Ten years ago, I bought some Bufflalo Grass plugs for my yard. Not wild buffalo grass but a hybrid version designed to use in lawns. I planted the plugs, and had hopes that they would do as predicted: grow well in the dry heat and eventually take over.
Well, the plugs had to be watered regularly until they took hold and my life that year got crazy, and it did not happen.
Since then, every year, I see a smattering of Buffalo Grass. At first, a very small smattering, but occasionally even some grass goes to seed. Two years ago, I gave up watering. The drought was so bad and the air so hot that because of the limited watering we were allowed, if I complied with the water regulations, would not sustain my grass. Nor my neighbor's grass. I kept most of my trees, shrubs and vines going. But the grape vines did not do well, so I cut those back this spring.
Last year I watered some, enough to keep the vines, shrubs and trees going, as I have done this year. However, this year, there is a split in the hose, as I had water, I move the hose around and it waters various parts of the yard.
With the two plus inches of rain we have had in the last couple of weeks, my grass has started growing. The front yard is taken over by purslane http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/purslane.html. I tried eating it last year, but it did not sit well with me, although it is edible.
The backyard took off with the rain. I let the Bermuda grass go to seed before mowing. But, I noticed an interesting phenomenon: the Buffalo Grass is really spreading. I have to think it is taking over where the Bermuda was weak. It has spread beyond the area where I first planted the plugs, ten years ago! I am so excited. I hope it will continue to spread. Buffalo Grass
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