Native Plants
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
rate this answer
Monday - October 06, 2008
From: Hoffman Estates, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Grass for detention pond in Illinois
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi, please advise regarding grass for bottom of detention pond. I have pond with drawdown time 4 days, what grass could survive being underwater 4 days, and not die? Thank you.ANSWER:
Here are a few grasses and grass-like plants that will grow in wet and drier soils and will withstand being in standing water for short periods:Andropogon glomeratus (bushy bluestem)
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint) and more information
Carex vulpinoidea (fox sedge) and more information
Juncus torreyi (Torrey's rush) and more information
Scirpus cyperinus (woolgrass) and more information
Spartina pectinata (prairie cordgrass) and more information
Equisetum hyemale (scouringrush horsetail) and more information
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Developing fields with native plants from New Egypt NJ
July 24, 2013 - I have several acres of fields that I want to develop with native grasses and flowers. I would like to know the best time to mow the fields so that bushes and volunteer trees don't take over and that...
view the full question and answer
Using bamboo as a filter for odoras from a wastewater treatmen plant in College Station, TX
November 16, 2014 - My wastewater treatment plant is considering planting bamboo to create a filter for odors between it and the neighborhood. Are there any native plant alternatives that would function as well (if not b...
view the full question and answer
Holding bare soil before sowing native grasses in spring.
November 03, 2009 - I want to try your buffalo/bluegrama/curly mesquite. Right now my yard is ploughed. What should I do until spring? I assume I should add living compost to the top 3", plant bluegrass for now, and ...
view the full question and answer
Best time to plant wetland plants in NY
April 19, 2010 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants -
I'm working on a fresh water, shoreline wetland creation project in New York State. I've created two zones of native wetland plantings, an emergent shallow marsh zone ...
view the full question and answer
How does Habiturf spread from Walburg TX
May 19, 2014 - How does HabitTurf spread? - by seed only? - when/how often must you let it go to seed to insure a permanent stand?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |