern Arkansas:
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bermudagrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Scot Nelson / Flickr / CC0 1.0
\n\n\n\nLike some warm-season cultivars, bermudagrass adapts to the entire state. It is the most common Arkansas grass variety and a versatile option suited for many applications, including athletic fields, golf courses, and home lawns. Bermudagrass is moderately cold-tolerant, hardy, and fine to coarse-textured. It is an aggressive grass that recovers quickly, withstanding drought and heavy foot traffic.
\n\n\n\nCommon and hybrid bermudagrass varieties grow well in Arkansas. Common varieties are sun-loving with a light green color and coarse texture, while hybrid cultivars have a finer texture and dark green appearance. Common bermudagrass requires less maintenance than hybrid varieties but is less dense with a more sparse appearance and lower disease resistance.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Poor — needs full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1-2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Good resistance to disease; prone to spring dead spot, dollar spot, leaf spot, large patch, and sheath spot
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low resistance; prone to white grubs, hunting billbugs, mole crickets, armyworms, and sod webworms
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Tolerates most soil types
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Bermuda spreads aggressively via its stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems) and can out-compete many weeds. The downside is that it also can be a nuisance and is sometimes considered invasive. You’ll often find it has tunneled underground into flower beds and spread into neighboring lawns.
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/St.-Augustinegrass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 US
\n\n\n\nSt. Augustinegrass is hardy as far north as Little Rock and thrives in Arkansas’ hot summers. It is a dense turfgrass with deep roots. However, it is the least winter-hardy warm-season cultivar. St. Augustinegrass has a high shade tolerance and is easy to establish. It is quick-growing but does not stand up well to herbicides or heavy traffic.
\n\n\n\nAll cultivars of this dense turfgrass are susceptible to disease and pests, especially chinch bugs. St. Augustinegrass is blue-green with a coarse, carpet-like texture. The most readily available Arkansas cultivar is the common St. Augustinegrass.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate shade tolerance, among the highest of any warm-season grass; some cultivars are more shade tolerant than others
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2.5-4 inches (mow dwarf varieties from 2.5-3 inches; standard cultivars from 3-4 inches; mow tall in shade)
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate to high; prone to gray leaf spot, large patch, and take-all root rot
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: High; prone to chinch bugs, cutworms, mole crickets, grass loopers, armyworms, webworms, and grubs
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Tolerates many soil types; prefers moderately fertile and moist (not waterlogged) soils; not a highly drought-tolerant grass; doesn’t tolerate soil compaction
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Native to coastal areas across the world and prefers moist soils and mild winters; will thrive in more inland areas provided growing conditions are met; good salt tolerance; will go dormant during winter in all but the southernmost regions
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Zoysiagrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 US
\n\n\n\nLike bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass grows throughout Arkansas. It has thick, stiff leaf blades and grows dense, blocking out weeds. The low-maintenance turfgrass requires little fertilization and tolerates drought, shade, heavy traffic, low mow heights, and low temperatures.
\n\n\n\nArkansas is home to two main cultivars of Zoysiagrass, Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella. The attractive turfgrass is recognizable for its dense appearance and dark green color. Arkansas cultivars are not prone to disease or insect infestation, but grow slowly.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Tolerates light to moderate shade
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low to moderate nitrogen requirement; moderate mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1-2.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low; large patch, root decline, spring dead spot, rust, curvularia, and leaf spot can occur
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low; most common pests are mites, grubs, mole crickets, hunting billbugs, armyworms, chinch bugs, and sod webworms
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Well-draining, some cultivars more tolerant of a wide range of soils than others
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Moderately salt tolerant; cut with sharp mower blade; mow taller if grass is in partial shade
\n\n\n\n![\"Green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Centipedegrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James Becwar / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass is slow-growing and a great low-maintenance option for Southern and Central Arkansas lawns. Like St. Augustinegrass, centipedegrass cultivars are hardy as far north as Little Rock, requiring little mowing, fertilization, or water to remain lush and green.
\n\n\n\nCentipedegrass handles shade better than bermudagrass, but the smooth, flat blades do not handle heavy traffic, cold, or herbicides well. The turfgrass has a pronounced medium texture and light green color. It prefers to be left alone and is prone to pests and disease when improperly maintained or over watered.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate — at least six hours of full sun per day
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: Low to moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1.5-2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate; prone to centipedegrass decline and iron chlorosis
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Moderate; prone to ground pearl insects, grubs, mole crickets, sod webworms, and lawn caterpillars
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5-6
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Acidic, infertile, at least moderately good drainage (very dense, clay soils produce poor results)
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Low maintenance once established; greenish-yellow color (like a green apple) during the growing season; low fertilizer and mowing requirements; not a salt-tolerant grass
\n\n\n\n![\"Beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/solar-panels-working-2-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Billy Lau / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nTall fescue grows best in the northern one-third of the state but will grow as far south as Central Arkansas. It is shade and cold-tolerant, growing best in spring and fall, and most cultivars go dormant in the hot Arkansas summers. Tall fescue has a clumping growth habit with deep roots and a sparse appearance.
\n\n\n\nThe turfgrass has an attractive medium to dark green color and coarse texture. It requires regular watering, fertilization, and mowing. Tall fescue stands up to heavy foot traffic and grows well in a range of soils, including clay and sand. Cultivars are not the most attractive choices for home lawns. However, homeowners appreciate their climatic adaptability, especially in the tough transition zone.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Tillers (Bunch forming)
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate to high
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate – doesn’t recover easily from wear
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2-4 inches (Check your cultivar and state recommendations, as many tall fescue lawns grow best when they’re mowed on the tall side.)
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Low to moderate resistance – can be prone to leaf spot, seedling disease, and brown patch
\n\n\n\nPotential for pests: Low to Moderate resistance – can be susceptible to armyworms, cutworms, sod webworms, and grubs
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 5.5-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Grows in most soil types but prefers clay soils
\n\n\n\nOther notes: For optimal results, apply fertilizer once during the months of September and November. Also, plant fresh grass seeds every couple of years if you wish to maintain a lush lawn and tackle any sparse or thinning spots.
\n\n\n\n![\"green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/5552536384_1bc90958b3_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ferran Pestaña / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nKentucky bluegrass is a high-maintenance, cool-season cultivar that only grows in Northern Arkansas when mixed with tall fescue. It has low drought tolerance but withstands cold and the winter conditions of Arkansas well. To survive the hot, dry Arkansas summers, Kentucky bluegrass cultivars must be mixed and seeded with tall fescue.
\n\n\n\nKentucky bluegrass is recognizable for its famed blue-green color, fine texture, and dense appearance. Hybrid cultivars have improved heat tolerance and include Durablue, Thermal Blue Blade, and Solar Green. While these varieties withstand hot temperatures better, they still grow best alongside tall fescue.
\n\n\n\nMost varieties are available as premixed seeds. The most common pre-mixed ratio for Arkansas is 90% tall fescue seed and 10% hybrid bluegrass seed. This ratio ensures a more dense appearance that is hardy to the drought needs of a Northern Arkansas summer.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low to moderate – prefers full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Low to moderate, but recuperates well
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nRecommended mowing height: 2-3 inches – mow taller during summer
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate to high – can be prone to snow molds, summer patch, leaf spot, fairy rings, dollar spot, necrotic ring spot, chinch bugs, bluegrass billbugs, grubs, and greenbugs
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Well-drained, fertile soils
\n\n\n\nOther notes: It’s most often mixed with other species, such as tall fescue, in home lawns. Due to its limited root depth, regular watering is necessary. Poor soil conditions and lack of water can cause diseases, but newer cultivars are generally hardier and more resistant to disease.
\n\n\n\nNo. While some homeowners overseed their warm-season grass with perennial ryegrass to maintain a year-round green lawn, it is not recommended for healthy warm-season turfgrass. The ryegrass slows spring green-up, competing with your warm-season turfgrass and stealing vital nutrients.
It is best to allow your warm-season grass to enter natural dormancy during the cold winter months. Warm-season Arkansas turfgrasses include Zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, centipedegrass, and St. Augustinegrass.
If you live south of Little Rock, plant your warm-season grass seed in May or June. This gives the seed plenty of time to germinate before the hot summer. For residents of Northern Arkansas, sow your cool-season cultivar in September or October to complement the natural fall growth cycle.
Perennial ryegrass is a temporary turfgrass option for Arkansas. It is often used after new construction or lawn renovation to prevent erosion and reduce dust and mud. Like other cool-season cultivars, sow perennial ryegrass in September or October. The temporary turfgrass will green up quickly and last through spring before your warm-season cultivar takes over.
The best grass cultivars for Arkansas depend on where you live in the state. Varieties are suited to your unique USDA zone. Arkansas’ zones include 6b to 8a, with most of the state falling between 7b to 8a. All turfgrasses have their own characteristics and needs. Choose a variety that works well for your space and lifestyle.
\n\n\n\nYour grass comes together to help form your complete landscape. There are numerous landscaping options for the Natural State, and you can take advantage of the state’s four unique seasons. Be sure to check out our guides to help you plan your landscape and keep your lawn healthy year-round:
\n\n\n\nFrom well-known cities like Fayetteville, Little Rock, and Bentonville to the resort destinations of Hot Springs, no matter which part of the state you live in, conquer Arkansas’ unique climate. Let Wikilawn connect you with a local lawn care pro today to help you maintain a green and healthy lawn, so you have more free time outdoors.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Lawn, Arkansas / Pxhere
\n","title":"6 Best Grass Types for Arkansas","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/1789c/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/107df/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/293e9/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/f2cbb/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/1789c/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/c26c2/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/1dd6e/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/67b76/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.webp 320w,\n/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/8df11/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.webp 500w,\n/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/98a65/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.webp 800w,\n/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/1dd6e/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.webp 960w,\n/static/71b8acaee442be7a7fb266c518f56c51/3cc96/tree-architecture-lawn-house-flower-home-1349315-pxhere.com-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"6 Best Grass Types for Arkansas | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Depending on your location, the best grass types for Arkansas are both warm-season and cool-season varieties suitable for the unique transition zone."}}},{"node":{"id":"3ebd0074-0403-5c7a-b6e2-447d002198f4","slug":"best-native-plants-cleveland","path":"/lawn-care/oh/cleveland/best-native-plants-cleveland/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Abdul Wadood is a writer and SEO specialist from India. He recently started writing about lawns and enjoys it. In his spare time, he enjoys going on trips.","name":"Abdul Wadood","id":"236127ca-c7a6-50bb-9ab7-dd3e7e3fe6d8","path":"/author/abdul-wadood/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/395f0103c8419fd32e2c021818b78121?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"7ba0d0fa-46fc-5a18-a83f-513673ed896c","name":"Cleveland","count":2,"path":"/category/lawn-care/oh/cleveland/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"0f8c37b8-25e8-5e78-8d84-fa2b0ffd84d3","name":"Ohio","count":23,"path":"/category/lawn-care/oh/"}],"date":"April 5th, 2023","excerpt":"Cleveland is called the Forest City for a reason. It’s home to many gardens, including the world-famous Cleveland Cultural Gardens. You can have a fantastic garden, too, especially if you choose easy-to-maintain native plants that thrive in Ohio’s diverse climate. Here is a look at 10 of the best native plants for Cleveland. In this […]
\n","content":"\nCleveland is called the Forest City for a reason. It’s home to many gardens, including the world-famous Cleveland Cultural Gardens. You can have a fantastic garden, too, especially if you choose easy-to-maintain native plants that thrive in Ohio’s diverse climate.
\n\n\n\nHere is a look at 10 of the best native plants for Cleveland.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nNative plants, as the name suggests, belong to a local region. They are well-adapted to a region’s climate and soil conditions as they have been growing there for several years.
\n\n\n\nHere’s why native plants are better than non-natives.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-263.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nBee balm looks beautiful with its bright scarlet flowers. The foliage has a minty fragrance as they are part of the mint family. Bee balm performs best in full sun and moist soil.
\n\n\n\nBee balm blooms throughout the summer, and the flowers attract bees and butterflies. Songbirds like to snack on their seed heads during fall and winter.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Rich, moist soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Wild-Geranium-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nWild geranium features palmate-shaped leaves with five petals. The flowers come in pink or lavender colors. Wild geraniums are beautiful and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
\n\n\n\nWild geraniums bloom for a lengthy period, from late spring to early summer. They prefer moist soil and grow well in full or partial sun.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Rich, moist soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Needs high watering during the growth period. Once matured, it requires watering only in drought conditions.
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic to children. Toxic to pets.
\n\n\n\n![\"Field](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/black-eyed-susan-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay
\n\n\n\nBlack-eyed Susan blooms throughout the summer, adorning your lawn with bright-yellow flowers with dark brown beads in the center. They are fast-growing climbers that attract birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
\n\n\n\nBlack-eyed Susan requires low maintenance and grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. You can remove the dead heads of the faded flowers to keep black-eyed Susan in bloom for much longer.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deep green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low, high drought tolerance
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"Close](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-76.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: rockerBOO / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nCardinal flowers look attractive with their two-lipped bright red tubular flowers. They bloom during hot summers when most plants are done blooming. Cardinal flowers require low maintenance and can tolerate partial shade but not drought.
\n\n\n\nCardinal flowers depend on hummingbirds for fertilization as other insects can’t make their way in to reach the nectar because of the flower’s shape.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist,well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Butterfly-Weed.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed features clusters of bright orange flowers that attract bees, hummingbirds, and especially monarch butterflies. They require little maintenance and can tolerate drought conditions.
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed blooms from late spring and stays the same throughout the summer. During fall, the leaves of butterfly weed turns dull yellow, and the flowers burst open to reveal their fluffy white seeds.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Dry, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low, high drought tolerance
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/White-Wood-Aster.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Mets501 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nWhite wood aster looks beautiful and blends well with other plants on your lawn. They bloom in late summer, producing small white flowers with yellow centers that gradually turn red. Butterflies love white wood asters.
\n\n\n\nWhite wood aster tolerates drought and can grow in rocky soil. These plants only require three hours of partial sunlight a day.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial sun. Can tolerate full shade.
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil. Can survive in rocky soil.
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low, high drought tolerance
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Perennial-Coneflower.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere
\n\n\n\nPerennial coneflower looks distinctive with reddish-purple petals. It blooms from early summer through early fall. Perennial coneflower attracts birds and butterflies when in full bloom.
