Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
3 ratings

Monday - July 25, 2011

From: Fredericksburg, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Lindheimer's muhly, goat food in Fredericksburg TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

How can I eradicate Lindheimers muhly in my pasture and what can I plant in its place that goats will graze on?

ANSWER:

From the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association Learning About Goats: (read the entire link)

"Because goats will eat just about any type of vegetation, they are increasingly being used to control unwanted vegetation. Leafy spurge, an exotic species of weed poisonous to many types of animals, is taking over range land in many parts of the western United States. Tall whitetop, also known as perennial pepperweed, is another invasive plant goats are being used to help control. In Texas, landowners are using goats to control brush, particularly cedar. Cedar re-growth in fields crowds out native grasses and depletes the groundwater supply. Current research has even determined that certain goats have a genetic preference for cedar. Goats help to control this re-growth and enhance the amount of water percolating into the ground. By using goats to eat these invasive plants, landowners are helping the environment by removing the plants that are crowding out beneficial species. In addition, they do not have to use herbicides to kill the plants."

We would really hope you would not completely remove the Muhlenbergia lindheimeri (Lindheimer's muhly) (read the entire link). It is an excellent grass, endemic to the Edward's Plateau, foraged by cattle and other animals, including goats, useful as a small wildlife cover, does not need to be trimmed back in the winter, and helps to shade out invasive weeds. We don't recommend herbicides anywhere that livestock will be feeding; it can spread and kill things you didn't want killed.

If you are determined to eliminate a useful plant, pulling it out of the ground and not permitting it to set seed is about the only alternative.

 

From the Image Gallery


Lindheimer's muhly
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

Lindheimer's muhly
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

Lindheimer's muhly
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

More Grasses or Grass-like Questions

Non-native St. Augustine grass failing for 5 years in Houston
July 21, 2013 - My townhome in Houston has a mid-size backyard, which receives full sun for much of the day. I've re-sodded with St. Augustine for 5 consecutive summers, but it consistently dies over time (proper fe...
view the full question and answer

Growing native grasses in containeers in Illinois
May 16, 2007 - Hi. How well would native grasses grow in container gardens in Illinois? What soil would you suggest? Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Interaction of Habiturf and St. Augustine grasses from Willow City TX
April 16, 2012 - How does Habiturf and St. Augustine interact? Does one dominate the other? Can you plant them in close areas? Thank you.
view the full question and answer

Sheet mulching before planting Habiturf from Grand Prairie, TX
March 03, 2014 - Have you tried sheet mulching as a bed prep and to kill bermuda grass before planting habituff?
view the full question and answer

Request for native grasses from Hillsboro TX
August 04, 2012 - P.S. I forgot to mention one very important fact: my neighbor specifically asked for "native grass" recommendations. He thought he was getting a native grass recommendation.
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.