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About the nursery |
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How do native bunchgrasses help cut down on runoff and protect the aquifer? Unlike imported turfgrasses whose roots are confined to the top layers of soil, native bunchgrasses such as Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) and Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) have roots that go down 12' or more. Each winter many of the bunchgrass roots die and decay as part of the plant's life cycle. This leaves natural air spaces for rainfall to percolate deep into the ground, allowing surrounding plants to benefit from the additional moisture that is captured. Along with these species, all of our bunchgrasses have a range of heights and dense leaf growth that slow downpour runoff so that more water can be retained in the aquifer. These natives have helped the Texas prairie ecosystem remain viable for thousands of years, providing forage for buffalo and other wildlife. Today the importance of bunchgrasses in meadow plantings cannot be overlooked. |
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