\n\n\n\nThis plant grows in rocky soils, making it a great option for low-maintenance lawns. It tolerates drought but doesn’t tolerate shade very well.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 4 feet tall and about 1.5 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil. Can survive in rocky soil.
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"picture](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Obedient-Plant.jpg\")
Photo Credit: F. D. Richards / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nThe obedient plant, also known as false dragonhead, blooms from late summer to fall. The flowers appear in light shades of pink and white. They attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators when in full bloom.
\n\n\n\nObedient plant is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. Wondering how obedient plant got its name? These plants hold their position when bent.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\n![\"picture](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Wood-Poppy.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nWood poppies look attractive with their bright yellow flowers. They can grow under full shade, making them a great option for shady lawns. They can resist diseases and perform best in well-drained soil.
\n\n\n\nWood poppies bloom from spring to early summer. Remove the dead heads of the old flowers to make the plant bloom much longer.
\n\n\n\nIf you like chipmunks, wood poppies are a must-have on your lawn. These cute creatures love the seeds produced by this plant.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to a foot tall and a foot wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Bluish green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans and pets
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Savanna-Blazing-Star.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Rawpixel
\n\n\n\nSavanna blazing star is rare to spot in Cleveland, but it’s native to Ohio and can adapt to the climate of the Forest City. It looks appealing with its bright pink shaggy flower heads. Savanna blazing star grows best in full sun and can tolerate drought and rocky soil.
\n\n\n\nSavanna blazing star blooms from late summer to mid-fall and lasts about 1.5 months. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds when in full bloom.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Flower
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Medium green
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: High
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic
\n\n\n\nCleveland’s hardiness zone is 6, meaning the winters are cold and summers are warm. The plants listed here are native to Cleveland and survive nicely in the area’s climate. Select a plant that best suits your lawn’s conditions and satisfies your requirements.
\n\n\n\nIf you have children and pets playing on your lawn, we suggest you choose non-toxic plants. Make sure to consider a plant’s growing size when you purchase it. Some plants grow too big, which may not suit your yard.
\n\n\n\nHere are Cleveland nurseries that sell native plants.
\n\n\n\nSometimes, native plants may be already growing on your lawn. So, don’t forget to look around your yard for these plants.
\n\n\n\nNative plants can increase the appeal of your yard. But your lawn won’t be complete without planting the best grass types in Cleveland. A lush, green, and healthy lawn is a combination of everything, including proper maintenance.
\n\n\n\nIf you want someone to help you to maintain your lawn, consider hiring Wikilawn Cleveland lawn care experts.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"10 Best Native Plants for Cleveland, OH","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/1789c/Native-plants-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/107df/Native-plants-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/293e9/Native-plants-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/f2cbb/Native-plants-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/1789c/Native-plants-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/c26c2/Native-plants-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/1dd6e/Native-plants-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/67b76/Native-plants-1.webp 320w,\n/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/8df11/Native-plants-1.webp 500w,\n/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/98a65/Native-plants-1.webp 800w,\n/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/1dd6e/Native-plants-1.webp 960w,\n/static/4b65b5c09faaee1d704dc648ce390c0f/3cc96/Native-plants-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"10 Best Native Plants for Cleveland, OH | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Turn your ordinary yard into a heavenly paradise by installing native plants that look great and thrive in Cleveland's diverse climate."}}},{"node":{"id":"6a28c13b-239f-5a64-b745-5f8748caf8ba","slug":"best-native-plants-arkansas","path":"/lawn-care/ar/best-native-plants-arkansas/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kimberly Magerl enjoys growing fruits and vegetables in her garden. When she isn't gardening, Kimberly enjoys trying new recipes and cooking with her home-grown herbs.","name":"Kimberly Magerl","id":"bdf803c6-4d01-5c0e-88b1-1ea590340a8a","path":"/author/kimberly-magerl/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/45ebe89479badde7ee7cb5108a96462c?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"31b8d887-3e55-503a-9ba9-8fac7d950ccf","name":"Arkansas","count":6,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ar/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"May 9th, 2023","excerpt":"Arkansas offers mountainous trails, serene lakes, running rivers, and fertile valleys. Located south of Missouri with the Mississippi River running the length of its western border, the Natural State is home to seven national parks. The diverse state has all the natural charm you could ever dream of. Invite some local nature into your landscape […]
\n","content":"\nArkansas offers mountainous trails, serene lakes, running rivers, and fertile valleys. Located south of Missouri with the Mississippi River running the length of its western border, the Natural State is home to seven national parks. The diverse state has all the natural charm you could ever dream of. Invite some local nature into your landscape by filling your yard with some of the best native plants for Arkansas.
\n\n\n\nNative plants offer many landscaping benefits, including:
\n\n\n\nNative plants help promote a healthier Arkansas ecosystem. Check out these 20 native plants to help you plan your natural landscape.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/American-Beautyberry-Callicarpa-Americana.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eric Hunt / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nAmerican beautyberry is a large deciduous shrub that works well in woodland gardens, natural areas, and as an understory shrub in dappled shade. Mature branches arch toward the ground, growing denser with additional sunlight. A member of the mint family, this shrub produces bright purple fruits that attract birds and other wildlife.
\n\n\n\nBeautyberry has small lavender flowers and fuzzy, light green leaves. The shrub blooms from spring to summer before maturing to fruits in September. Beautyberry is drought tolerant and adapts well to most soils but prefers well-drained, rich, organic soil. It grows well throughout Arkansas but is found less frequently in the upper Ozark counties.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 7-11
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3-8 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers well-drained, nutrient-rich soil but tolerates acidic, sandy soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; prefers a regular watering schedule and moist roots
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; cooked fruit can be made into jelly
\n\n\n\nArkansas beardtongue is an herbaceous perennial with showy white or pink tubular flowers that bloom in the spring. Reaching heights up to 2 feet, slender stems ascend with paired dark green oblong leaves. The herbaceous flower grows well in the mountainous Interior Highland and Ozark regions encompassing northwest Arkansas and throughout most of Arkansas, except the Delta and coastal plains regions.
\n\n\n\nLike most beardtongues, Arkansas beardtongue grows best in full sun and prefers well-drained soils. Plant this attractive herb in garden beds to form flowering colonies. The Arkansas native is especially beneficial to local bees and pollinators.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 2 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers well-drained, moist to dry loamy soils; tolerates well-drained clay soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; water 1 inch per week in the summer
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; poisonous to animals, including horses and poultry, in large quantities
\n\n\n\n![\"Azalea](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/azaleas-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere
\n\n\n\nAzaleas are the most common landscape shrub in Arkansas, leading some to consider it the state shrub. They are a family of flowering shrubs with several deciduous species native to Arkansas. Vibrant spring blooms attract pollinating insects, while the dried stalks provide shelter for songbirds in the winter.
\n\n\n\nAzaleas prefer dappled shade and thrive in the well-drained, rich, moisture-retaining soils found in the southern two-thirds of the state. Plant these beautiful blooms as part of mass plantings, woodland gardens, mixed borders, and pollinator gardens. The three most common azaleas native to Arkansas include:
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 6-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 4-12 feet tall and wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers well-drained, rich, humusy, acidic, moisture-retentive soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: About 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic; poisonous to humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/brown-eyed-susan-23441281362806Ay7C.jpg\")
Photo Credit : PublicDomainPictures
\n\n\n\nBrown-eyed Susan is the only naturally occurring species of Rudbeckia in Arkansas, growing across the Ozark, Valley, and Ouachita Mountain regions. Like its cousin, black-eyed Susan, it is recognizable for its bright gold petals and dark brown centers. The herbaceous wildflower is deer-resistant and taller, with a more sparse growth habit than its cousin. It makes a great addition to naturalized home landscapes and rain gardens.
\n\n\n\nTransplanted flowers or sewn seeds grow well in garden beds and containers. Brown-eyed Susan flowers grow atop clumping, three-lobed leaves. They love full sun and well-drained, moist soil. The sunny blooms are important to Arkansas butterfly conservation efforts, attracting birds and local pollinators.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3-5 feet tall and 1.5-2.5 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Biennial or short-lived perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers well-drained, moist to wet, rich soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; some humans have an allergy to daisies
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bluestar-Amsonia-tabernaemontana.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nBluestar, also known as Hubricht’s bluestar and threadleaf bluestar, is native to central Arkansas and grows naturally in the Ouachita Mountain range. It is a clumping, herbaceous perennial with small lavender, star-shaped flowers that bloom in spring amongst grass-like leaves.
\n\n\n\nThe low-maintenance ornamental plant is popular in home landscapes thanks to its narrow, bright green foliage that lasts through summer and turns golden yellow in the fall. Bluestar makes a great addition to rock gardens, woodland areas, and mass flower bed plantings. It is an attractive pollinator plant and deer-resistant.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 2-3 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers well-drained average to medium-weight soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: About 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; milky sap irritates humans and animals
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: James St. John / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed is a native species of milkweed and is extremely important to healthy Arkansas landscapes. It is an attractive flowering plant and a nectar source for bees and pollinators and a host plant for caterpillars, including the Monarch butterfly and Unexpected Tiger moth. There are around 14 native species of milkweed that grow throughout Arkansas and all are part of the Arkansas Monarch Conservation Partnership.
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed produces bright orange or yellow flowers from summer to fall. The attractive plant is hardy and loves full sun. It tolerates most soils but prefers sandy well-draining soil and is moderately drought-tolerant.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-4 feet tall and less than 1 foot wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial though some species are annuals
\n\n\n\nFoliage: N/A
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers dry, sandy soil or gravel
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Semi drought-tolerant; prefers to dry out between waterings
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; milky sap irritates humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"Beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/32128063046_31c9eb4bef_c-1-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: DougMcGrady / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nEarly buttercup is an herbaceous winter perennial growing statewide throughout Arkansas. Glossy yellow flowers bloom in early March among three-lobed leaves. It is one of 17 species of buttercup growing throughout the Natural State. The flowering herb adapts to a range of soils and habitats, including shady woods, sunny grasslands, and home lawns.
\n\n\n\nEarly buttercup makes a great green addition to your winter landscape. It grows well in garden beds and pollinator gardens. However, be mindful of planting in shaded areas where rapid self-seeding and colonization occur. The glossy blooms attract numerous pollinators, game birds, and small mammals.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-12 inches tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: N/A
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers rich, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; one inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; minor skin irritation lasting minutes if touched; low toxicity if ingested
\n\n\n\n![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eastern-Redbud-Cercis-canadensis-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nEastern redbud is a small deciduous tree with a dense canopy growing statewide. It produces small clusters of showy pink flowers over its bare branches in spring. Blooms last for two to three weeks before giving way to heart-shaped dark green leaves that turn golden in the fall.
\n\n\n\nEastern redbud works well as shrub borders and fringe trees. Those low-maintenance cultivars require little pruning and attract many birds and pollinators. They have a short trunk and rounded crown of spreading branches. Unfortunately, these beautiful trees have a short lifespan of around 35-40 years.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 30 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: About 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic; poisonous to dogs and cats
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Maianthemum_racemosum_10782.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Walter Seigmund / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nLike traditional Solomon’s Seal, false Solomon’s seal is a member of the lily family. It occurs naturally in northwestern Arkansas and Crowley’s Ridge. It is an excellent shade plant with arching stems that produces large leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers in late spring followed by vibrant red berries in June.
\n\n\n\nFalse Solomon’s seal attracts birds and small mammals. Unlike its cousin variegated Solomon’s seal, this variety is not deer-resistant. Plant the herbaceous perennial alone, away from competition in a shaded garden area or on the north side of your Arkansas landscape. It spreads quickly, leading some gardeners to consider it an aggressive species.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Arching stems reach up to 4 feet long
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers deep, moist, rich, acidic soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; edible
\n\n\n\n![\"red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Florida-Anise-Illicium-floridanum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ted Bodner / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 US
\n\n\n\nPurple anise, or the Florida anise tree, is actually an evergreen shrub with small star-shaped purple to red flowers. Its skinny branches droop to the ground, giving the shrub a rounded shape while its flowers bloom in spring with fruits following from late summer to fall. The fruits of the Florida anise tree give off a distinct licorice odor when crushed like its cousin star anise. The evergreen shrub grows throughout Arkansas and is most commonly found near streams, lakes, and ravines.
\n\n\n\nFlorida anise has a dense growth pattern, making it ideal for windbreaks and hedgerows. They grow well in partial shade but prefer full sun and respond well to pruning. They love rich soil and moisture but adapt to most conditions. The purple anise is winter hardy to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit and its foliage is poisonous, making it resistant to insects and deer.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 8-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: 10-15 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers rich, moist soil, clay, sand, or loam
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; 1 inch of rainfall or water per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic; foliage is poisonous to humans and animals
\n\n\n\n![\"green](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Southern-Lady-Fern-Athyrium-filix-femina.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nLady fern is a medium-sized fern growing throughout Arkansas, North America, and even Alaska and Canada. It loves shaded woods and swampy regions but adapts to most soils and climates. Lady fern has an attractive and delicate appearance, with short leaflets running the lengths of divided, wispy fronds.
\n\n\n\nLady fern is low-maintenance and extremely cold hardy, making it a great choice for northern Arkansas landscapes. It makes a great addition to shade gardens and natural landscapes with moist soil. The slow-growing perennial will go dormant during times of drought and is easily damaged by wind or animals.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb, fern
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 3 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers moist, humus-rich soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Semi drought-tolerant once established; prefers regular watering and evenly moist soil, never soggy
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; raw plant is poisonous to humans and animals in large quantities; cooked plant is used as a food source in some cultures
\n\n\n\nNet-leaf leather-flower is another member of the native Arkansas buttercup family. This herbaceous vine grows in north-central and southwestern Arkansas, preferring dry, sandy, or rocky soils. Mature specimens can produce multiple vines with bright green leaf pairs. Vines grow upright with supports like trellises or trees but will crawl across and over other plants, anchoring themselves to grow upright.
\n\n\n\nNet-leaf leather-flower produces unique, lavender, bell-shaped blooms in the spring that resemble upside-down cups. The attractive vine grows to 12 feet tall and makes a great addition to any Arkansas garden with partial shade and moist soil. Avoid tying the delicate branches. Instead, plant specimens near trellises, fences, arbors, large shrubs, or small trees.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Vine
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 6-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 12 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; grows well in any soil with average moisture and partial shade
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; water 1 inch per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; poisonous to humans and animals but rarely consumed
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bloem-echinacea-purpurea-flora.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures
\n\n\n\nPurple coneflower is a member of the Arkansas Monarch’s conservation efforts and is important to Arkansas’ healthy ecosystem. The attractive flowering herb grows throughout the state except for the West Gulf Coastal and Mississippi Plains. Purple coneflower makes a great addition to rock gardens, flower beds, containers, and pollinator gardens.
\n\n\n\nThe wild herb produces showy blooms with slender, pinkish-purple petals around large, round orange-brown centers. Erect stems grow to heights of three feet among large, serrated bright green leaves. Purple coneflower tolerates mild drought conditions, heat, and a variety of soil conditions. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, and like bluestar and brown-eyed Susan, is deer-resistant.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 4 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Well-drained, rich soil or sand
\n\n\n\nWater needs: 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8695231251_e54600299a_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: manuel m. v. / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Red buckeye, or scarlet buckeye, is a large shrub or small tree growing throughout Arkansas except for the Western Ozarks and the banks of the Mississippi River. In nature, it is an understory or mixed woodland tree that loves deep, well-drained soils and full sun.
\n\n\n\nTubular red flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinators in the spring, while attractive flaky bark adds visual interest. It has a rounded top and a broad growth pattern. The small tree is part of the Arkansas Monarch’s conservation efforts. Plant red buckeyes anywhere that is too small for a larger tree. When choosing an area for planting, keep in mind that these specimens produce poisonous seeds resembling reddish-brown acorns that drop to the ground in the fall.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub, tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-8
\n\n\n\nMature size: 10-40 feet tall; usually 20 feet tall in Arkansas
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Prefers deep, acidic, well-drained sand, clay, loam, or limestone
\n\n\n\nWater needs: 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Moderate toxicity; seeds are poisonous to humans and animals, including horses and livestock; often used to make soap
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Glandularia_canadensis_1327432220.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Carl Lewis / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nRose vervain is another important pollinator for Arkansas, attracting local bees and butterflies. It is a creeping, low-growing herb that produces clusters of fragrant pink, five-petaled flowers. Rose vervain grows naturally throughout Arkansas except for the areas encompassing the Mississippi Plain.
\n\n\n\nThe perennial grows best in partial shade. It requires weekly watering during the dry summer months or it will lose its leaves. Plant rose vervain in borders, rock gardens, and containers. The showy herb also makes an attractive groundcover.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 10 inches tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial; sometimes annual during harsh winters in northern Arkansas
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers poor, acidic, sandy, rocky, moist, well-drained soils
\n\n\n\nWater needs: 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/18497136828_00d9aff016_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: F. D. Richards / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nRoughleaf dogwood is a small tree or large shrub with a clumping growth habit. Growing statewide except for the Coastal Plain, this fragrant tree blooms creamy yellow flowers in clusters alongside hard, white fruit.
\n\n\n\nRoughleaf dogwood gets its name from its rough leaf surfaces. The tree adapts to most light conditions and soils but grows more densely in full sunlight. It makes a great addition to property barriers, natural areas, stream banks for erosion control, and sunny patio areas. It is one of five Arkansas dogwoods.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: Up to 20 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; calcareous, acidic, alkaline, limestone, sand, sand-loam, medium loam, clay loam, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3779976362_ac532eef04_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Katja Schluz / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nSummersweet is an attractive landscape shrub producing visual interest no matter the season. The deciduous perennial produces shiny green leaves in the spring, spiky pink or white flowers in the summer, yellow leaves in the fall, and delicate seed capsules that attract birds and small mammals in the winter.
\n\n\n\nSummersweet grows statewide. It has an open growth pattern and soft texture. The fragrant shrub prefers partial shade and makes a great addition to pollinator gardens, natural landscapes, and mixed borders.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 3-8 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: 1 inch of water or rainfall per week; do not let the soil dry out completely
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/36415538275_740f5f1f45_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Plant Image Library / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nSweetbay magnolia is a wide-growing semi-evergreen tree that reaches heights of 60 feet in Arkansas. The slow-growing tree has no natural pest or disease enemies and responds well to pruning after its active growing season before winter dormancy. It makes a great patio or specimen tree.
\n\n\n\nSweetbay magnolia produces white, lemon-scented flowers from summer through fall, and its vibrant red seeds attract songbirds and small mammals. The medium-sized tree has medium green, glossy leaves. In the southern half of Arkansas, sweetbay magnolia retains its leaves. However, in the colder cities of northern Arkansas, it will lose its leaves in the winter.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5-10
\n\n\n\nMature size: 40-50 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide; trunk up to 3 feet in diameter
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Semi-evergreen
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; rich, moist, acidic, sand, sand-loam, medium loam, clay loam, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: 1 inch of water or rainfall per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic; no safety hazards
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Calycanthus_floridus.jpg\")
Photo Credit: GFDL&CC / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nSweetshrub, also known as Carolina allspice, is a large deciduous shrub. It has a rounded growth pattern with glossy, leathery, dark green leaves. Like sweetbay magnolia, specimens are very pest and disease-resistant.
\n\n\n\nThe fragrant shrub is tall with an open and upright growth habit. It produces fragrant maroon flowers in the spring, followed by dry fruit. Because of its pleasant strawberry-like fragrance, most homeowners plant sweetshrub near patios or entryways.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-9
\n\n\n\nMature size: 6-9 feet tall
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Rich, semi-moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nWater needs: 1 inch of rainfall or water per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Low toxicity; seed pods are poisonous if consumed in large quantities
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3269835134_006580b0b3_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Frank Mayfield / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nTall tickseed is a member of the aster or sunflower family and an important member of Arkansas’ butterfly conservation efforts. It grows naturally throughout most of Arkansas, with the exception of the Mississippi and West Gulf Coastal Plains. The herbaceous perennial blooms daisy-shaped, yellow flowers with brown-orange centers from spring to summer.
\n\n\n\nTickseed is drought tolerant and reseeds itself. Its bright blooms attract butterflies and native pollinators. Tall tickseed makes a great addition to flower beds, butterfly gardens, and naturalized areas as it is deer-resistant.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4-11
\n\n\n\nMature size: 1-4 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFoliage: N/A
\n\n\n\nSunlight needs: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil preferences: Adaptable; prefers moist, well-drained chalk, soil, sand, loam, or clay
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Drought-tolerant; 1 inch of rainfall or water per week
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Non-toxic, no safety hazards
\n\n\n\nYour yard has its own unique microclimate, and all native plants have specific needs. Not all native plants will grow well in your yard. Be sure to select plants suitable for the soil, sun exposure, and watering capabilities of your landscape.
\n\n\n\nArkansas sits in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a to 8a, indicating the coldest annual temperature is -10 to -5 degrees Fahrenheit in the northernmost portion of the state. The majority of the Natural State falls within zones 7a and 7b. Arkansas native plants are cold-hardy to the minimum temperature in the hardiness zones. Keep your zone in mind when selecting non-native plants for your landscape.
\n\n\n\nFall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. Aim to plant native shrubs and trees in November. Wait until the last chance of frost in spring to plant native flowers and herbs. Plant your new spring landscape after April 15 in most of the state.
Arkansas’ diverse landscape is home to four dominant soil regions:
1. Regolith, sedimentary rock, gravel, and hard, stiff soils make up the Ozark Plateau region in northern Arkansas.
2. Well-drained, loose, rich, fertile clay soils make up the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain on the western one-third of the state.
3. Hard rock and impenetrable soils make up the Arkansas River Valley and Ouachita Mountain regions of central Arkansas.
4. Sand, silt, stiff clay, loess, and gravel make up the West Gulf Coastal Plain in the southern one-third of the Natural State.
The best way to identify your landscape’s soil type is to send a soil sample in for testing to your local University of Arkansas extension office.
Early morning or evening are the best times to water your native plants. Winds are calmer and temperatures are lower, so there is less risk of water loss from evaporation or scorching from the sun. Additionally, foliage needs time to dry before nightfall. Wet foliage can lead to disease and rot.
Chances are good you already have native plants in your yard or around your neighborhood. If you want to introduce more plants into your Arkansas landscape, be sure to source your plants ethically and never transplant them from the wild.
\n\n\n\nCheck out these resources to connect with local nurseries in your area:
\n\n\n\nFilling your yard with native plants is only one step in your landscaping design project. Be sure to maintain your new landscape by understanding your yard’s grass type and consider reducing your workload by introducing some low-maintenance landscaping ideas.
From the birthplace of Walmart to Little Rock and River Mountain, no matter where you live, you can turn over the hard work and lawn upkeep to a professional. Let WikiLawn connect you with a local landscaping pro in your area so you can spend more time exploring the great Natural State.
Main Image Credit: Redbud Tree / PublicDomainPictures
\n","title":"20 Best Native Plants for Arkansas","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/1789c/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.jpg","srcSet":"/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/107df/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.jpg 320w,\n/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/293e9/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.jpg 500w,\n/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/f2cbb/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.jpg 800w,\n/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/1789c/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.jpg 960w,\n/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/c26c2/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/1dd6e/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/67b76/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.webp 320w,\n/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/8df11/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.webp 500w,\n/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/98a65/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.webp 800w,\n/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/1dd6e/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.webp 960w,\n/static/1eb963293c189ca763e113294af1d30c/3cc96/redbud-tree-blossoms-and-dew.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"20 Best Native Plants for Arkansas | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Check out these Arkansas native plants and find 20 species that thrive in the subtropical climate plus information on where to buy native plants locally."}}},{"node":{"id":"4fc8702c-45bd-5936-9c41-aafdfdabefdc","slug":"best-native-plants-oklahoma","path":"/lawn-care/ok/best-native-plants-oklahoma/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Janae Soules is a freelance writer with a newly discovered love of gardening with her kids. She enjoys spending time in nature hiking, biking, or playing sports.","name":"Janae Soules","id":"0def06f9-a4f4-58d5-891d-d423dde342f4","path":"/author/janae-souleslawnstarter-com/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aab1931e793481d75c080c7271be7652?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"d2d6ff96-cc14-5d0f-bbfe-f7eac3bba6d9","name":"Oklahoma","count":7,"path":"/category/lawn-care/ok/"}],"date":"May 15th, 2023","excerpt":"Here in the Sooner State, you must prepare your landscape for any weather Mother Nature throws your way – anywhere from heat and humidity to snow and everything in between. What better way to do that than to grow plants that are adapted to Oklahoma’s weather? Here are 8 best native plants for Oklahoma to […]
\n","content":"\nHere in the Sooner State, you must prepare your landscape for any weather Mother Nature throws your way – anywhere from heat and humidity to snow and everything in between. What better way to do that than to grow plants that are adapted to Oklahoma’s weather? Here are 8 best native plants for Oklahoma to help you get started.
\n\n\n\nNative plants have many benefits. They require less water and fewer pesticides than non-native plants, support the ecosystem, and are generally low-maintenance.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll talk about the following:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Purple-Poppy-Mallow.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures
\n\n\n\nPurple poppy mallow has magenta-colored, upward-facing, cup-shaped flowers. The flowers open in the morning. It’s easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and closes in the evening. Purple poppy mallow attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nEnsure your purple poppy mallow is planted in full sun with well-draining soil, because if the soil is too wet, it could cause the plant to suffer from rust.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flowering ground cover
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Rocky, sandy, loamy, clay
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: No fragrance
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Late spring to early summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: Up to 1 foot
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Can prune in late summer if desired
\n\n\n\n![\"Orange](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Butterfly-Milkweed-Asclepias-tuberosa-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joshua Mayer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nButterfly milkweed also goes by the common name butterfly weed. It’s recognizable by its orange or yellow-orange flowers and is a crucial plant to help monarch butterflies survive. Butterfly milkweed grows up to two feet tall, and it’s low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and disease-resistant.
\n\n\n\nPlant your butterfly milkweed in a location that receives full sun. Butterfly milkweed isn’t an ideal choice for a landscape with cats, dogs, or horses, as butterfly milkweed is toxic to humans and animals.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Perennial herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil: Clay, loam, sand
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Sweet, vanilla
\n\n\n\nBloom time: May to September
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 1 to 2 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to humans, pets, and other animals.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/51866218670_d4e9012b29_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nBlue false indigo is a native wildflower that will require some patience if you’re starting from seed – it could take up to two years for the blooms to appear. Once the blooms appear, you’ll be delighted to see clusters of upright blue flowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to Blue false indigo.
\n\n\n\nBlue false indigo must be planted in full sun to avoid the plant becoming laggy.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Upright perennial
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loam, sad
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: None
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to July
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low, average
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 4 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Poisonous to humans, pets, and other animals.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"white](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/American-Black-Elderberry.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nAmerican black elderberry has white, lemon-scented flowers in the early summer, followed by black elderberry fruits. The fruit attracts birds, but people can make elderberries into jams or jellies. You can plant American black elderberry in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil – just ensure you wait until the last frost to plant this shrub.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 10
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, part shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Tolerates a wide variety of wet to dry soils but prefers rich, moist, slightly acid soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Leaves smell like lemon
\n\n\n\nBloom time: May to July
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 5 to 8 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Raw elderberries are toxic and should not be consumed
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Regular pruning to remove suckers from the base of plant
\n\n\n\n![\"Many](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/38566472155_ba5393fccb_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nPurple coneflower is a beautiful native flower with daisy-like purple coneflowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar in purple coneflowers. These flowers are resistant to drought, heat, humidity, and poor soil, making them a fantastic choice for a native garden.
\n\n\n\nFeel free to cut your purple coneflowers and put them in a vase – they make an excellent cut flower. Purple coneflower can spread aggressively through self-seeding, so be sure to keep an eye on it.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\nRegion: Central Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Sandy
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Light, sweet, honey-like
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to September
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 2 to 5 feet
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Red_maple_leaves.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Heng Wang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nIf you’re looking for a small tree, red maple is not the one – this beauty can grow up to 70 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Native to Southeastern Oklahoma, this tree is low-maintenance and fast growing. Red flowers and red fruit will emerge before the leaves. The leaves will be red in the spring, then green or yellow in the fall.
