Native Plants
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Wednesday - November 26, 2014
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Planting, Erosion Control, Groundcovers, Shade Tolerant, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: O.K. to grow grass under a live oak?
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
Is it a bad idea to plant grass around a mature live oak? We have erosion issues and trying to keep mulch in the beds around the tree groves is a challenge, even with edging. Much of the native dirt has actually washed away over the past several years when we gave up on mulch and some of the roots are starting to become exposed. A landscaper has suggested putting grass up to the trees to help with erosion. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the tree growth slowed, but I do want them to stay healthy and disease free.ANSWER:
Before planting anything you will need to confront the erosion problem that you have. Perhaps you could build swales or barriers to redirect rainwater away from the oak until your new plantings take hold in some freshly added soil.
Growing grass under a live oak will not harm the tree. The problem is finding a grass that will thrive in the tree's shade. Hopefully you have a high canopy that allows considerable light to reach the ground. There are no native turf grasses that do well in shade. However, there are several bunch grasses that would look nice under light shade. These grow too tall to stand foot traffic, but they can be quite attractive.
One grass that I grow in shade as a ground cover is Paspalum setaceum (Thin paspalum). It grows only a few inches high and the rather unattractive foot-tall seed heads can be controlled by mowing. If you can accept taller species, consider the following suggestions, taken from a previous Mr. Smarty Plants answer:
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama), the State Grass of Texas, 2-3 feet
Bouteloua hirsuta (hairy grama), 10-18 inches
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats), 2-4 feet, a particularly attractive plant that grows well in deep shade
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye), 2-4 feet
Poa arachnifera (Texas bluegrass), 2-3 feet
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), 2-4 feet
You might also consider using sedges. They make very good groundcovers and they tend to be rather short. You can read about their use for lawns in Sedge Lawns for Every Landscape by John Greenlee.
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge), 1-3 feet
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge), 12-18 inches
Carex planostachys (cedar sedge), less than 12 inches
Carex texensis (Texas sedge), 10-12 inches
Finally, here are a few groundcovers that aren't grasses or grass-like, are less than 18 inches high and will grow in the shade or part shade. They are mowable. I attach extra images of these.
Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy)
Ruellia humilis (Fringeleaf wild petunia)
Seeds for many of these plants may be obtained at your local plant nurseries. Native American Seed is a particularly good source.
From the Image Gallery
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Suggestion for plants to replace grass in semi-shade in NY
February 01, 2008 - I have an area that is in semi-shade but gets about 4-5 hours of sunlight in the summer. Instead of grass I would like to perhaps use wild flowers or even prairie type grasses. Any suggestions??
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Annual flowers for rocky area near driveway in Pennsylvania
May 25, 2010 - What type(s) of annual flowers can I plant along a driveway in northeast PA? The soil is very rocky and the area is mostly shady receiving only morning and some late afternoon sun.
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Vine for complete shade in California
December 21, 2012 - I'm looking for a vine to put over my back door which is in complete shade.
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Native plants for area shaded by crabapple in Philadelphia
September 19, 2008 - Can you recommend native plants about 4' tall to plant under a crabapple in the corner of a yard in front of a fence? Thank you.
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Privacy hedge for shady area
March 27, 2009 - We are looking to plant a privacy hedge around the perimeter of our yard that will grow to 6 or 8 feet tall - some of the perimeter is exposed to sun and we will likely go with evergreen sumac - howev...
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