An Appreciation of Muhly Grass

Muhly grass makes a nice border planting.
It's attractive even when it's not in full bloom.

Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia spp.) is one of the most popular native grasses in Florida and other places in the Southeastern US and you can see why. Its gorgeous pink flowers in late fall certainly stand out in the landscape. It's also known as sweetgrass, which has been used for coiled basketry, particularly in the "low country" of South Carolina, Georgia, and northeast Florida, by people of the Gullah Culture.

It likes dry soil in full sun or partial sun. It can be trimmed back in the late winter if there is a real need for neatness, but it's not necessary, because it tends to itself with new growth totally covering the old stalks.


It's most widely sold as just Mulenbergia capillaris, but there are actually three varieties of this species.

The range of all the native muhlys

M. capillaris var. capillaris or  hairawn muhly
M. capillaris var. filipes or gulf hairawn muhly
M. capillaris var. trichopodes or cutover muhly

The other species native to Florida is M. schreberi or nimblewill muhly.

Any of these are good choices for your landscape, but if you have a choice, choose one with its native range surrounding your location. See the Mulenbergia genus page on The Florida Plant Atlas to see the various ranges, but all the species and varieties pretty much cover the state.

Muhlenbergia was named after one of the first early-American scientists, Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg (1753-1815). He became interested in botany while hiding from British soldiers during the Revolutionary war.

Multiply by dividing

I needed to move a big clump of muhly grass that was getting too close to a Yucca plant as both the yucca and the grass had expanded. So it was time to multiply by dividing.

After digging out the whole bunch of grass, I grabbed sections of the plant and gently pulled them from the bunch.

You could separate them down to single plants, but I planted these bunches so they'd make a bigger impact in the landscape sooner. 

Spread the roots out as far as possible in the planting hole.
 Don't plant them too deep, but place the root junction
just below the soil level.

When planting the new clumps of muhly grass, it's best to clear the area and then scrape out a shallow but wide planting hole, so you can spread the roots out in every direction. Cover the roots with soil and pat down so the grass is stable. Add about an inch of mulch on top  of the soil. Irrigate liberally after planting and for the next several days. Then gradually cut back on the watering over the next few weeks.

The grass may flop over since it was use to being in a larger bunch, but as long as it's vertical at its base, it should be fine and as new shoots grow, they will have the necessary stiffness to stand up on their own.

Newly planted grass bunches. Note: that I alternated them so they'd not be in a straight line.

A fence used to run along this side of this bed, but now that it's gone, having more muhly grass along this street-side edge will give a more finished look. You may recognize this bed from a previous post "When you plant a tree, you believe in tomorrow." I'd planted a red maple at the end of this peninsular bed out into the lawn to provide a better anchor--again since the fence is gone, the bed needed more of a reason to be here.

Muhly grass gallery

Muhly grass and rice-button asters (Symphyotrichum dumosum) bloom at the same time in the fall. While I'd planted the grass, the asters planted themselves.

The troublesome areas next to and under fences is solved beautifully by muhly grass.

The emergence of the pink inflorescences is always entrancing

Pink haze!

I hope you have or will plan to have more muhly grass in your landscape.

Green Gardening Matters,
Ginny Stibolt

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When you plant a tree, you believe in tomorrow

This long garden used to be next to the fence,
but since the fence is gone, it now sticks
out like a peninsula into the lawn area. 

I'd pulled a small red maple tree (Acer rubrum) from the edge of our front pond. It was in a place where another tree would not work well, but when I pulled it, all its roots were still attached in a blob of mud. I stuck the tree in an empty pot near the rain barrels. Over the next couple of weeks, it seemed to be happy in the bottom of the pot with just occasional splashes of rain barrel water. I didn't know what I was going to do with it, but its presence there reminded me to do something every time I came to that side of the garage with the rain barrels and compost piles.

I had a thought when I was cleaning out the long garden that used to back up to a fence, but when we gave away the fence, this bed jutted  out into the yard like a peninsula. Placing a tree at the end of this bed would eventually provide an anchor. It will also eventually shade out the nice muhly grass, but it will be years before that happens.

More lawn removal

When I considered where to plant the maple, I decided to extend the former fence garden.

There had been a relatively deep swale just at the end of this garden, so I built a mound on top of the swale.

The low spot off to one side of the end of the garden often collected water after hard rains. The maples don't mind wet feet, but I built a mound on top of the swale so the root flare of the tree would stay higher than the surrounding area. Studies have shown that trees planted high like this do better in the long run.

Then I placed the pot with the tree in the proposed planting spot and took some time looking at this placement. I walked along the street and I went inside the house to see how it looked from there. I tried to picture what it will look like when it matures.

