How late in Fall can I plant grasses in the landscape? We get this question often, and the short answer, like many other grass-related questions, is - 'it depends.' In this post, we cover when to plant, best practices, and grasses that can be planted late into the season.

We are switching things up a bit. Our 'Need Ground Covers? We got you Covered!' blog post was written by our summer intern, Avary. In the post, she recommends a few of her favorite grasses that work well as ground covers.

Fall is not far away, even though as you are reading this, it is likely lots of summer heat is still hanging around. But as summer eases into fall, this is when landscapers and gardeners return for garden renewal.

While there is no denying the importance of pansies, violas, and potted mums for the fall season, there is also no denying the importance of ornamental grasses, which not only strut their stuff in the fall, but are mainstays of the garden and landscape throughout the year. Our industry is blessed with spectacular companies whose main product is ornamental grasses, so we will never be at a loss for the newest and greatest.

Bentgrass. Bermuda. Zoysia. Poa. These are names most golfers recognize because they are turf grasses - good for fairways, greens, and lawns. But the world of grass is vast and varied, extending far beyond the stuff we mow and water to impress our neighbors, and to keep our putts running fast and pure. The world of grass also includes “ornamental grasses,” and as the term suggests, their main purpose isn’t playability, it’s visual appeal.

From highways to bridges to airports, America’s infrastructure is in dire need of a face-lift. The critical systems we rely on nationwide endure chronic overuse and underinvestment, including our stormwater management systems. An estimated 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater runoff, containing everything from raw sewage to trash to toxins, enters U.S. waterways from city sewer systems every year, polluting the environment and drinking water supplies. In many urban and suburban areas, this runoff causes significant flooding as well.

By relying on plants, soil, and natural systems to manage rainfall runoff, green infrastructure can tackle urban water woes and boosts climate resilience. 

For all grass has done for us, we haven’t done much for grass lately. Grasslands rank among the most imperiled and least protected biomes on Earth. They are disappearing even faster than forests, and much of what remains has suffered varying degrees of damage. Their decline threatens a huge chunk of the planet’s biodiversity, the livelihoods of roughly 1 billion people, and countless ecological services such as carbon and water storage. 

After almost two months without any measurable rain in Dallas, Texas, there's no doubt your yard is looking, well, crunchy. And while you can jealously covet your neighbor's lush lawn -and wonder what kind of deal they made with the devil at the crossroads of, say, LBJ Freeway and Central Expressway-that won't save that yellowing potential brush fire outside your house. 

It’s probably too late to save your garden this season, but it’s never too early to start planning a drought-resistant yard you can enjoy for years to come. 

The megadrought affecting the American West has been record-breaking, with no tangible relief in sight. It's forcing cities to crack down on lawn-watering, and paying residents to replace their lawns with drought-resistant plants.

CitiesAlive is back in 2022 from Sunday October 16th to Wednesday October 19th in Philadelphia at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City. They just launched registration and the full agenda so - buy your tickets before Friday, September 9th and get the early bird special to save money!