Mexican feather grass, also known as Stipa tenuissima, is a fantastic choice for erosion control on sunny slopes. One of the great advantages of this grass is that it has a tendency to reseed itself, which can help ensure its presence and effectiveness in preventing erosion over time.
As with any plant that reseeds itself, it’s important to manage and control the offspring to prevent it from becoming invasive or overwhelming your garden. To do this, it is recommended to cut back the seed heads of the Mexican feather grass before they have a chance to ripen and disperse their seeds. This will help to limit the number of new plants that sprout up and keep the grass in check.
In my own experience with Mexican feather grass, I have found that it does indeed reseed itself quite readily. I have a sunny slope in my backyard where I planted Mexican feather grass a few years ago to help control erosion. Since then, I’ve noticed that new plants pop up each year in various spots around the slope. While I appreciate the natural reseeding and the way it helps to fill in bare areas, I also make sure to remove any excess seed heads to prevent overcrowding.
To manage the reseeding of Mexican feather grass, I recommend a few simple steps. Firstly, as mentioned before, regularly cut back the seed heads before they mature to limit the number of new plants. This can be done with a pair of shears or hand pruners. Secondly, consider running a rake through the grass in late winter to early spring to remove any dead or dried grass. This will help to promote healthy growth and prevent the accumulation of excessive thatch.
It’s important to note that while Mexican feather grass is a beautiful and effective grass for erosion control, it may not be suitable for all regions or climates. It is native to Mexico and prefers dry, sunny conditions. In areas with high humidity or excessive rainfall, it may not thrive as well or reseed itself as readily. In such cases, it may be necessary to consider alternative erosion control options.
Mexican feather grass does have a tendency to reseed itself, which can be beneficial for erosion control. However, it’s important to manage and control the reseeding to prevent it from becoming invasive. By cutting back seed heads before they ripen and running a rake through the grass to remove dead material, you can help maintain a healthy and controlled growth of Mexican feather grass.