\n\n\n\nRed maple’s size makes it an excellent shade tree, and these trees are often in backyards, parks, or streets.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nRegion: Southeastern Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Chalk, clay, loam, sand
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Sweet cherry or almond flower scent
\n\n\n\nBloom time: March to April
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Average
\n\n\n\nMature height: 40 to 70 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to horses
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Fertilize in the spring before the leaves appear
\n\n\n\n![\"an](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Ageratina_altissima_-_White_Snakeroot-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nNative throughout Eastern Oklahoma, white snakeroot boasts small, white puffy flowers in the summer and fall, attracting bees, butterflies, and moths. With its flowers lasting into the fall, white snakeroot provides a fall-interest landscape. White snakeroot doesn’t generally have problems with diseases or pests.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Herb
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\nRegion: Eastern Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Chalk, clay, loam
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Leaves can be foul smelling – like turpentine
\n\n\n\nBloom time: July to November
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to average
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 5 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Causes trembles in cattle and milk sickness in humans
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"cluster](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Pawpaw.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wendell Smith / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nNative to the easternmost parts of Oklahoma, pawpaw is recognizable by its large, drooping, oval-shaped bright green leaves, which turn yellow in the fall. Pawpaw’s cup-shaped purple flowers appear before the leaves, and its edible banana-like tasting fruit may emerge afterward.
\n\n\n\nIf you want your pawpaw to resemble more of a tree than a shrub, ensure you’re in a location that receives long, hot summers. Without long, hot summers, pawpaw might stay closer to the size of a shrub, which wouldn’t be fruit-bearing.
\n\n\n\nAlthough the fragrance of pawpaw flowers isn’t delightful, beneficial pollinators like beetles and flies are attracted to the smell. Butterflies and songbirds are also attracted to pawpaw trees.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
\n\n\n\nRegion: Eastern Oklahoma
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loam
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Fermenting grapes
\n\n\n\nBloom time: April to May
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Average
\n\n\n\nMature height: 15 to 30 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Leaves are toxic if ingested. Ingesting the fruit could cause stomach pain for some people. Contact dermatitis could occur when collecting fruit.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Prune congested or damaged shoots
\n\n\n\nThere are many things to consider when choosing native plants for your landscape. First, consider your region. A plant that’s native to Eastern Oklahoma may not be native to Western Oklahoma. Visit your local nursery to learn more about plants native to your area.
\n\n\n\nYou’ll also need to consider your landscape’s conditions. A native plant that prefers full sunlight may struggle if your yard is shaded by trees or buildings. Does your lawn’s soil struggle to drain? Not all plants are tolerant of poor drainage.
\n\n\n\nTulsa’s native plants include:
\n\n\n\nOklahoma City’s native plants include:
\n\n\n\nIf you want to complement your native plants with lush, green grass, the best grass types for Oklahoma include:
\n\n\n\nTake note that, similar to native plants, the best grass type for your yard will vary depending on your region.
\n\n\n\nThe best place to find native plants is to visit your local plant nursery. You can also discover new plants through the Oklahoma Native Plant Society.
\n\n\n\nWhile you’re busy planning your new native plant garden, save yourself some time and hand your other yard chores over to the pros. Hire a lawn care pro near you who can handle the yard’s mowing, trimming, and edging. We have trusted pros in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and many other cities across the state.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Ken Gibson / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"8 Best Native Plants for Oklahoma","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/1789c/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/107df/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/293e9/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/f2cbb/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/1789c/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/c26c2/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/1dd6e/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/67b76/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 320w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/8df11/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 500w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/98a65/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 800w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/1dd6e/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 960w,\n/static/39dd430288065789b1cbdcdb86fc9951/3cc96/21254474688_d4854d6875_o-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"8 Best Native Plants for Oklahoma | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Check out our recommendation for the best native plants for Oklahoma. These plants range in size and color and help support the ecosystem."}}},{"node":{"id":"5f3e0273-dd46-5025-89b5-dd524eafe740","slug":"best-native-plants-north-texas","path":"/lawn-care/tx/best-native-plants-north-texas/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Stuart Kushner is a writer and aspiring product designer based in New York City. When he isn’t doing either, Stuart enjoys heavy metal music, exercise, and trying new food and drinks.","name":"Stuart Kushner","id":"82e51515-0cd6-5b19-a026-570eb408a24e","path":"/author/stuart-kushner/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/159400686ba92aeb1f5d3503e0246fc1?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"0f9826dc-fc31-550e-9967-1b3bf51f2bdb","name":"Texas","count":72,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/"}],"date":"May 2nd, 2023","excerpt":"If you’re a nature lover, North Texas delivers. It’s a scenic wonderland with a massive array of plants and flowers bursting from the countryside. So why do some homeowners insist on stocking their landscape with plants that are pretty, yes, but that require incredible effort to keep alive and looking good? The alternative is pretty […]
\n","content":"\nIf you’re a nature lover, North Texas delivers. It’s a scenic wonderland with a massive array of plants and flowers bursting from the countryside.
\n\n\n\nSo why do some homeowners insist on stocking their landscape with plants that are pretty, yes, but that require incredible effort to keep alive and looking good? The alternative is pretty simple: Use easy-to-grow native plants for your North Texas yard.
\n\n\n\nThere are great reasons for using native plants:
\n\n\n\nAnd, by the way, they look incredible. Let’s take a look at some of the best of the natives.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nTexas is the second largest state in the United States. It’s so big, in fact, that different regions of the state have different climates. For example, North Texas is cooler and drier than South Texas but receives more rainfall than desert-like West Texas.
\n\n\n\nBecause the climate varies so much, each region has a different hardiness zone, indicating what plants thrive in which area. North Texas is in USDA hardiness zone 8, meaning the lowest temperatures are between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
\n\n\n\nIt’s important to know these distinctions when choosing plants. Texas is not a one-size-fits-all state. Here are some of the best options for North Texas.
\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/verbena-.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Vinayaraj / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nAbundant along Texas roadways, prairie verbena has a long flowering season from March to October. It sprouts purple flowers, each with five petals, and it regularly reseeds. These flowers are adored by butterflies and bees.
\n\n\n\nPrairie verbena likes partial shade to full sun and tolerates moderate drought conditions. It prefers dry to moist, well-drained soils.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flowering plant/wildflower
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Clay, loam, or sand, well-drained
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 6-12 inches tall and 1-2 feet wide
\n\n\n\n![\"bright](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Salvia_splendens_scarlet_sage_1_49081380101.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nIf you like red flowers, you’ll love scarlet sage, which explodes with bright blooms from February through October. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, and is deer-resistant. However, it needs regular watering and loose, well-drained, rocky soil to thrive.
\n\n\n\nScarlet sage thrives in full sun, is easy to grow, and is pest- and disease-tolerant. Pair it with other annuals and perennial plants for the best results.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flowering plant
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Sandy, loam, clay loam, rocky, caliche type
\n\n\n\nDuration: Annual, but usually reseeds easily
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMature height: 1-3 feet tall, 1 foot wide
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/800px-Leucophyllum_frutescens_Purple_Sage_W_IMG_1125.jpg\")
Photo Credit: J.M. Garg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
\n\n\n\nTexas sage has many names, ranging from the barometer bush to the Texas silverleaf. It can withstand heat and drought and requires almost no maintenance once established. Purple flowers sprout in the summer and fall, although some have white or pink flowers.
\n\n\n\nTexas sage requires full sun to bloom and likes alkaline, well-drained soil. If your yard has both those conditions, this is the sage for you.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun
\n\n\n\nSoil: Well-drained alkaline soil or acidic soil with added dolomitic limestone
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 8 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/51445852302_7416c139f3_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAlso known as the plains blackfoot, the blackfoot daisy is native to desert slopes, mesas, and high plains. It blooms from early spring through fall, growing brilliant white flowers. It’s a perfect plant for edging beds or rocky outcroppings.
\n\n\n\nBlackfoot daisy loves full sun but can handle light shade, and is deer-resistant. It does, however, need well-drained soil to thrive.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Perennial
\n\n\n\nSun: Sun, part shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Dry, rocky, calcareous
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 6 inches to 1 foot tall and wide
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mexican-Plum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Charles Willgren / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAs you would expect from its name, the Mexican plum tree sprouts purple plums in the fall and beautiful white flowers in the spring. At maturity, it grows to 20 to 25 feet tall with spreading branches, making it a good choice for smaller gardens.
\n\n\n\nThe Mexican plum tolerates drough, but it does like some irrigation to help it retain its fruits in the fall. It also handles shade well.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Tree
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Adapts to sandy, loam, clay, or limestone. Prefers well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 25 feet
\n\n\n\n![\"white](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Pavonia_hastata1DavidMidgley.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David Midgley / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nA very popular plant in Texas, the pavonia, or rock rose, resides naturally on dry, rocky woods or banks of Texas. Its long bloom period and versatility make it a favorite among homeowners; it accepts full sun to half-day shade, various soils, and dry conditions.
\n\n\n\nThe pavonia bears pink hibiscus-like flowers between spring and fall, which open in the morning and close in the afternoon, when the temperature is highest.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Rocky, sandy, clay, loam
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 1.5-4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
\n\n\n\n![\"red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Turks_Cap_323002703-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Dinesh Valke / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nIf you have a shady yard, the Turk’s cap red is worth planting. It sprouts bright-red, hibiscus-like flowers that resemble a Turkish turban (hence the name). Turk’s cap red attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, and is drought-tolerant once established.
\n\n\n\nTurk’s Cap Red is native to South Texas, where it’s used as a perennial. In North Texas, however, it’s used as an annual. Don’t worry, it does just fine here.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Annual
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial sun, shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Sandy, loamy, clay, limestone
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 2-3 feet tall (up to 9 feet), 3-5 feet wide
\n\n\n\n![\"beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Lonicera_sempervirens_-_Coral_honeysuckle_02.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Zeynel Cebeci / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Attention hummingbird, butterfly, and moth lovers: the coral honeysuckle is the right plant for you! This plant sprouts bright red trumpet flowers with shiny oval leaves from March to June. Red berries follow in the fall.
\n\n\n\nCoral honeysuckle thrives in full sun to partial shade in rich, well-drained soil. Though the deer will eat the flowers, the plant as a whole is fairly deer-resistant.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Vine
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 4-9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nSoil: Clay, sand, loam, slightly acidic, well-drained. It acclimates to many soil types.
\n\n\n\nDuration: Semi-evergreen perennial
\n\n\n\nMature height: 15-20 feet
\n\n\n\nNative plants grow in an area without human introduction, while non-native plants were introduced to the area where they now grow. Non-native plants may adapt to an area over time, but they generally aren’t as hardy as natives.
Invasive plants are non-native plants that tend to spread out of control. As their name implies, they ‘invade’ native plants’ space and take their moisture, sunlight, and nutrients, leading to poorer water quality, degraded wildlife habitats, and lower plant diversity.
The Bureau of Land Management states that native plants face numerous threats. These include habitat loss, overgrazing, wildfires, pollution, climate change, and invasive species.
Once you buy your plants, your lawn is next. Get one of North Texas’ best grass types to ensure you have the healthiest lawn possible. Then hire one of Wikilawn’s local pros to do the dirty work for you.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Coral Honeysuckle / Paul VanDerWerf / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"Best Native Plants for Your North Texas Yard","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3683010262257698,"src":"/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/1789c/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/107df/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/293e9/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/f2cbb/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/1789c/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/c26c2/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/1dd6e/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/67b76/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.webp 320w,\n/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/8df11/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.webp 500w,\n/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/98a65/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.webp 800w,\n/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/1dd6e/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.webp 960w,\n/static/7e306c10ecc6e5161fc33b50ba7b7614/3cc96/52199708325_a6dd5b4674_h-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Best Native Plants for Your North Texas Yard | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"North Texas has an array of stunning native plants that thrive in our climate, so you won’t have to struggle to keep them alive"}}},{"node":{"id":"cbdb6945-52ef-5a57-a3fb-89c398f6455c","slug":"orlando-parents-teaching-children-the-beauty-of-gardening","path":"/lawn-care/fl/orlando/orlando-parents-teaching-children-the-beauty-of-gardening/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Emaley Baxter is an expert landscaper who loves writing in her free time. She enjoys research and exploring the great outdoors.","name":"Emaley Baxter","id":"c006aa66-4cfc-59dc-b3ce-5c07b0f83ff0","path":"/author/emaleybaxter/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/889dbc1c9ea88d564723019ac6c9b47b?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"57f1b1d9-6347-5707-b4b6-65e6dd1b393d","name":"Florida","count":46,"path":"/category/lawn-care/fl/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"a47ebc3c-cc0b-5c7a-9e60-90ac2de0ec2d","name":"Orlando","count":10,"path":"/category/lawn-care/fl/orlando/"}],"date":"January 24th, 2019","excerpt":"As anyone who loves to spend the day in the garden knows one of the greatest senses of accomplishment can be leading a friend or loved one to find their own personal joy in the art and science of home gardening. This, of course, extends to the children and young adults in our lives. But […]
\n","content":"\nAs anyone who loves to spend the day in the garden knows one of the greatest senses of accomplishment can be leading a friend or loved one to find their own personal joy in the art and science of home gardening. This, of course, extends to the children and young adults in our lives. But with so many distractions in today’s modern life how can we best instill our love and passion that comes along with gardening?
Fortunately, the Orlando, Florida climate allows for a year-round growing season of all kinds of engaging plants that provide outdoor visual interest as well as introducing youngsters to the beauty and gratification that comes with gardening.
\n\n\n\nGet them started early. Young children often want to do everything the adults are doing. Help start their love of the outdoors and all things growing early by bringing them out with you when you garden. Infants and young children will love being in the fresh air and enjoy the sensory stimulation that comes with the outdoors. Let them play in the soil alongside you as you prepare your planting beds or help get them exploring the vibrant colors and smells of the summer blooms and foliage.
![\"\"](\"https://i1.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/liana-mikah-665127-unsplash.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&ssl=1\")
Learn more than gardening. Creating special tasks for your young ones can help keep them engaged when doing tedious tasks in the garden. Making a game of something as simple as digging holes for new plants or picking off the spent flower heads can teach valuable lessons in fine motor skills as well as the rewards of perseverance.
\n\n\n\nCitrus & Fruit Trees. Florida is known as the Citrus State for good reason. Why not bring the delicious reward of growing your own sweet treat right on your patio? Choose from the numerous varieties available at your local garden center and pick out a non-porous pot with plenty of drainage holes in the bottom to get started. At home, place your new tree in a sunny spot that you and your children can easily watch for signs of growth. Soon enough your family will be enjoying the benefits of homegrown citrus trees, from the glossy evergreen foliage, intoxicating floral fragrance of the delicate white blooms, and the ultimate payoff: letting your little ones do the picking of fresh fruit from your tree.
