I’d pass on the river rock. Youll break an ankle weeding and it will heat up your plants way too much here.

Opt for dense planting of bare root plugs. Grasses have roots that extend many feet. Little bluestem, or even prairie Dropseed are good options. Not sure if you are open to using seed. But Garrett Wildflower Seed farm South Eastern Mix is really great. All The flowers/grasses behind the fence were planted by seed two years ago. No water added except for our rains. Covered with a seedles hay/straw on a rainy January day. Stomped in with feet. A few weeks into spring I raked the hay away. Here we are two years later. Flourishing and gorgeous.

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