Root Systems of Prairie Plants

A customer pointed out this interesting information, from the Illinois Native Plant Guide, on the root systems of native plants. Since we occasionally get asked about the root depth of our grasses, and because we sell 8 of those shown in the diagram, I thought it may be of interest. Click here to view.

It is a bit difficult to read the names of the plants, so here are those that we carry:

• Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass) - 4th from the left
• Andropogon gerardii (Big bluestem) - 9th
• Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie dropseed) - 11th
• Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats grama) - 12th
• Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass) - 14th
• Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem) - 16th
• Koeleria cristata (pyramidata) (Junegrass) - 19th
• Buchloe dactyloides (Buffalo grass) - 21st

Note that the first one is so small that you may miss it when counting from the left (its Kentucky bluegrass)

Click on the coloured text to go directly to our website to view more info aabout each grass.

Nova Scotia Community College - Living Wall

I received a link to this video of a living wall under construction at the Waterfront Campus of NSCC in eastern Canada.

Congratulations to all involved. It looks beautiful!!

If You Have Streambank Erosion Issues

From a newsletter we receive:

Streambank Soil Bioengineering: How to Build & Install Vegetative Structures for Reducing Streambank Erosion

Same Agenda, Two Locations:

February 23-24, 2011 Portland, OR

or

March 9-10, 2011 Spokane, WA

"Join us for a very practical, in-depth and applied workshop on building and installing vegetative structures for reducing stream bank erosion. Our two very experienced instructors will cover all aspects from understanding stream functions, and riparian sites to the building, applied uses and life expectancy of stream bank erosion control techniques. A wide variety of designs and applications will be covered with an on-the-ground assessment of what works and what doesn't. The same workshop will be offered in both Portland, OR and Spokane, WA to make your travel plans easier."

For more information and to register, click here.....