\n\n\n\nVegetables- A Kid’s New Best Friend. It may be cliche, but getting your kids to eat a full serving of their vegetables might be more common than an Orlando snowstorm in July. However, a vegetable hand-picked from your own garden tastes better than anything you can buy in a store. Coupled with the excitement of planting, watching grow, and the excitement of harvesting, kids are sure to have a new appreciation for their veggies. And here in Florida home gardeners can grow a variety of vegetables all year long. Home gardens are a convenient source for healthy foods and will encourage you and your family to eat more fresh vegetables too. The choices are endless, with vegetables of all sizes, colors, and shapes. If you think that the Florida summer heat and humidity
A Small Handful of Big Flowers. As adults, we often think of our landscapes and gardens as carefully curated pieces of living art. We place a high value on perfectly formed blooms or the intricate patterning on a delicate stem of foliage. But for children, rows, and rows of beautiful blooms are a tempting treat almost too exciting to resist. If you have little ones that are eager to garden but you fear possible damage to your formal landscape consider creating a designated area for your kids to be able to explore nature in their own backyard. Choose from a few of these Orlando kid-friendly choices and watch your littles’ engagement with nature skyrocket.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/stanislav-stajer-73392-unsplash.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1\")
Sunflowers are probably the most traditional seeds to give kids. They germinate so easily, you can have kids start the seeds indoors to see how fast they sprout, then move seedlings out to the garden. Kids will stay engaged with the growing process as they grow big and tall. When the season is over, they can harvest the seeds for themselves or watch as the birds come to eat them up! There are so many varieties to pick, from mammoth stalks that grow more than 10 feet high to miniature puffy teddy-bear cultivars. Hit the seed aisle at the garden center to pick your favorite.
These tough succulents are multitaskers when it comes to having a plant that both adults and kids will love. Super trendy succulents are easy to find in most garden centers and since they propagate by leaf dropping or small cuttings of stems they are a great, inexpensive, way to teach kids about plant growth habits. Being one of the more forgiving plants out there, Hens and Chicks succulent are almost impossible to kill. They love lots of sun or light shade and can be planted in the ground or in a pot. Just be sure to not over water. Kids might even want to get creative and make use of these plants in their miniature or fairy gardens.
An often overlooked plant that does well in the central Florida area is the Lamb’s Ear. It gets its descriptive name from the iconic lamb’s ear shape and ultra soft, woolly mint green leaves. Adding these low growing plants along a planting bed border will bring an underused color to your planting bed and also offers little fingers a chance to touch the unique leaves. Plus, they bloom from early summer to mid-fall so you can enjoy them for many months.
\n\n\n\nHave any questions about gardening or lawn care? Visit our Orlando page for more information!
\n\n\n\nTop Photo by Kyle Ellefson on Unsplash
\n","title":"Orlando Parents: Teaching Children the Beauty of Gardening","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/1789c/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/107df/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.jpg 320w,\n/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/293e9/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.jpg 500w,\n/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/f2cbb/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.jpg 800w,\n/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/1789c/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.jpg 960w,\n/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/f605f/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.jpg 1000w","srcWebp":"/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/1dd6e/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/67b76/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.webp 320w,\n/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/8df11/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.webp 500w,\n/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/98a65/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.webp 800w,\n/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/1dd6e/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.webp 960w,\n/static/6d47f2137c31fc52cc1d8cc12ed62fdd/23e94/kyle-ellefson-196125-unsplash-e1548291734238.webp 1000w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Orlando Parents: Teaching Children the Beauty of Gardening | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"9667e3d2-dcaa-59eb-8fe1-655d7f1993e5","slug":"when-to-fertilize-lawn","path":"/lawn-care/when-to-fertilize-lawn/","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/"}],"date":"June 5th, 2023","excerpt":"Like us, turfgrass needs proper nutrition to grow and thrive. But grasses come in different shapes and sizes, and have different needs. So one of the keys to getting the most out of your lawn here in Indiana is to understand how and when to fertilize it. Fertilizing is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Just as […]
\n","content":"\nLike us, turfgrass needs proper nutrition to grow and thrive. But grasses come in different shapes and sizes, and have different needs. So one of the keys to getting the most out of your lawn here in Indiana is to understand how and when to fertilize it.
\n\n\n\nFertilizing is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Just as there are different kinds of grasses, there are different kinds of fertilizer that affect grasses in unique ways. This guide will walk you through the best way to feed your lawn so you get the most out of it now, and year-round.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nIn the wild, grasses draw nutrition from decomposing organic material. It’s not as simple when the grass is in someone’s yard, though. Grass planted in rich soil thrives with just some grass clippings as food. But when soil lacks nutrition, fertilizers are sent to the rescue.
\n\n\n\nFertilizers mainly supply lawns with three nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are abbreviated as N-P-K. Here’s what each of them does:
\n\n\n\n| Nutrient | Key Benefits |
| Nitrogen | • Helps rapid growth and protein synthesis • Increases leaf development for dense lawns |
| Phosphorus | • Helps early root growth • Promotes plant maturity and seed development |
| Potassium | • Increases drought and disease resistance |
Before you embark on your fertilizing journey, make sure that you:
\n\n\n\n![\"Man](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fertilization.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nHow much fertilizer you use (or if you fertilize at all) depends on a number of factors:
\n\n\n\n| Needs More Fertilizer | Needs Less Fertilizer |
| Kentucky bluegrass | Zoysiagrass |
| Perennial ryegrass | Turf-type tall fescue |
| Fine fescue |
What’s a soil test? A soil test analyzes the nutrient content, pH level, and other properties of the soil to determine how well your grass can grow. It identifies the nutrients your soil lacks and recommends the right fertilizer.
\n\n\n\nYou can do either a DIY soil test or send a soil sample to a laboratory for a detailed report. Purdue University recommends testing your soil every 3 to 5 years, but more frequent soil tests can be beneficial too.
\n\n\n\nIf you need to fertilize, Purdue University recommends fertilizing in these months for optimal performance:
\n\n\n\n| April | If you apply a pre-emergent herbicide, use a product with little to no nitrogen; if it does contain any nitrogen, it should be slow-release, ideally organic |
| May | If you didn’t fertilize in April, fertilize now with a product containing mostly slow-release nitrogen |
| June | Consider fertilizing with nitrogen if there’s been a severe disease outbreak |
| July | Fertilize with a product containing slow-release nitrogen if there have been above-average rainfalls or if you’ve been irrigating |
| August | Consider fertilizing with nitrogen if there’s been a severe disease outbreak |
| September | Fertilize with nitrogen |
| October | Consider fertilizing with nitrogen if there’s been a severe disease outbreak |
| November | Purdue University recommends using quick-release fertilizer in November, but be aware that it may be harmful to the environment and wildlife; slow-release fertilizer is better |
You may not need to fertilize this much; these tips are for the most high-maintenance lawns.
\n\n\n\nFor precise dosages and more information, you can check out this lawn care calendar from Purdue University.
\n\n\n\nWhen we talk about fertilizer, we’re often referring to chemical products. However, organic fertilizers are also effective and have the added benefit of being environmentally friendly. They release nutrients slowly over time, promoting healthy soil and plant growth.
\n\n\n\nThere are many options for fertilizing your lawn organically, but they can be summed up into these two categories:
\n\n\n\nBecause organic fertilizers are natural, many people think that they’re harmless. The truth is, organic fertilizers still contain ingredients that may harm people and animals. Plus, animals are often attracted to some organic fertilizers because of their smell. Moreover, many store-bought fertilizers are mixed with hazardous ingredients to make them more efficient.
\n\n\n\nSo what’s the bottom line? Regardless of which fertilizer you use, be cautious and follow the instructions carefully.
\n\n\n\n![\"Man](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Different-Fertilizer.jpg\")
Photo Credit: CanvaPro
\n\n\n\nApart from organic and inorganic fertilizers, fertilizers are further categorized so that homeowners can get a product that’s right for their needs.
\n\n\n\nYou can choose from dry or liquid fertilizers:
\n\n\n\nIt’s also important to note the difference between slow- and quick-release fertilizers:
\n\n\n\nIn summary, most lawns can benefit from using slow-release fertilizer.
\n\n\n\nThere are some conditions that aren’t ideal for fertilizing. Those include:
\n\n\n\nFeeding your lawn the right nutrients is vital to its overall health and appearance. But it’s necessary that you also perform other maintenance jobs throughout the year, such as mowing, watering, overseeding, and so forth.
\n\n\n\nSounds like a lot of work? Wikilawn connects you to the best best Indiana lawn care pros so let them take yard care off your to-do list.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Canva Pro
\n","title":"How (And When) to Fertilize Your Lawn in Indiana","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/1789c/Fertilizer-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/107df/Fertilizer-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/293e9/Fertilizer-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/f2cbb/Fertilizer-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/1789c/Fertilizer-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/c26c2/Fertilizer-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/1dd6e/Fertilizer-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/67b76/Fertilizer-1.webp 320w,\n/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/8df11/Fertilizer-1.webp 500w,\n/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/98a65/Fertilizer-1.webp 800w,\n/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/1dd6e/Fertilizer-1.webp 960w,\n/static/56d31d86a8f5a702c7ed840a266e1d20/3cc96/Fertilizer-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How (And When) to Fertilize Your Lawn in Indiana | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Make sure your lawn gets fed with all the nutrients it craves. Here’s when and how to fertilize your lawn in Indiana."}}},{"node":{"id":"77f56b20-5ed4-55be-bd4c-db173a406496","slug":"best-grass-types-austin","path":"/lawn-care/tx/best-grass-types-austin/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Nicki DeStasi is a writer, author, and teacher who grew up in western Massachusetts and currently resides in the Austin area. She enjoys flower and vegetable gardening, reading, cooking, listening to true-crime podcasts, and spending time with her husband, two children, dog, and cat.","name":"Nicki DeStasi","id":"ffbf62e2-d627-5a5f-a041-4eaa9ac66924","path":"/author/nicki-destasi/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9846092d7afb2db8d0a4daa2454074f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c823f674-c750-5882-9059-d8c27fbe7e1d","name":"Austin","count":19,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/austin/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"0f9826dc-fc31-550e-9967-1b3bf51f2bdb","name":"Texas","count":72,"path":"/category/lawn-care/tx/"}],"date":"March 27th, 2023","excerpt":"Even in the dead of winter, Austin temperatures average over 60 degrees, so it’s no wonder residents spend time in their yards year-round. Austinites love their barbeque and tacos, and enjoy eating them at parties in their luscious green backyard with friends and family. If you want an impressive lawn, choosing the right grass type […]
\n","content":"\nEven in the dead of winter, Austin temperatures average over 60 degrees, so it’s no wonder residents spend time in their yards year-round. Austinites love their barbeque and tacos, and enjoy eating them at parties in their luscious green backyard with friends and family. If you want an impressive lawn, choosing the right grass type is critical.
\n\n\n\nWith Austin’s scorching summers and mild winters, warm-season grasses thrive. While warm-season grasses are common in the South, they go dormant in the winter. So along with the best warm-season grass types, we’ve included a cool-season grass that will keep your Austin lawn green in the winter.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBased on the optimal growing climate, there are two types of grasses: Cool-season and warm-season. The primary difference is how they photosynthesize, each requiring different temperatures and environments. Here’s what you can expect from cool-season and warm-season grass types.
\n\n\n\nTypically, cool-season grasses grow in the North, preferring cold winters and mild summers. Heat is the main hurdle for cool-season grasses. As temperatures rise, they need more energy to stay green. Eventually, it becomes too hot for cool-season grass, and they’ll go dormant (turn brown).
\n\n\n\nHere are some things to consider with cool-season grasses:
\n\n\n\nWarm-season grasses thrive in places like Austin with hot summers and mild winters. Winters can be stressful for warm-season grasses, so when temperatures drop, warm-season grasses go dormant.
\n\n\n\nHere are some things to consider with cool-season grasses:
\n\n\n\nWhether installing a new lawn or fixing an existing one, we’ve got four warm-season grasses and one cool-season grass that will transform your Austin lawn and keep it looking great year-round.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_4pexels-rovenimagescom-949584.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pexels
\n\n\n\nIn Texas, bermudagrass is the most popular grass type. It’s popular due to its fast growth rate, durability in high-traffic areas, and high heat tolerance. Conversely, bermudagrass needs frequent mowing, has low shade tolerance, and tends to develop thatch.
\n\n\n\nCommon in Austin and throughout the South, this light-green, fine-textured grass is used in home lawns, sports fields, and parks. Because of its deep roots and high growth rate, bermudagrass can be considered aggressive and high-maintenance. Even though those traits are great for durability, some homeowners prefer a hybrid mix to cut down on upkeep.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Poor — needs full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1-2 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Good resistance to disease, but susceptible to Spring dead spot, Root decline, Dollar spot, Leaf spot, Large patch; low resistance to insects and susceptible to, Bermudagrass mite, White grubs, Hunting billbug, Mole crickets, Cutworms, Armyworms, Sod webworms
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Tolerates most soil types
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Bermuda spreads aggressively via its stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems) and can out-compete many weeds. The downside is that it also can be a nuisance and is sometimes considered invasive. You’ll often find it has tunneled underground into flower beds and spread into neighboring lawns.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Starr-070906-8535-Stenotaphrum_secundatum-habit-Kula_Ace_Hardware_and_Nursery-Maui_24264673843.jpg\")
Photo Credits: Forest and Kim Starr / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAustin has live oaks everywhere around the city, so St. Augustinegrass is a popular choice due to its high shade tolerance. This warm-season grass is easy to establish because of its fast growth rate. However, St. Augustinegrass doesn’t hold up well in high-traffic areas or an uncommonly cold Austin winter.
\n\n\n\nThis thick, coarsely textured, dark green grass has moderate mowing requirements. It is susceptible to disease and pests, like chinch bugs. While St. Augustinegrass is native to the coastal areas and has high salt tolerance, it grows well in most soils. It’s not available as seed, only as sod, sprigs, or plugs.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Moderate shade tolerance, among the highest of any warm-season grass; some cultivars are more shade tolerant than others
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Moderate
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate to high mowing frequency
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2.5-4 inches (mow dwarf varieties from 2.5-3 inches; standard cultivars from 3-4 inches; mow tall in shade)
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Moderate to high; prone to gray leaf spot, large patch, take-all root rot. Susceptible to some pests, including chinch bugs, cutworms, mole crickets, grass loopers, armyworms, webworms, grubs
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Tolerates many soil types; prefers moderately fertile and moist (not waterlogged) soils; not a highly drought-tolerant grass; doesn’t tolerate soil. compaction.
