American Beach Grass - Ammophila breviligulata

**This item is seasonal. Beach grass is harvested downstate and sold in the spring and fall while dormant. We order bare-root bundles of 25 stems in October. Unsold stems are potted into plug flats and gallons for spring sales. If we are out of stock, pre-order to be included in our next order.
 
Ammophila breviligulata, or American Beach Grass, is a perennial grass native to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. This is the primary plant for controlling erosion and creating habitat on dunes in the Great Lakes area. It grows to 3 feet tall, and thrives in dune sand, intense sun, wind, and hot, dry conditions. It spreads by rhizome; the rhizomes knit the dunes together and provide erosion control.
 
A bundle contains 25 bare-root plants and is sold and planted dormant in fall.
A plug flat, available in spring, contains 38 plants in a soil "plug".
Gallons contain three to five larger stems and make a nice accent at a corner of a beachfront home.
Recommended spacing is 18”. Plant more densely if quick cover is needed; 12" or less in areas where erosion is on-going. Stagger your rows to break up the wind.
 
To plant bare root plants, use a narrow blade shovel or other tool to open a wedge-shaped hole. Place a plant, which should have two stems, into the hole deep enough that about half of each stem is below the surface, roughly 8" deep. Close the hole and press with your foot to firm the sand. Having two people plant is helpful, as one can wedge the sand open with the shovel and hold it while the other slips the plant in place. Plant plugs in a similar fashion, but make sure to burry the plug several inches deeper than you would with other plants so the roots have access to better moisture. You should not be able to see the potting soil after the plug is planted.
 
Pairs well with colorful Beach Pea, Red Osier Dogwood, Pussy Willow, Meadowsweet*, Evening Primrose*, Common Milkweed*, Boneset*, Grassleaf Goldenrod*, and Sticky Goldenrod*. *These are best planted on shallow sand where the water table is within reach, or in the inter-dune areas or sheltered slopes.
 
Note: we source this plant from a downstate nursery who reports that, although they do not use neonicotinoids, they do treat their stock with pesticides.