Native Plant Spotlight: Pennsylvania Sedge
The lush, green lawns you enjoy on Fishers Island are made of non-native grasses. This is for a good reason - grasses native to Fishers Island tend to be coarser, taller, and clumpy. Those characteristics tend to be different from what homeowners are looking for! Unfortunately, non-native grasses require lots of maintenance to ensure they are fully watered and fertilized so they can retain that lush lawn look. We would love to tell you there is a simple solution to this issue in the form of native, drought-tolerant grass. There is not. But there is a native, drought-tolerant sedge with a grass-like appearance that might get you excited! It is called Pennsylvania Sedge - let’s discover more about it.
Native prairie grasses are tall and clumpy, unsuitable for a traditional lawn look. Pennsylvania Sedge provides a more conventional lawn appearance while creating a more biodiverse habitat.
Why We Love Pennsylvania Sedge!
It looks like a lush, green lawn.
It deters deer grazing.
Its delicate flowers in April and May attract pollinators and songbirds.
It provides wildlife habitat!
Dense coverage = minimal weeding requirement.
It grows to be about 6 to 10 inches tall - to create a traditional lawn look, mow only 2 to 3 times per year at 3 or 4 inches high!
It thrives in dry or moist soils and will even tolerate wet conditions.
Planting Tips!
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Pennsylvania sedge enjoys partial sun to full shade areas and sandy soils.
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It is usually planted with plugs every 6-12 inches to ensure it has time to establish and spread in the first season.
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Fall or Spring