Judging the location of the tree, from all sides.

This tree will make a good anchor for the peninsula.

When I was satisfied that this spot would work for us, the infrastructure, and the tree, I planted it. Now since this is not a container grown plant , there was no need to rinse its roots.

I'd left the ferns and some other plants with the tree. Time will tell if the fern will survive here. If it doesn't, I'll add some when the tree is bigger and casting more shade.

I used three 3-gallon watering cans during the planting process. This was a test of the irrigation berm that I'd built around the tree..

I watered well again after I added the
arborist wood chip mulch.

I covered the soil with a 2-inch layer of arborists woodchips, except right near the tree. I watered it with one 3-gallon watering can for the next few days.

Then Irma came. This devastating hurricane dumped more than 8 inches of rain over 3 days. We lost 8 big trees out in the back, but no structures were damaged and the neighbor's house was right next to some of these trees--several had trunks that were almost 3 feet. Three trees broke off at 25 feet high, so we think we experienced a microburst. Also,.the power was out for 6 days, but we have a generator that we can use to power a split circuit breaker so we have the refrigerator, some lights, the microwave, induction burner, and computers with Internet.

During hurricane Irma, water pooled around the tree. We received more than 8" of rain in 3 days.

Hurricane Irma also pointed out the other swales in the front yard.

After the hurricane, it had lost all its leaves,
but then it produced these tiny leaves. 

After the storm

The maple produced a new set of leaves, but they were tiny. I'll continue to water the tree unless there is rain, just to help it adjust to this drier environment. The fern is no longer showing, but it may come back in the spring.

So my plan is to eventually add some shrubs around the tree to add some layers and this will mean more lawn retired from use and more cool bird habitat.

Looking into the future...

I look forward to seeing it grow well here. So when you plant a tree you believe in tomorrow. Another tree saying is. "The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second best time is now"

I hope you have an eye on the future also when it comes to climate change, because trees make a big difference. They cool the air; they send moisture into the air to keep the rains coming, and they store carbon.

My newest book, "Climate-Wise Landscaping: Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future" which I wrote with Sue Reed, a landscape architect in Massachusetts will be published in Spring of 2018, but it's available for pre-order from our website: www.climatewiselandscaping.com 

I wish you a happy and greener New Year in 2018.

Green Gardening Matters,
Ginny Stibolt

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Blueberry Hill

Here's how it started, but over the years I converted to a
more nave plant pallet with a big yucca replacing those
hidden ginger lilies. And tropical sage and blue curls
replacing the zinnias.

We lost a sweet gum tree in one of the 2004 hurricanes. There were 4 big storms that year--it was our welcome to Florida because we'd moved here in June of that year.  But instead of grinding out the stump as recommended by the tree guy so we could convert that area to lawn, we covered it with pond muck and compost and build a butterfly garden there in the middle of our back yard.

Read my post from back then, From Stump to Butterfly Haven.

Moving the blueberries

Back in 2009, I planted 3 blueberry bushes that were bred for Florida. I wrote about this adventure in Florida's Blueberries. The bushes were small when I planted them 3 feet from the back of the detached garage.

The new blueberry bushes were small when I planted them. 

We've enjoyed the crops over the years.

The blueberries had outgrown their spot and there is
more shade now than in 2009. 

 I'd planted them in this protected position to protect them from heavy frosts. Over the years, we and the birds have enjoyed the berries. They've grown a lot since 2009 and for several reasons, it was time to move them.

Also, the Yucca on the mound had fallen over due to rotting because of the damp situation in the area. Plus, the mound was in need of some tending since it had become a little too wild. The mound would not be large enough to support the three shrubs, so I doubled its size by adding my whole compost pile mostly at the back side of the mound where there is often standing water after a hard rain. Unlike the yucca, the blueberries will thrive in that moist environment. And so instead of a butterfly mound, it's now "Blueberry Hill."*

The sweet gum roots were out-competing the blueberries.

i dug under the sweet gum roots to dig out the blueberry shrubs, especially the 2 that were closest to the trees.

The sweet gum roots were a problem. I didn't want to damage these big roots, but at the same time, I wanted to preserve as much of the root mat around the blueberry trunks. Scooping the soil out from under the big roots and the shrubs worked fairly well and I was able to keep the blueberry surface roots together. I carefully transported them to their new location out on the newly enlarge mound. Once I got the 2nd and third shrubs out there, I saw that I needed to expand it even more. I ended up using the whole compost pile for this project, which is fine because the blueberries will appreciate the rich soil and they will be happy to get away from the alkaline environment near the cement foundation. Blueberries like an acid soil and now they won't have so much competition for water and nutrients in their new spot.

