SeedRanch Weeping Lovegrass Seed - 20 Lbs.

Long-lived perennial bunchgrass adapted to summer rainfall, weeping lovegrass is drought-tolerant yet performs best where annual precipitation exceeds 15 inches. Established stands can survive droughts but may be lost after prolonged dry spells; reducing excessive leaf buildup through proper grazing helps lower transpiration and drought risk. The species responds quickly to rainfall following dry periods. Origin and history: The first accession was introduced to the U.S. in 1928 from a 1927 collection made in north-central Tanganyika (Tanzania). Native to south and east Africa, it typically occupies the successional stage just before climax. In the U.S. it was widely used for erosion control across the southwest and south-central regions from 1936 to 1945; acreage expanded gradually into the late 1950s with rapid increases in Oklahoma and Texas during the 1960s. Soil and site adaptation: Weeping lovegrass grows on a wide range of soils. It tolerates clay loam when rainfall is high (for example, southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas) but is best suited to sandy loam and performs well on deep sands in semiarid west Texas. Soil pH has relatively little impact: the grass does well on acidic soils common in the southeastern U.S. and on highly basic soils, but it is not adapted to severely alkaline sites. Although it can grow on soils of pH 8, severe chlorosis often develops as the season progresses, and soils high in sodium can cause plant death. The species prefers well-drained locations and will not tolerate standing water. Management notes: Ungrazed stands tend to become decadent, very weak, and low in vigor. While the grass will survive on low-fertility soils, it produces the best, most palatable forage when soil nutrients are available or when fertilized appropriately — no grass can produce luxuriant, nutritious forage if the soil lacks necessary nutrients. Renovation of decadent stands commonly begins with burning just before spring green-up. Climate and regional use: Geographically, weeping lovegrass is best suited to Texas and Oklahoma where annual rainfall exceeds 15 inches. It is more winter-hardy than other lovegrasses but cold limits its northern range to about the northern boundary of Oklahoma. Winter injury is more likely with a rapid fall temperature drop while the grass is actively growing, and during severe cold combined with dry soil. Fall growth triggered by rainfall, irrigation, fertilization, or grazing can increase susceptibility to freeze damage, so fall grazing is discouraged until full winter dormancy. Although it is adapted across the southeastern U.S., it is mainly used there for conservation purposes. In the arid southwest its use is generally limited to irrigated sites, favorable local situations such as swales, and areas receiving about 15 inches or more of annual rainfall.