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Bev,
You are asking some excellent questions about what to do next to a lake
rather than continuing to mow Kentucky bluegrass. Give the caller a lot
of positive reinforcement and steer the person to the book Lakescaping
for Wildlife and Water Quality. It gives all the background reasons for
making the change being considered.
First, the person is asking for ornamental perennial grasses. Lets do
some education here about the importance and benefit of native grasses
and forbs which are beautiful in their own right and much more fitting
to the location--even more aesthetically pleasing in the long run. In
this catagory of grasses which like moist or wet sites, are perennial,
hardy, low maintenance, and which benefit wildlife are Spartina
pectinata (prairie cordgrass), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass),
Sorghastrum nutans, (Indian grass), Carex atherodes (slough sedge),
Carex lacustis (lake sedge). Intermixed with these grasses and sedges
can be many site-appropriate forbs (broadleaf plants with pretty
flowers). The lakeshore owner will love it.
I should mention that simply a cessation of mowing will often allow many
desireable plants to establish and predominate--you would be surprised.
As to "ornamental" grasses--people often mean Miscanthus when they use
this term. Yes, they are water-loving. Yes, several would be hardy to
your area. Yes, they would help hold the shoreline but one species is
rhizomatous and would take over. No, they should not be used on the
lakeshore because they are non-native.
About grass roots---KBG has roots roughly equal/proportional to its
mowed height (the closer you clip it, the shorter the roots). Native
grasses, especially those which evolved on the prairie with its intense
competition between 250 species, have very deep roots measured in feet
rather than inches for an established plant.
If you want further help from an EE shoreland specialist I will forward
your request to Eleanor Burkett.
Peace,
Candy Barthel
Cass County
----- Original Message -----
From: Bev Eggerth
To: mastgar@extension.umn.edu
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 2:37 PM
Subject: [Mastgar] ornamental grass
had a call today from a lady who lives by a lake. she has been
mowing right to the lakeshore and now realizes that is not a good thing.
she would like to plant some kind of perennial grass that is decorative
by the lake, would this be a good place for ornamental grass? is the
root system of ornamental grass more dense then just grass you have in
a lawn? any help would be appreciated
thanks
bev eggerth mg todd county
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