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Native to coastal areas across the world and prefers moist soils and mild winters; will thrive in more inland areas provided growing conditions are met; good salt tolerance; will go dormant during winter in all but the southernmost regions
\n\n\n\n![\"Beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_starr_070906-8518_zoysia_sp.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nWith about 11 cultivars available in Texas, Zoysiagrass is excellent for homeowners looking for a grass that tolerates drought, shade, cold, and heavy traffic. While Zoysiagrass has moderate mowing and water needs, it doesn’t need much fertilizer.
\n\n\n\nIt comes in light- to medium-green varieties and has thin- and thick-bladed options. Zoysiagrass does well against pests and diseases, and its density crowds out weeds. Its beautifully soft texture makes it one of the best “barefoot grasses” available.
\n\n\n\nAlthough Zoysiagrass is available as seed, it’s recommended to use sod because of its slow growth rate.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Tolerates light to moderate shade
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low to moderate nitrogen requirement; moderate mowing frequency.
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 1-2.5 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Not prone to disease and insects; good disease tolerance overall; can be susceptible to large patch, root decline, spring dead spot, rust, curvularia, and leaf spot; insects susceptibility includes Zoysiagrass mites, grubs, mole crickets, hunting billbugs, armyworms, chinch bugs, sod webworms
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-6.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Well-draining, some cultivars more tolerant of a wide range of soils than others
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Moderately salt tolerant; cut with sharp mower blade; mow taller if the grass is in partial shade
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_pixnio-4149-2560x1920-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixnio
\n\n\n\nBuffalograss is a warm-season grass that thrives in Austin’s dry climate. This cold and drought-tolerant grass loves the sun and is pest and disease resistant. However, it doesn’t stand up well against high traffic and shade.
\n\n\n\nThis North American native grass is grayish green, and its slow growth rate means it does not need frequent mowing. Once established with seeds, sod, or plugs, it needs very little water or fertilizer. Its low growth density means thatch isn’t a problem for buffalograss, but weeds can be.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Warm-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Stolons
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Very low — best suited for full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: High
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: Very low, but light use or rare heavy use is OK
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Low mowing frequency — once per week or less
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2-4 inches or leave unmowed
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: Good tolerance against diseases, but susceptible to bipolaris leaf spot; susceptible to some insects, including mealybugs, buffalograss webworms, mites, short-tailed crickets, buffalograss chinch bugs
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6.5-7.5
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Native soils, not sandy soils
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/rsz_1perennial_rygrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Levin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nWhile ryegrass has a perennial and annual variation, perennial ryegrass is more desirable for your Austin lawn. Perennial ryegrass is much softer, richer, and more vibrant than the course, light green annual ryegrass. This cool-season grass keeps your lawn lush and green in the winter but will need extra attention in the summer due to its low heat and drought tolerance.
\n\n\n\nRyegrass is often mixed with other grasses to keep your lawn looking great year-round. While it’s susceptible to diseases like dollar spot and brown patch, it’s pest resistant. The sun-loving grass dislikes shade but establishes very quickly.
\n\n\n\nClassification: Cool-season grass
\n\n\n\nSpreads by: Bunch-type grass
\n\n\n\nShade tolerance: Low — prefers full sun
\n\n\n\nDrought resistance: Low (summer dormancy in some areas)
\n\n\n\nFoot traffic tolerance: High but poor recuperative ability
\n\n\n\nMaintenance needs: Moderate mowing requirement, depending on cutting height (lower cutting heights require more frequent mowing)
\n\n\n\nMowing height: 2-3 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential for disease: High, especially in areas with hot, humid summers; susceptible to gray leaf spot, dollar spot, brown patch, red thread, rust, pythium blight; insect susceptibility includes billbugs, greenbug aphids, chinch bugs
\n\n\n\nSoil pH: 6-7
\n\n\n\nSoil type: Good drainage, high fertility
\n\n\n\nOther notes: Most often mixed with Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue in a cool-season mix; well known for its excellent striping ability, low mowing tolerance, and rapid germination rate (four to seven days). Needs moderate levels of fertilizer.
\n\n\n\nThe best way to care for your lawn depends on the type of grass planted in your yard. However, you should follow a few universal tips and tricks for a healthy lawn. Mow at the right time: Mid-morning, about 9 a.m., or mid-afternoon, about 5 p.m. is the best time of the day to mow. Mowing after the dew dries prevents tearing the grass blades and mowing before the sun sets decreases the risk of disease. Leave grass clippings: Grass clippings provide essential (and free) nutrients for your lawn. However, if your grass is exceptionally long, collect them, or you risk growing mold or smothering your lawn. Keep mower blades sharp: Dull blades rip and tear your grass blades, causing a brown grass tip and a ragged-looking lawn. It also makes your grass more susceptible to disease.
In Austin, plant grass seed in March or April. Planting at this time gives the seed enough time to germinate before the summer scorches the lawn.
Bermudagrass is the most drought-tolerant grass type in Austin home lawns.
While most warm-season grasses will do well on your Austin landscape, think about the following when making the best choice for you.
\n\n\n\nChoosing a grass type can be overwhelming, but Austin lawn care professionals can help. Whether you want to install low-maintenance landscaping with things like native plants, or just want someone to maintain the lawn you have, Wikilawn has highly-rated experts that will turn your outdoor space into a lush, emerald oasis.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Smokeybear69 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n","title":"5 Best Grass Types for Austin, TX","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"src":"/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/1789c/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/107df/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.jpg 320w,\n/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/293e9/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.jpg 500w,\n/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/f2cbb/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.jpg 800w,\n/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/1789c/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.jpg 960w,\n/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/c26c2/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/1dd6e/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/67b76/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.webp 320w,\n/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/8df11/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.webp 500w,\n/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/98a65/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.webp 800w,\n/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/1dd6e/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.webp 960w,\n/static/3747e34231d1768b175e54b7a1ee947e/3cc96/1280px-Keith_House_Texas.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"5 Best Grass Types for Austin, TX | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"If you need to establish a lawn or your existing lawn is a mess, you need the perfect grass. Learn about the best warm and cool-season grass for Austin lawns."}}},{"node":{"id":"ece6526a-2ceb-5fdd-a7ce-fc25948bd066","slug":"best-push-lawn-mowers","path":"/lawn-care/best-push-lawn-mowers/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Jackie Greene is a blogger, gardener, and nutrition enthusiast. She enjoys creating organic meals for family and friends using the fresh ingredients she produces from her backyard homestead.","name":"Jackie Greene","id":"fb5923e1-833b-5d9b-808e-ded0e62c0bc4","path":"/author/jackiegreene/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2c1121209a3ebfbe0a7e941d102b2971?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"May 28th, 2019","excerpt":"If you care about the state of your lawn, you’ve never had more options to find the right tool for the job. However, “cheaping out” and buying a clunker can hurt your wallet and leave your lawn looking worse than it was before. When it comes to push lawn mowers, there are several mower varieties […]
\n","content":"\nIf you care about the state of your lawn, you’ve never had more options to find the right tool for the job. However, “cheaping out” and buying a clunker can hurt your wallet and leave your lawn looking worse than it was before.
\n\n\n\nWhen it comes to push lawn mowers, there are several mower varieties to choose from, each with their respective benefits and disadvantages. For this article, we got our hands-on countless push lawn mower models to help you find the best product to keep your lawn looking crisp and clean. Read on to learn about our top picks and how you can avoid picking up a dud.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/great-states-push-mower.jpg\")
This classic manual push mower from Great States has five rotating blades of various lengths between 14 and 18 inches to help you keep your lawn looking pristine while also saving money and the environment. For narrow lawns and hard-to-reach corners, the 14” cutting width of this mower is ideal, affording it easy maneuverability and lightweight frame.
\n\n\n\nA T-style handle with a padded grip makes this push mower a great choice for those who are tired of pushing uncomfortable, non-ergonomic mowers.
\n\n\n\nPlus, low-sitting 8.5” composite wheels make this lawn mower able to cut between 1 and 1-¾” grass height for a low, clean cut. This alloy steel build comes at a low cost to provide maximum value with little upkeep.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Precise 1″ cutting height
✓ Five blades for smooth rotations
✓ Ergonomic handle for comfortable pushing
✓ Low 8.5″ composite wheels for a crisp cut
Cons:
✗ May require two passes for a perfect cut
![\"BLACK+DECKER](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rsz_mm2000.jpg\")
This corded electric lawn mower from the renowned BLACK+DECKER punches through thick overgrowth with a powerful 13-amp motor. The 20-inch cutting deck is especially wide for a corded electric model, letting you mow your whole lawn with fewer passes.
\n\n\n\nPlus, the EdgeMax deck design lets you cut grass right up against curbing, fencing, and other obstacles. With the MM2000, you won’t need a separate edger for the borders of your lawn.
\n\n\n\nSeven adjustable cutting height options make this mower perfect for different areas of your lawn and different grass types. Using a lever, you can easily adjust the deck between 1.5 and 4 inches.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Seven cutting height settings
✓ Wide 20″ cutting path
✓ 3-in-1 mulching, bagging, and side discharge
✓ EdgeMax deck design for close-to-edge cutting
✓ Folds for compact storage
Cons:
✗ On the heavier side of electric mowers at 46.2 pounds
✗ Must stay plugged in during use
![\"PowerSmart](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rsz_powersmart.jpg\")
This gas lawn mower features a powerful 170cc OHV 4-stroke engine that easily propels the mower through the thickest, tallest grass. The durable steel cutting deck is 21 inches wide, so you can clear large areas quickly.
\n\n\n\nAnother great feature is the 2-in-1 mulching and discharging capability that lets you return helpful nutrients to your lawn as you mow it. With five different cutting height settings between 1.18 and 3.05 inches, the PowerSmart D8621CR will work for multiple grass types.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Powerful 170cc engine
✓ Durable steel 21″ cutting path
✓ 3-year manufacturer’s warranty
✓ Five cutting height settings
✓ 2-in-1 side discharge and mulching
Cons:
✗ Weighs more than 50 pounds
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/worx-mower-blower.jpg\")
If you need a reliable all-in-one solution for your lawn care needs, you can’t go wrong with investing in the powerful dual-battery 20V WORX WG958. This electric lawn mower also comes with an electric leaf blower to ensure your lawn is looking its best all year long. With patented Intellicut technology, this mower provides premium torque to cut through the toughest terrain.
\n\n\n\nWith cutting paths ranging from 14 to 20 inches, this small yet powerful push lawn mower will save you time by cutting a wide path through your lawn. Plus, there’s a built-in removable discharge bag so you can dump your shavings without having to worry about having your lawn littered with clippings and ugly shavings.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Dual 20V 4.0Ah lithium ion batteries for long run time
✓ Cordless leaf blower included
✓ Compatible with WORX Power Share batteries
✓ Intellicut technology preserves battery during standby time
✓ 2-in-1 rear discharge for easy cleaning and maintenance
✓ Adjustable cutting height
Cons:
✗ 33.5-pound design slightly heavy for an electric mower
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sun-joe-mower.jpg\")
For a truly unique mowing experience, consider choosing the Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO, which packs a small but mighty 13A electric motor. Contained within an aerodynamic green frame, this mower contains a 10.6-gallon discharge bag and chute so your lawn can receive the vital nutrients it needs for the clippings and shavings.
\n\n\n\nThe pro version of this mower comes with a fast rear discharge chute and a fully adjustable cutting height mechanism. Stainless steel blades ensure precise cuts, and in our experience, we never had to double back and redo a cut thanks to a wide 14-inch mowing path. In one charge, this electric mower can easily service a lawn up to 200 sq. ft. in size.
\n\n\n\nPros:
✓ Power of gas machine with convenience of electric
✓ 3,500 RPM steel blade
✓ Large 10.6 gallon catch bag for easy cleanup
✓ Lightweight 29-pound construction
✓ ETL-approved with 2-year limited warranty
Cons:
✗ Broken washers require a full wheel replacement kit
We always go the extra mile to ensure our readers get the most out of the products they buy. That’s why we always test the products we review multiple times. This way, our readers can purchase with confidence knowing they got the best value out of their lawn care product.
\n\n\n\nUltimately, there are many factors that go into finding a reliable push lawn mower. However, our expert analysis considers every relevant factor, including durability, manufacturer’s warranty, blade construction, battery time, storage capacity, and mowing path width.
\n\n\n\nOur holistic review approach covers all aspects of the product so our readers can make a choice that satisfies their lawn’s unique needs.
\n\n\n\nThis guide will cover all angles of push mowers to help readers find the best lawn care solution for their unique needs.
\n\n\n\nThere are three main types of push lawn mowers. Below, we’ll touch on all three varieties and their respective benefits and capabilities.
\n\n\n\nNothing beats the power and torque from a gas-powered push lawn mower. Although they offer maximum performance, buyers should beware that these power mowers are often the most expensive. Not only do they come with the highest price tag, but they are costly to maintain and replace, and gas isn’t cheap these days either.
\n\n\n\nSpeedy and efficient electric lawn mowers are becoming the new norm thanks to cost and environmental concerns. These power mowers plug in overnight and usually provide enough output to cover large lawns without having to recharge. However, over time their ability to hold a charge gradually degrades.
\n\n\n\nPush mowers without motors provide the best long-term bang for your buck thanks to their low upkeep costs. They don’t require gas, electricity, or oil, but they might wear out your arms if you purchase a heavier unit and have a large lawn (100 sq. feet or above).
\n\n\n\nTo find the best push lawn mower, you need to consider four main factors beyond the price tag. Below, we’ve listed what these are and why they’re important.
\n\n\n\nNo matter what type of mower you buy, you should look for a lightweight unit. Ideally, a push mower under 45 lbs. will ensure that you can mow large lawns without your arms and shoulders getting fatigued. Lighter units also allow for easier storage.
\n\n\n\nMake sure that your mower can round corners with ease and get into tight crevices and spaces without having to resort to an external trimmer.
\n\n\n\nPay close attention to the cutting height of the mower. If the cutting height is above 2 inches, you may find that your lawn looks untouched even after a fresh mow. Ideally, find a push mower with adjustable cutting height.
\n\n\n\nMotorized push mowers need to run for at least an hour or two, especially for large lawn maintenance. If you’re considering a gas or electric mower, ensure that it has a long run time of multiple hours on a single tank of gas or battery charge.
\n\n\n\nThe hard truth is that you can’t simply glance at the price tag of a mower to find out which one’s the best for you. Instead, you need to take a deep dive into the model’s specifications to see if it has what it takes to satisfy your lawn’s needs. In this article, we’ve listed our top five picks that will handle most lawn care jobs with ease.