I was able to keep the root mat around the shrubs in tact. A good thing for their survival rate. 

Adding more compost to expand the mound to accommodate all three shrubs.

After planting and the addition of many gallons of water, I used a whole load of arborists chips around the new edge of the mound, making sure to create a nice level surface for easy mowing. The mowing will also be easier out here now that the wettest area is under the new portion of the mound.

The final touch is a nice pine needle mulch.

Fall is a reasonable time for transplanting shrubs in general and after several days, the leaves did not wilt at all, so I must have provided enough irrigation for the blueberries. However, there's a good chance that even though the flower buds have been formed, that they will drop the buds and not flower to save their energy for new root formation.

I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather for some of your landscaping projects.

Climate-Wise Landscaping: Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future

Pre order a copy from Sue at
www.climatewiselandscaping.com

Sue Reed, a landscape architect in Massachusetts, asked me to be the coauthor. We did not debate climate change, but we came up with 100s of actions that you can accomplish right now in your landscape that will accomplish at least one of the following missions:

1. to help landscapes become more resilient, so they can better survive climate change;
2. to help wildlife survive climate change; and/or
3. to actually mitigate climate change. 

It will be published in Spring 2018 by New Society Press in BC, Canada. In 2010, Sue also wrote the award-winning “Energy-Wise Landscaping” also published by New Society Press. 

Pre order a copy from Sue at www.climatewiselandscaping.com. Thanks.

Green Gardening Matters,
Ginny Stibolt

*Blueberry Hill
Fats Domino: R.I.P.

I found my thrill

On Blueberry Hill

On Blueberry Hill

When I found you

The moon stood still
On Blueberry Hill
And lingered until
My dream came true

The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were never to be

Though we're apart
You're part of me still
For you were my thrill
On Blueberry Hill

The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were never to be

Though we're apart
You're part of me still
For you were my thrill
On Blueberry Hill

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All-American landscape filled with natives

What could be more patriotic than a native landscape that supports Mother Nature??

Belfast castle garden is an example of a non-native and
unsustainable landscape. This is NOT authentic to America.

For far too long, the standard landscaping in our country has ignored the plants that belong here. Maybe it's a throwback to the European upper class castles where impossibly maintained formal gardens and the most exotic plants showed how much wealth they had. This landscape style is not only difficult to maintain, it's also not authentic to America.

It's time for a more patriotic approach...

The All-American Landscape
filled with regionally authentic plants 

Why is this patriotic?
The simple answer is that we need many different plants to provide habitat for butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. More to the point, diversity is important for the health of the region's overall ecology. Far too many of our wild areas have been destroyed to make room for that most damaging crop springing up with increasing frequency: McMansions and their vast lawns. 

This is a huge issue, so what difference can gardeners make? Little by little, one-by-one, we have the power to effect dramatic results. We can enhance the diversity in our own neighborhoods by:

- selecting a wide variety of native plants for our landscaping needs, and demand native species when we deal with nurseries.

- choosing plants suitable for the various microclimates on our properties so we use fewer resources, especially water, to maintain them.

- creating wild or near wild spaces on our properties and keep your cats and dogs out of this space. (Pets are subsidized predators that significantly alter the balance in the ecosystem.)

- encouraging your neighbors to do the same.

So let's get started!

Some posts for further reference:

Getting started with native plants in Florida
Florida Natives for your landscape
What?? Native plants not pretty enough...

Some patriotic natives from our yard...

Florida scrub scullcap (Scutellaria arenicola)

Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) blossoms
 rival magnolias for showiness

Pink! can be a patriotic color when it's the Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) blossoms.

Native milkweeds support monarch butterflies and many other pollinators.
This one is the pinewoods milkweed (Alsclepias humistrat

Rain lily (Zephyrantes atamosca)

Indian blanket (Gaillardia puchella)

Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea) supports not only insect pollinators, but also hummingbirds.

Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia)

Creating a better world is NOT for nothing; it's for our grandchildren.

Green is the new red, white & blue.

So celebrate the 4th of July, but after the long weekend, continue your patriotism with more natives in your landscape and soon your landscape will be a patriotic, All-American landscape that supports the All-American wildlife native to your area.

Green Gardening Matters,
Ginny Stibolt

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7 Action Items to support Mother Nature in 2017

Many people in our country and elsewhere, including me, are worried about environmental issues because our incoming administration our country is filled with climate change deniers and those who think science is something you can choose to believe in or not. But now is NOT the time to wring our hands and wait to see what happens. Here are 7 ways to take action to help our Mother Earth: Do it today!

