American Beachgrass

Growing

This hardy grass is an exceptional choice for stabilizing sandy landscapes and controlling erosion on slopes. When establishing a new stand, you can start from seed or use division to expand your coverage. While it spreads quickly via underground runners and rhizomes to form a dense mat that suppresses weeds, be careful not to walk on established plants, as the foliage can be damaged easily by foot traffic. If you are planting in a container, ensure the medium provides excellent drainage, as the plant does not tolerate waterlogged conditions.

To ensure a healthy stand, keep an eye out for Marasmius blight, a fungal disease that can cause circular patches of dying plants. This blight creates mycelium that binds leaf sheaths to the stems and can even produce small mushrooms near the soil line, eventually disrupting the plant's ability to transport nutrients. You may also encounter root-knot nematodes, which are parasites that cause galls to form on the lateral roots. While this grass is highly tolerant of salt and can thrive in coastal environments, it prefers soil that is not overly saline during the germination phase.