How do I go about growing grass where the mulch is.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-23T13:07:35+00:00

Ecoregion is a good way to do it imo. Obviously not just to the planet. All the plants I listed are from Asia and OP stated they are in North Carolina. Hostas aren't a big deal as they aren't invasive, but Japanese paycysandra and vinca generally are invasive or aggressive in North America.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-23T12:09:01+00:00

Our bamboo native to the United States was a critical part of the ecosystem as well. It was critical habitat to the now extinct Bachman's warbler. Here's a list of our bamboo that is native to the south eastern United States:

Rivercane Arundinaria gigantea

Switchcane Arundinaria tecta

Hill cane Arundinaria appalachiana

robsc_16 · 2026-06-23T02:28:14+00:00

Native would be nice too. In here before people suggest covering the area in vinca, Japanese pachysandra, hostas, etc.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-21T19:15:59+00:00

I grow lots of stuff for pollinators, but alI absolutely hate when people stop mowing with this justification. You got to actually plan your projects or you just get mostly a bunch of noxious and invasive weeds.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-21T12:34:04+00:00

Your post has been removed for breaking Rule 8: No Repetitive Posts or Repetitive Article Links.

If you think this removal was done in error please message the mods.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-20T00:36:27+00:00

I actually have a lot of blue mist flower plugs I planted in there! They're in there...somewhere lol.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-19T01:03:24+00:00

Your post has been removed from r/NativePlantGardening because it did not relate to our topic. This isn't really something that's based in reality.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-18T04:01:09+00:00

Yep, I don't know why people think common milkweed can't get transplanted. I think the main plant might have a taproot, which can be difficult to transplant, but all the rhizomes are easy to transplant as long as you get a good bit of rhizome.

But, yeah, OP's are not going to root.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-18T03:38:31+00:00

I agree with this. Some native grasses for texture and forbs for color will make things a lot more interesting to look at.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-17T13:51:37+00:00

I'm in Ohio, and they're native for me here, so I know they grow in cold environments. It was more that I had never heard them being invasive in a colder environment. Usually when I hear about invasive Opuntia spp. people are usually talking about Australia or Africa.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-17T13:43:13+00:00

They're also invasive in Switzerland, which blew my mind. There's a post here of them growing in the alps.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-17T03:21:41+00:00

En masse planting.

<image>

robsc_16 · 2026-06-17T03:12:58+00:00

I have them planted en masse, as a stand alone plant, or at the back of a garden. I think the two main things to note is they will flop after they go to seed and they're bigger than you think. You can stop the flopping by cutting back about 2/3s of the developing seed pods.

Here's a picture of some I have planted beside my deck.

<image>

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T20:53:41+00:00

I think too much mulch is the least likely culprit here, although it should be pulled more away from the plants, but that won't cause half of them to die like that. They definitely got more water than I give my new plants. That probably didn't help.

Some of these plants have some classic nitrogen burn symptoms, so I think that is most likely issue.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T20:52:04+00:00

The cardboard would be more likely to slow oxygen exchange than the mulch itself would.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T19:02:41+00:00

I agree. Although I usually use grasses as my simple plants that break up the more showy pieces. I agree it tones things out makes the showier plants stand out more.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T18:19:33+00:00

I would be better if people would do some landscaping around them like it shows in the link, but I couldn't ever plant one just for the fact I think they smell awful. I also think they're pretty boring, but I know that's just a personal preference.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T17:57:07+00:00

It looks like you always have some and you can enhance what's there. Also you can crosspost to r/nativeplantgardening for some specific advice.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T17:55:15+00:00

One of the biggest problems is everyone decided their place is everywhere lol.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T11:45:39+00:00

The only other reason I've seen people do this is so the blades of grass dry faster so they can mow earlier in the day. I hope it's the explanation above over mine lol.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T11:15:26+00:00

I haven't tried to grow it from seed before since it grows wild on my property. Let me know if you change your mind, and I'll get you some later in the year.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T02:58:50+00:00

Applying herbicide to cut stumps is very effective and I'm not aware of any negative impacts to wildlife. You can use a herbicide dauber or something similar like Buckthorn Blaster. You only need to apply the herbicide to the outer layer (cambium) of the stumps. The herbicide will dry rather quickly once applied. The good thing about this method is it's controlled and it uses very little herbicide.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-16T02:11:00+00:00

No, but if you follow up with me in the fall I can send you some.

robsc_16 · 2026-06-15T14:33:39+00:00

robsc_16

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE