Native Plants
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Saturday - February 27, 2010
From: Kerrville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: When and how to mow native grass in Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Mark Simmons
QUESTION:
We live on a ranch near Kerrville. The grass is sparse KR, purple three-awn and some Texas wintergrass. How and when is the best way and time to mow this native grass?ANSWER:
Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass) and Aristida purpurea (purple threeawn) are native grasses, but Bothriochloa ischaemum (King Ranch or KR Bluestem) is not a native and is considered to be seriously invasive.
Mowing anytime time of year will encourage grass growth. If you want to encourage the wintergrass, then mow in summer. To encourage the threeawn, mow in winter. Unfortunately, mowing either time will probably favor the KR over the other two grasses. If your KR is sparse, this might be a good time to consider some control measures—either mechanical or herbicide application. You can read a discussion of control measures for KR bluestem in the answer to a previous Mr. Smarty Plants question.
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