There is NO Planet B!

We don't have time to spare, so now is the time to act. 

Mother Earth is our ONLY Planet: Treat with care.

We must think of future generations and do better at preserving what is left of public lands and work at restoring spent lands.

Yes, we can plant more natives on our own non-poisoned properties.
A ragged gulf fritillary sips nectar from my tropical sage 

1) Start with your own landscape

Stop the lawn poisons and reduce your lawn acreage. Stop the wasteful cycle of seasonal decorative plants: replace them with native plant groupings that support birds and butterflies. Add shade to your landscape to reduce your electricity use. And so much more.

This has been the focus of much of my writing for the past decade. In addition to my books shown in the left border here, I've written hundreds of articles; links to most of them are on my Green Resources Page.

In addition to your own actions to be greener in your landscaping and life style, here are some environmental groups that are making a difference in several ways. Each one I've listed has a different emphasis, so support the ones you feel most aligned with. Because of the political situation, this year, I've made extra donations to my usual environmental groups and have added a few more organizations to support. If we work together, we're stronger. Please join me in making an extra effort on behalf of our beautiful planet.

2) Join a local native plant society 

In Florida we have the Florida Native Plant Society 

We should plant as many natives as possible for many reasons. Some important reasons are: to reduce the need for extra irrigation, to better support native wildlife, and to create landscapes that are authentic for our regions. When you join and become active in your native plant society, you'll be helping with their work to reach out to more people and to continue their research efforts on native plants and native ecosystems. Read my post "Why I love the Florida Native Plant Society" for more information.

50% of the royalties for "The Art of Maintaining a Florida Native Landscape" are paid directly to FNPS.

There are native plant societies in most states. When you join or renew your membership, please add an extra donation this year.

2) Become a member of The Nature Conservancy 

The Nature Conservancy, Florida works hard to buy up and preserve open lands in Florida.

The Nature Conservancy is the largest and probably most well-known and well-rated environmental organization. I've been a member for more than 2 decades and 50% of the royalties for "Sustainable Gardening for Florida" are paid directly to TNC, Florida. This was my mother's favorite charity because, in her words, "They don't just argue; they actually buy and manage lands that need to be preserved."

Here is a link to their Annual report for 2016.

3) Join or donate to The Audubon Society. 

The Audubon Society is a huge international organization filled with people who care about birds. Each year, they hold an annual Christmas bird count that has documented the decline of many bird species over the decades. Read a piece I wrote "Can the birds count on you?"

Audubon Florida has many programs and actions that work to preserve bird-friendly habitat within our state. 

If the birds are happy, so is Mother Nature.

The National Parks Foundation.

4) Donate to the National Park Foundation

Our National Parks are America's BEST idea! They began more than 100 years ago under President Teddy Roosevelt.

The National Park Foundation is the official charitable partner of the National Park Service. This partnership
enriches America’s national parks and programs through private support, safeguarding our heritage and inspiring generations of national park enthusiasts.

Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation is rooted in a legacy that began more than a century ago, when private citizens from all walks of life took action to establish and protect our national parks. Today, the National Park Foundation carries on that tradition as the only national charitable nonprofit whose mission is to directly support the National Park Service.

The Environmental Defense Fund
works in many ways and on many levels.

5) Donate to The Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Defense Fund’s mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. They work guided by science and economics to find practical and lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

They work to solve the most critical environmental problems facing the planet. They work in areas that span the biosphere: climate, oceans, ecosystems and health. Since these topics are intertwined, solutions take a multidisciplinary approach. EDF works in concert with other organizations — as well as with business, government and communities — and avoid duplicating work already being done effectively by others.

6) Join The League of Conservation Voters

League of Conservation Voters

"The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) works to turn environmental values into national, state and local priorities. LCV, in collaboration with our state LCV partners, advocates for sound environmental laws and policies, holds elected officials accountable for their votes and actions, and elects pro-environment candidates who will champion our priority issues."

 

7) Find other environmental groups

There are many more groups that you might like to support including 1000 Friends of Florida, Greenpeace, The Sierra Club, Earth Justice, and many more. Find groups that you feel comfortable backing and while money is an urgent need, volunteers are what really makes a group work effectively.

Charity Navigator rates charities for effectiveness and for how much of their donations actually goes to their charitable work. This link is a list of environmental charities.

Think of your grandchildren.
Be good to Mother Nature today. 

Past end-of-year posts:

2015: A greener 2016 and into the future
2014: 6 easy ways to save time and money
2013: 6 easy steps to support wildlife in 2014


I wish you and yours a happy, green, and prosperous 2017.

Green Gardening Matters,
Ginny Stibolt

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