\n\n\n\nStill have questions about lawn care? Visit our lawn care page for more information.
\n","title":"Here Are the Best Push Lawn Mowers of 2021","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.4990619136960601,"src":"/static/f3608b7e06c889a2ff30c77db19ba3fa/86a97/34845481540_15893d28a3_c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f3608b7e06c889a2ff30c77db19ba3fa/107df/34845481540_15893d28a3_c.jpg 320w,\n/static/f3608b7e06c889a2ff30c77db19ba3fa/293e9/34845481540_15893d28a3_c.jpg 500w,\n/static/f3608b7e06c889a2ff30c77db19ba3fa/86a97/34845481540_15893d28a3_c.jpg 799w","srcWebp":"/static/f3608b7e06c889a2ff30c77db19ba3fa/db080/34845481540_15893d28a3_c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f3608b7e06c889a2ff30c77db19ba3fa/67b76/34845481540_15893d28a3_c.webp 320w,\n/static/f3608b7e06c889a2ff30c77db19ba3fa/8df11/34845481540_15893d28a3_c.webp 500w,\n/static/f3608b7e06c889a2ff30c77db19ba3fa/db080/34845481540_15893d28a3_c.webp 799w","sizes":"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Here Are the Best Push Lawn Mowers of 2021 | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"783b4c07-21d1-5172-82d0-a7b3631f91c8","slug":"best-native-plants-tacoma","path":"/lawn-care/wa/tacoma/best-native-plants-tacoma/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"LaShonda Tucker is a freelance writer, poet, and spoken word artist in Atlanta. She earned her masters from the University of Georgia and enjoys playing her violin.","name":"LaShonda Tucker","id":"f7fdb6d3-a89a-5295-963a-aac47afa7cee","path":"/author/lashonda-tucker/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ce61747b62dbfb82f56a8611f2835988?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"d916c092-2f0a-5955-93db-7ccf3e26ae72","name":"Tacoma","count":1,"path":"/category/lawn-care/wa/tacoma/"},{"id":"7987b7f7-662d-55d4-9011-4af5647aa2dd","name":"Washington","count":8,"path":"/category/lawn-care/wa/"}],"date":"May 14th, 2023","excerpt":"While enjoying the scenic splendor of Puget Sound is great, it’s a long drive. Bringing the natural beauty that the water and native trees provide closer to home is even better. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best native plants for Tacoma to use in your yard to help you go native. […]
\n","content":"\nWhile enjoying the scenic splendor of Puget Sound is great, it’s a long drive. Bringing the natural beauty that the water and native trees provide closer to home is even better. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best native plants for Tacoma to use in your yard to help you go native.
\n\n\n\nWhether it’s native perennials, ornamentals, or wildflowers, growing plants native to Pierce County has many benefits:
\n\n\n\nThis article will cover:
\n\n\n\n![\"Beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8090352658_f3dbbefe27_c-1-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: brewbooks / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nDon’t let the name fool you, wild ginger is not the same spice you use in recipes. It has been used for medicinal purposes and even used as a deodorant, but ingesting large quantities of this ginger can be toxic.
\n\n\n\nThis groundcover has striking leaves and flowers. In late spring and early summer, strong, dark-red colored three-pronged petals blossom. The glossy green leaves look like hearts.
\n\n\n\nWith all of the precipitation Tacoma experiences, it’s no wonder wild ginger is a favorite. It grows best when it remains moist. If your yard has a good irrigation system, it will provide a good home for wild ginger.
\n\n\n\nA property with a lot of trees or buildings blocking the sunlight is exactly what wild ginger is seeking. It thrives in full or partial shade and is adamant about avoiding the sun.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Evergreen ground cover
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 4 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Full or partial shade, no direct sunlight
\n\n\n\nSoil: Fertile, organic matter
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Leaves when crushed have a lemon-ginger smell
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Spring
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Must stay moist
\n\n\n\nMature height: 6 to 10 inches
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Caution is advised. Ingesting large quantities can be toxic.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"Blue](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/800px-Mahonia_aquifolium.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Meggar / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nTall Oregon grape has beautiful, bright yellow flowers that are eye-openers. A cluster of tiny petaled flowers emerges in the spring, cradled by dark green leaves. The shrub’s leaves turn a purplish glow in the winter, bringing wonderful color to the colder Tacoma months.
\n\n\n\nPollinators nibble on tall Oregon grape’s flowers, and birds, wildlife, and humans enjoy the purplish-blue berries. This ornamental shrub has been used to treat skin ailments and for other medicinal purposes.
\n\n\n\nIt’s easy to see why tall Oregon grapes are a Tacoma native. The plant thrives best in partial to full shade, so it’s right at home in the multiple months of mostly cloudy days of Tacoma. If you think your yard has too much shade and not enough sunlight, consider adding tall Oregon to your flower bed.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 5 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loam, acidic, well-drained
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Honey
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Spring
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 6 to 8 feet
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"blue](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/27035188264_f232e288e8_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Levin / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nCommon camas, also called by its common name, camas, is another plant that has shared its nutrients with animals and humans. The bulbs were a food source for indigenous people. And common camas is still consumed by many people in present times, including western North American natives and people living in certain parts of the Canadian province of British Columbia.
\n\n\n\nThe common camas sprouts uncommonly lovely sky-blue flowers between spring and summer. Fall is the best time to plant this wildflower. So, if you’re looking for fall planting, add camas to your plant list. Be ready to give it a lot of water while it’s developing.
\n\n\n\nCommon camas attracts beetles and bumblebees and works well when planted in groups in cottage gardens and borders. If you’re interested in low-maintenance landscaping like rain gardens or xeriscaping, you’ll be happy to know common camas is also well-suited for rain gardens. Although camas needs plenty of water while growing, it tolerates both wet soil and drier conditions once established.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flowering plant/wildflower
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 3 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, very little shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: High organic matter with good drainage; tolerates seasonally moist soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Spicy; Smells like molasses when boiled
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Late spring to early summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Average /(Natively found in moist, spring meadows that dry by late spring)
\n\n\n\nMature height: Up to 30 inches
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low to medium
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/15037160035_4ed81031c8_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: John Rusk / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nVine maple, also called Oregon vine maple, is well adapted to the Pacific Northwest climate. The plant thrives best in cooler weather or areas that have a lot of shade and moisture, making it ideal for Tacoma.
\n\n\n\nThis shrub highlights homes in a magnificent array of colors. Vine maple’s bark is reddish-green with bright green leaves that turn orange and red in the fall. The spring ushers in small purple and white flowers. Songbirds and mammals are attracted to the red berries that soon follow the flowers.
\n\n\n\nVine maple is suitable for nearly any Tacoma home. It tolerates most soils and adjusts to the shadiness of your property, growing upright in sunny areas, and taking on a horizontal habit in shady locations. Vine maple is a shrub that sometimes grows into a tree.
\n\n\n\nThis plant may suffer in hot, dry weather. Fortunately, Tacoma summers are more warm than hot. Vine maple can grow as tall as 30 feet and up to 20 feet wide, so a home with a lot of room in the front or backyard is best. Like common camas, vine maple is well suited as a native tree or shrub in a rain garden.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Small tree, shrub
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 5 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun to partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loam, sand, clay, moist, well-drained
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: None
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Spring
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 15 to 30 feet tall, 15 to 20 feet wide
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pink_Flowering_Currant_closeup_Ribes_sanguineum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Mark Robinson / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nRed flowering currant, also called blood currant, grows brightly along the Cascades. Once you see this beauty, you’ll know it derived its name from its flashy small red petals that blossom in the spring. You can also find the shrub showing off-white or pink flowers.
\n\n\n\nThe currant is most at home in rocky, well-drained soil, but if your soil is poor, rest assured. You can still give this fiery plant a good home, because it tolerates poor soil, too.
\n\n\n\nThis is a great starter plant if you’re new to gardening; it’s easy to grow. It needs supplemental water in its first season and possibly in the second season, too. After it’s established, it’s drought-tolerant.
\n\n\n\nThe red flowering currant attracts more than butterflies and hummingbirds. Humans use the dark blue berries in pies, jams, and juice. Red flowering currant is a tasty addition to rain gardens, and would also make delicious hedges.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Deciduous shrub
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 5 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Prefers well-drained, rocky soil but tolerates poor soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Sweet sage-rosemary
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Spring
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Water the first two summers of establishment
\n\n\n\nMature height: 8 to 10 feet
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/7283693140_bf740f092e_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: born1945 / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nLewis’ mock orange is also called wild mock orange. This spectacular-looking shrub has creamy white flowers that bloom in the spring and summer, with each flower containing four lush petals. If you take a deep breath when you’re around this plant, you’ll understand why it’s called mock orange. It has a sweet scent that reminds you of orange blossoms.
\n\n\n\nWild mock orange accommodates most soil types, but it prefers soils rich in nutrients. If your property gets some shade but is mostly covered in sunlight, Lewis’s mock orange will be happy to join your family and improve the health of your property. Its fibrous root system helps improve the soil structure and prevents erosion. Wild mock orange attracts butterflies and is a shelter for wildlife.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 4 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Prefers gravelly and nutrient-rich soils, but tolerates a variety of soil types, like chalk, loam, and sand
\n\n\n\nDuration: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Orangey scent
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Spring and summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low-medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 5 to 8 feet
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Toxic to cats
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nootka_rose_and_hip_5984947163.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Leslie Seaton / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-2.0
\n\n\n\nIn late spring to mid-summer, nootka rose brings forth pretty pink flowers that can be a sight for sore eyes after the cold Tacoma winters. Yellow stamens with red rose hips sit in the middle of the flower. Homeowners may see birds come by to eat the red rose hips in the winter if the hips are left on the shrubs.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re looking for a quick-spreading plant, look no further. To control nootka rose from roaming so freely, pruning regularly is required, with winter pruning recommended. Nootka rose works well as hedges and in wildlife gardens. Nootka rose is a true northwest native plant – it grows best in well-drained soils but can tolerate seasonal flooding.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 4 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Full to partial sun
\n\n\n\nSoil: Sandy, loamy, or clay; well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Subtly Sweet
\n\n\n\nBloom time: May – July
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 2 to 9 feet
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/217464248_8be3dd9dcc_o-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: brewbooks / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nPacific red elderberry blooms small, white flowers that cluster near the branch tips. It maintains its color in Tacoma’s cooler fall weather.
\n\n\n\nIf you have a creek on your property, Pacific red elderberry will thrive if planted next to it. It’s natively found in moist woodlands and stream banks. A moist native plant garden is a good place for this deciduous shrub. Although Pacific red elderberry grows in partial shade, its growth is stifled if it doesn’t get enough sun. So a yard with trees that block the sun is not well-suited for this plant.
\n\n\n\nButterflies are attracted to elderberry and birds can’t wait to eat the red berries from the shrub in the fall. But humans must not follow suit. The seeds and raw berries are toxic.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nHardiness zones: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Well-drained, loamy
\n\n\n\nDuration: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Skunk smell
\n\n\n\nBloom time: March – July
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 10 feet in a garden (up to 18 feet in the wild)
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: The seeds are poisonous. Berries are poisonous if eaten raw.
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Medium
\n\n\n\nYou want plants that will thrive in Tacoma’s mostly cloudy, high-precipitation climate. Plants should also be able to tolerate the cold winters. Choose plants that are in your area’s hardiness zones, which is 8b.
\n\n\n\nSelect plants that your yard has the space to accommodate and that fit well with other vegetation. For example, native trees like douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) are very large. They may also be so big they block sunlight from getting to other plants. This can compromise the growth and lifespan of other vegetation.
\n\n\n\nBeing familiar with your property’s characteristics is also important. You want to pick plants that thrive in your soil type and the amount of shade or sun your yard has. Also, consider your irrigation system. If you are the irrigation system, you may discover plants that require a lot of water are too time-consuming. Selecting plants with maintenance needs aligned with how much time you want to spend taking care of them will be best for the plants and you.
\n\n\n\nInvasive plants are introduced to an area by humans, or by animals that bring the seeds after eating them. Invasive plants compete with native plants for space and nourishment. These non-native plants alter the soil physically and chemically and change the ecology of a plant community, which can establish new populations that outcompete and eliminate food for local insects and wildlife.
\n\n\n\nInvasive plants can spread aggressively. Invasive plants that are also labeled as noxious weeds can even destroy native plants and cause erosion. Some Tacoma invasive plants are:
\n\n\n\nThe best time to plant native plants in Tacoma is in the fall or early spring. In the fall, the weather is cooler, there’s usually more rain, and the soil is still warm from the summer. These conditions encourage root growth and help the root system to establish itself before winter.
\n\n\n\nIn the spring, the weather and soil are warming up. Planting at this time allows plants to develop their roots before the summer heat and dryness.
\n\n\n\nMany plants are native to Washington, including:
\n\n\n\nYou could go to the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden to see a plethora of Pacific Northwest native plants. Or, you can take note of the plants that are around you whenever you’re outside or looking out of a window.
\n\n\n\nThe Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS) is a valuable resource for information pertaining to native plants. WNPS has information on invasive plants, resources for identifying plants, and local venues hosting plant sales.
\n\n\n\nNative plants take less time, money, and resources than non-native plants because native plants are adapted to the environment. You can make your life even easier by considering other low-maintenance landscaping ideas.
\n\n\n\nGive yourself more time to enjoy fishing on the Puyallup River. Call a local lawn care professional to keep your yard lush, green, and healthy.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Wild ginger / born1945 / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"8 Best Native Plants for Tacoma, WA","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/1789c/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/107df/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/293e9/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/f2cbb/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/1789c/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/c26c2/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/1dd6e/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/67b76/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.webp 320w,\n/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/8df11/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.webp 500w,\n/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/98a65/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.webp 800w,\n/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/1dd6e/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.webp 960w,\n/static/4a276e60fe4d7ca9be2f21f5d9c11bd9/3cc96/9224501459_19a2bd1cc4_k-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"8 Best Native Plants for Tacoma, WA | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Read to find out the best native plants for Tacoma, including the benefits of native plants and frequently asked questions."}}},{"node":{"id":"9f5348ab-d9af-5164-9c12-9885e2353900","slug":"hurricane-resistant-landscaping-charleston","path":"/lawn-care/sc/charleston/hurricane-resistant-landscaping-charleston/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"After discovering her passion for writing through her beauty blog, Melanie left her engineering job in California, became a freelance writer, and never once looked back. She loves nature and enjoys going on road trips with her husband and their two sons.","name":"Melanie Joseph","id":"f86bf815-f27c-5928-b67e-d3481c2d1e0a","path":"/author/melanie-joseph/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/da91467d5e58d9fc8f1f730b09830569?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"a8c83048-dc3b-5f6e-b021-c92b6000eb0c","name":"Charleston","count":3,"path":"/category/lawn-care/sc/charleston/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"},{"id":"1ea697f8-5b42-5431-b368-7296faebead2","name":"South Carolina","count":8,"path":"/category/lawn-care/sc/"}],"date":"April 13th, 2023","excerpt":"Being the oldest city in South Carolina, Charleston has a rich history, charming architecture, and breathtaking coastal views. However, it is also a city that is no stranger to hurricanes. With its location on the Atlantic coast, Charleston has been hit by many powerful hurricanes over the years – causing significant damage to homes and […]
\n","content":"\nBeing the oldest city in South Carolina, Charleston has a rich history, charming architecture, and breathtaking coastal views. However, it is also a city that is no stranger to hurricanes. With its location on the Atlantic coast, Charleston has been hit by many powerful hurricanes over the years – causing significant damage to homes and landscapes alike. To mitigate the effects of these natural disasters, many homeowners are now turning to hurricane-resistant landscaping.
\n\n\n\nWhether you’re already in the process of overhauling your yard or have yet to decide, these 10 hurricane-resistant landscaping ideas for Charleston will provide valuable insights and practical tips for protecting your property from the next big storm.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHere are some ideas for creating a landscape that is beautiful, sustainable, and able to withstand the fierce winds and rains of hurricane season:
\n\n\n\n![\"Fenced](\"https://lawnlove.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/37179899396_bb5c74c0a6_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Redi-Rock International / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nDuring hurricane seasons, homeowners often overlook backyard fences as a potential risk to their homes. However, having the right type of fencing can make a huge difference. While you may be drawn to the look of certain fences, you should prioritize durability and hurricane resistance when choosing a fence for your home.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of hurricane-resistant fencing:
\n\n\n\nOne common misconception is that a solid privacy fence is the best option because it can block the wind. But in reality, this lack of airflow can actually cause it to collapse under the pressure of high winds. Wooden fences, even the sturdiest ones, can easily get blown over if there aren’t gaps wide enough to allow wind to pass through.
\n\n\n\nTypes of fencing to avoid:
\n\n\n\nYou must invest in a hurricane-resistant fence to avoid costly fence replacement and repairs in the aftermath of a storm. The best option would be to go for slatted fences instead. Some examples of fencing that allow wind to pass through with ease include the following:
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: The cost of installing a fence varies depending on the materials used, with prices typically ranging from $8 to $46 per linear foot. For a vinyl fence, the cost usually falls between $17 and $38 per linear foot.
\n\n\n\nIf you live on the waterfront, installing a seawall is a wise decision. Seawalls are meant to protect your property from the constant battering of waves and prevent erosion. They can help prevent flooding during storm surges. When deciding on a seawall for your property, you should consider several factors, such as the type of material to use and the cost.
\n\n\n\nChoose a seawall material that can withstand the forces of the ocean, such as:
\n\n\n\nWithout a seawall, the waves will gradually erode the shoreline, causing considerable damage to your beachfront property. Seawalls can prevent flooding to your property and home during storms, which can save you a lot of money in repairs. For this reason, you should avoid materials that corrode or rot over time.
\n\n\n\nMaterials to avoid:
\n\n\n\nEstimated cost: The prices for installing a seawall range from $113 to $770 per linear foot, but the cost of repair from water damage can be much higher if your property is left unprotected.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wind-Resistant-Tree.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Spencer Means / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nWhen a hurricane blows through, it’s crucial to have a hurricane-resistant landscape that includes wind-resistant trees. These trees have strong and deep roots, low centers of gravity, and sturdy trunks. This makes them less likely to get knocked down by high-speed winds and become a hazard to your property or neighbors.
\n\n\n\nNot all trees are the same, and some species are more susceptible to wind damage than others. Choosing the right trees is essential when creating a hurricane-resistant landscape. Some of the best tree species with high wind resistance include:
\n\n\n\nOn the other hand, some trees are more prone to wind damage, and it’s best to avoid planting them in hurricane-prone areas. The University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends to avoid these trees:
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: Professional tree planting services can cost anywhere from $22 to $3,300, depending on factors such as the tree species, size, and age. The expenses will be lower for a tiny sapling compared to a large, mature tree.
\n\n\n\nLiving close to the ocean is a dream come true for many homeowners. However, it can have its downsides, especially during the rainy season when flooding and erosion can cause significant damage to your property. Installing a backyard buffer can be the ideal solution to protect your property and waterways while providing an attractive natural setting in your backyard.
\n\n\n\nA backyard buffer, also known as a shoreline buffer or riparian buffer, is a strip of plants consisting of trees, shrubs, and flowers that separates your backyard from the shore. These elements work together to absorb and slow down wind and water during a hurricane, preventing the full force of the storm from reaching your home.
\n\n\n\nMulch is another essential element of a backyard buffer. It can help to absorb rainfall and prevent runoff that could lead to flooding. Additionally, a thick layer of mulch can prevent soil erosion and protect the roots of your plants and trees.
\n\n\n\nInstalling a backyard buffer has many ecological and economic benefits, making it an essential part of your property’s landscape.
\n\n\n\nWhen creating your backyard buffer, choose native plants that are well-suited for the area. Remember to plant trees and shrubs that can withstand high winds and heavy rains.
\n\n\n\nPlants with strong roots, such as bald cypress and live oak, are excellent choices for a backyard buffer. These trees can help keep the soil in place and prevent erosion during a tropical storm. In addition to trees, shrubs such as wax myrtle and firebush can create a buffer zone around your home. These plants have deep roots and require minimal maintenance.
\n\n\n\nTo get started, consult with local nurseries, gardening centers, or environmental organizations for expert tips on installing backyard buffers for the South Carolina Lowcountry.
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: The total cost of creating a backyard buffer is influenced by several factors, such as the selection of plants you intend to install and the size of the buffer zone. Typically, small native perennials can cost between $4 to $25 each, while the cost of planting a tree varies between $22 and $3,300.
\n\n\n\n![\"Power](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Trees-near-power-line.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matthew Paul Argall / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nWhen planting trees in your yard, always consider where you place them. Trees can provide shade and beauty to your property, but if planted too close to your home or power lines, they can cause serious damage during a storm.
\n\n\n\nTo avoid this, plan your tree placements carefully. Consider the full size of the tree at maturity and its root system when selecting a spot. You want to ensure the tree won’t interfere with nearby buildings, power lines, or other infrastructure.
\n\n\n\nHere are some advantages of keeping trees away from structures:
\n\n\n\nConsider these recommendations for safe and effective tree placement:
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: When transplanting trees, the size of the tree will affect the cost. But it typically falls within the range of $158 to $880. And if you need tree removal services, it will cost you between $347 and $1,117 per tree.
\n\n\n\nEven trees know how to party. Planting trees in clusters of five or more can enhance their resistance to high winds by more than 10%, which can offer better protection for your home when hurricane season arrives. Besides, having five diverse trees, each with distinct visual appeal and height, will increase your property’s curb appeal.
\n\n\n\nKeep in mind, though, that planting trees in a straight line is not the way to go. According to the University of Florida, planting trees in a natural, unforced arrangement, with each tree within 10 feet of the other, can form a robust and sustainable windbreak.
\n\n\n\nAdvantages of grouping trees:
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: Tree prices can fluctuate greatly, from a relatively low $150 to $1,850 or more, depending on the species and size of the tree. Purchasing trees or saplings in large quantities may reduce the price per tree. Plus, the cost of having a professional install five trees will typically be lower per tree than installing a single tree.
\n\n\n\n![\"close-up](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/rsz_5187579413_3002a0d512_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David Eickhoff / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nWhen you live near the coast, maintaining a healthy lawn in salty coastal air can be challenging. Saltwater spray and salty soil can damage plants that are not suited for the environment, so it’s important to choose native and salt-tolerant plants.
\n\n\n\nNative plants have already adapted to local environmental conditions and have evolved to survive in the specific climate and soil of a region. Salt-tolerant plants are able to thrive in areas with high salt content in the soil and air, making them ideal for coastal landscapes.
\n\n\n\nChoosing salt-tolerant and native plants has several benefits, including reducing the need for fertilizer and pesticides, which can harm the environment. These plants also require less watering and maintenance, which saves time and money.
\n\n\n\nSome popular native and salt-tolerant plants for coastal landscapes recommended by Clemson Extension include:
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: If you’re looking for small, salt-tolerant perennials, the South Carolina Native Plant Society’s Lowcountry plant sale offers them at prices ranging from $4 to $25. And if you want a professional to install a flower bed for you, it can cost anywhere from $585 to $3,300.
\n\n\n\n![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/mulch-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: christina rutz / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAs you prepare your yard for hurricane season, don’t forget about your garden beds. While mulch is a necessary component of any healthy garden, not all mulch is created equal. In areas like Charleston that experience high winds, it’s important to choose soft, organic mulches that won’t turn into dangerous projectiles during a storm.
\n\n\n\nExamples of soft, organic mulch:
\n\n\n\nNot only do organic mulches stay in place better than hard mulches like stones, river rock, pea gravel, and pebbles, but they also offer a host of benefits to your plants. Organic mulches help retain moisture in the soil, suppress weed growth, and provide insulation to plant roots during temperature fluctuations.
\n\n\n\nOne important consideration when choosing organic mulch is to avoid anything that could potentially harbor disease or pests. For that reason, you should avoid using the following:
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: The cost of shredded bark mulch is roughly $65 per cubic yard, while aged wood chips typically cost around $70 per cubic yard. However, you can obtain fresh wood chips at no cost from a tree recycling center or your local arborist. Alternatively, you can create your own nutrient-rich mulch by composting leaves at home.
\n\n\n\nRegular maintenance ensures that your lawn, garden, and trees stay healthy and resilient, even in the face of extreme weather. You should stay vigilant throughout the year, but especially in the months leading up to hurricane season.
\n\n\n\nOne crucial aspect of landscape maintenance is inspecting your trees. Check for any signs of damage or disease, such as:
\n\n\n\nAddressing these issues early on can prevent more serious problems down the line, as even a relatively small amount of wind can cause weak or dying trees to topple over.
\n\n\n\nTo make sure you’re identifying all the hazardous trees on your property, it’s a good idea to hire a qualified arborist to inspect them. They’ll be able to identify any trees that pose a risk, and together you can develop a plan to remove them safely.
\n\n\n\nStrong winds can easily break tree branches, causing damage to your property. A long branch hanging over your roof might look harmless, but it could be a potential storm hazard. A hurricane can snap it off like a twig, causing major damage to your home.
\n\n\n\nTo avoid such scenarios, it’s important to prune and trim back any weak or overgrown branches. This will help ensure your plants are at their healthiest when a storm comes rolling in. You don’t want any branches breaking through your windows, damaging your car, or injuring anyone.
\n\n\n\nIn addition to tree maintenance, regularly mow your lawn, weed your garden beds, and remove any debris to prevent potential hazards from flying around during high winds. It’s also a good idea to regularly fertilize your lawn and garden to keep your plants healthy and strong.
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: Trimming trees typically costs between $227 and $708, while hedge trimming can cost between $56 and $85 per hour, and bush trimming can range from $7 to $24 per bush or $45 to $75 per hour. If you’re looking to save money, you can trim small plants yourself, but it’s best to leave the trimming of large trees to the professionals.
\n\n\n\n![\"close-up](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/rsz_130120082286_399903e227_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Dan Keck / Flickr / Public Domain
\n\n\n\nAlthough you cannot control the rain, you can take steps to ensure that it doesn’t cause damage to your lawn or home. Avoid getting your drain clogged, as it could lead to flooding and other problems. To prevent flooding and other issues caused by stormwater, it should flow easily away from your lawn and toward the storm drain.
\n\n\n\nBe sure to:
\n\n\n\nEven standing water, or puddling, can be dangerous, as it can weaken roots and cause trees to fall during storms. Be sure to take all necessary precautions to keep your lawn and property safe from stormwater damage.
\n\n\n\nA great way to avoid water pooling in your sloped yard is to install a French drain. This way, the water that collects in your yard will be redirected through the drainpipe and flow away from your home.
\n\n\n\nEstimated Cost: The cost of yard cleanup services ranges from $154 to $411 on average, but prices can vary significantly based on the amount of work needed. For more extensive yard cleanup, you may end up paying up to $1,059. On the other hand, installing a French drain can cost between $500 and $18,000, depending on the size of your yard and the complexity of the installation.
\n\n\n\nSince Charleston is one of the top cities most vulnerable to hurricane damage, you should always heed storm warnings, stay updated on weather forecasts, and take steps to protect your home before a hurricane strikes. By doing so, you can minimize the potential for damage and ensure the safety of your family and property.
\n\n\n\nWhile you’re monitoring weather.gov for storm updates, the following tips can help you get prepared:
\n\n\n\nGenerally, hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, with the peak of the season occurring from mid-August to late October. During this time, the warm waters of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico provide the ideal conditions for hurricanes to form and intensify.
Due to its location on the South Carolina coast, Charleston has been hit by numerous powerful hurricanes in the past, including Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. However, the frequency of hurricanes in the area can vary from year to year.
On average, Charleston is affected by a hurricane once every 10 years, with major hurricanes occurring less frequently. But keep in mind that this is just an average and that there is always the potential for a hurricane to make landfall any time during hurricane season.
Zoysiagrass is one of the best hurricane-resistant grasses. This warm-season grass is known for its ability to withstand high winds. It’s also low-maintenance and has good salt tolerance, making it a great choice for homes along the South Carolina coast.
Another option to consider is St. Augustinegrass, which is indigenous to coastal regions. This warm-season grass is known for its ability to thrive in hot, humid conditions. It’s a hardy grass with good salt tolerance that can tolerate heavy foot traffic and rough weather conditions.
Despite the unpredictable nature of hurricanes, there are steps you can take to prepare for these storms. Creating hurricane-resistant landscaping is an essential aspect of storm preparedness. From selecting the right native plants and trees to installing backyard buffers and seawalls, you need to take the time and plan ahead.
\n\n\n\nReach out to a Charleston landscaping pro today for help in making your landscape not only beautiful but also resilient and able to withstand the storms that may come your way.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Wallpaperflare
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