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Fredericksburg Chapter

View: No More Monoculture Lawns

Handout: NO MORE MONOCULTURE GRASS LAWN OR WHY TO USE GROUNDCOVERS!
Kathy Saucier

The how’s, why’s, and what’s to plant your “lawn.”

With the Local Drought Index at -2.88, which is moderate drought stage (as of AuJordy Bennet photogust 10, 2024), we need to rethink how we’re using water in the landscape. This month’s meeting of the Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will provide information and tips about using native Texas groundcovers instead of grass lawn in your landscape.

Kathy Saucier, our resident Certified Wildscape instructor, will be speaking on Tuesday, September 24 – 6:30 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Halle, about turning your water-guzzling lawn into a drought-tolerant pollinator paradise that is beautiful and useful.

“Children and pets love to play in the outdoors, and most people think that can only happen on monoculture lawns,” said Deborah Simmons, president of the Fredericksburg Chapter of NPSOT. “Kathy is going to share with us how we can shrink our lawn and water usage by incorporating Texas native groundcovers that are great for our local pollinators, and that children, pets and adults can all enjoy.”

“There are dozens of fantastic Texas native grasses, groundcovers and shrubs that we can use in place of lawn,”  Kathy commented. “We’ll talk about those plants and share ideas about how to reduce the size of your lawn, save water, and help improve the landscape for pollinators all at the same time.”

Saucier grew up in the Hill Country, and since 2018 has resided on the 1904 Leyendecker family farm in SW Gillespie County. Her first landscaping with Texas native plants were those growing naturally here in Gillespie County. She especially enjoys discovering what grows here and is native to our area, and promoting their attributes. She has identified approximately 190 species on their 40-acre property and has added another 150 Texas natives. Her interest does not stop at native plants, but includes birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies and everything else that crawls.


The Fredericksburg NPSOT chapter holds its monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month at St. Joseph’s Halle (212 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg). There is a social time with snacks at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend in person or via our YouTube channel. More information is online at Facebook (@fbgtxnpsot),

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason