I hate it with a passion. How far north–hardiness zone?–will horseherb survive? Consider this, if your horse or animal was in the wild and something was to happen to them they would instinctively seek out an herb that would help them. It’s pretty hardy, Karen. Thanks. I like it a lot and have it growing in various spots in my yard. What is this plant taking over my yard? Straggler Daisy, Rosemary Grass, Lawnflower, Hierba del caballo. Primitive Planters 36" Jute (tan) Macrame Plant Hanger. February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, https://www.gardenstylesanantonio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1489002496horseherb-calyptocarpus-vialis-20121007-detail-290x290.jpg, Hit the Snooze Button on your Irrigation Controller. They might be willing to share, especially since so many people consider it a weed. Anything growing were you don’t want it is a weed. Hi, Ashlyn. I’d like to see yours in a couple of years. I might add, because we live in a rural area where copperhead snakes are a problem…we cannot walk in any ground cover where you cannot see where you are stepping. Love it, in your yard. YAHEETECH Wooden Raised/Elevated Garden Bed Planter Box Kit for Vegetable/Flower/Herb Outdoor Gardening Natural Wood, 49 x 23.2 x 30.1in 4.5 out of 5 stars 367 $86.99 $ 86 . I love horseherb, but I’m a bit leery about recommending it to clients. I cast to earth a seed. horse-fitform.de . It’s all over my yard, and I’m wondering if people can eat it? We have a fairly steep slope that is difficult (impossible) to mow or weed eat. Is there a good solution for this? leaves--are these leaves opposite or alternate? I’ve never seen this plant before — I think I’d love it and leave it. If you don’t find a retailer, try looking around in friends’ yards. But as a lawn alternative, I do like it, particularly if you have enough moisture to keep it consistently visible. Chris Deziel How to Start a Lawn Sprinkler System in Spring. So thanks for your post, we’re going to be a pro Horseherb home! It’s definitely under-appreciated, Deanna. Thanks for the tidbit of info — I hadn’t heard that before! Do you think this will grow in full sun in East Texas? NOT planted but bobs up wherever gardeners have/had lawns, even just nearby! I guess it would depend on the effect I’m trying to create. I don’t think we have that up here in New England. It creates a beautiful lush green lawn and is very soft to walk on barefoot. Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar — Look But Don’t Touch. Quali Pro Fahrenheit Herbicide is safe for established Bermuda and Centipede lawns per label instructions. In an effort to reduce water use and time spent caring for lawns, some gardeners are replacing their turf with thyme. But now I think I’ll embrace it! Economy horse paddock grass seed offers excellent value for money.Quick to establish and suitable for a broad range of soil types. Thank you for this nice breakdown – you’ve almost convinced me (in Austin as well) to replace my St. Augustine with horseherb. It looks very verdant and covers up the brown spots well… sometimes a little too well, as you can’t always see what you’re stepping on. And then I didn't tell my lawn guy b/c I didn't think the hh was alive. It does spread easily, but it’s telling us something, too — that we don’t need turf grass when horseherb is free, willing to grow, and doesn’t take much attention from us. CobraCo HTR36-B 36-Inch English Horse Trough Planter, Black. In Southern California it’s called Dichondra and people spend their Saturdays manicuring it. I’ve had this in a portion of my back yard for years, but thought it was a weed. I just saw them while doing the same search as I was in 2012 apparently! However, I do have to mow it. Some of our local nurseries carry it from time to time, but often there are people willing to just give it away — it’s still considered a weed by many folks. With that in mind consider the fact that the pasture and fields lack the "go to" natural herbal medicines for horses. Thanks for letting me know, Paul. . Looking for a confirmation that this is indeed horse herb. My chickens eat only a little — they are too busy catching bugs and finding other greenery (like my veggie garden) to nibble on! horse-fitform.de. Of that half, about 90% of it is very very shaded due to oak trees. It is merely ‘playin’ possum’. I think the Bordered Patch butterflies prefer to lay eggs on sunflowers, with horseherb — at least in my garden, that’s how it is. Shade or sun. Our team of rangeland experts have designed a horse pasture seed mix for every region of the United States. There’s a nursery in Belton, Texas, that sells horseherb seeds: Sweet Briar Nursery & Gardens. I don’t think we have it in Europe (???) Thank you for the photos of the beautiful fields of horseherb. I also live in Austin, and I have this growing naturally in my yard, too. But don’t necessarily blame your neighbor — horseherb can be found everywhere. People either truly love this little groundcover or hate it with a passion. Once the roots are established it will come back bigger and better than ever. I don’t think it grows here in New York though. sandy. Would horseherb work in FL? At least half my lawn is horseherb. Sue. Give it a bit of water where it gets full sun in summer and it will be fine even up next to concrete. This blend contains grasses and legumes that are both nutrient-dense and palatable, and will tolerate the heavy grazing common of horses. Does anyone know anywhere to buy this at any retailer in the North Texas area? the people said “a weed”. I’ve never bought any — I’m just encouraging what I can to spread. We Think You'll Really Dig It. That’s why people with grass lawns don’t care for horseherb — me, I’m wishing my grass would die and let the horseherb grow instead! You may love it but your neighbors may not. So I’d start small while we’re in a drought, though you might be getting more rain up there now than we are. I am most happy! First of all I was thinking what the heck is horse herb! Invasive plants are my favorite because it’s so hard for me to kill them! I live in the Dallas area. Cordova E, Morganti L, Rodriguez C. Possible Drug-Herb Interaction between Herbal Supplement Containing Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and Antiretroviral Drugs. Horsetail is a perennial, flowerless weed that can be very toxic to animals, especially horses, if eaten in large amounts. So the only way to get it to spread is to dig/pull all the other weeds out by hand? My house sits on a third acre lot. That’s not to say it’s perfect for every landscape, but it’s much preferred over Bermuda grass, in my opinion! In the back, it is soooo much better than Bermuda. Your email address will not be published. how do I get my horseherb back? Our soil is very dry and clay-like and we’d have to do so much work conditioning the soil to put in turf grass. But I do keep my eye on it — I don’t want it to overrun the garden plants. My other neighbor, on the other hand, has lots of horseherb, and it looks lovely. I never planted horseherb, but between it and Bermuda Grass, I can’t help but choose it over the other, my nemesis. Thanks. I am afraid to leave it and let it grow because I do not want it in my grass…although, after all this time I have not noticed it on the other side of my sidewalk…any suggesstions? Like this in between all. Must admit to not having followed your blog regularly – but really like it and will be back. . Great pics! Why, horseherb represents the very nature of Goodness itself. IT IS NOT DEAD! That’s why horse owners demand the highest quality horse pasture grass seed that will provide palatable, nutritious forage for grazing. The few times it’s encroached on a flower bed, it was easy to yank out and keep away with mulch. I was doing it on a trial basis. Do you think horse herb would do well in flowerbeds under my live oaks? Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:01 am . ), even a little less harsh in the summer heat-wise. I loathe the unnamed weeds that dominate my backyard. But I’m going for the complete wildscape, and I have a lot of ground to fill and a lot of grass to get rid of. Wow, the field of the horseherb looks fabulous! My barren new backyard has grown some horse herb with recent rain. I haven't even had a chance to plant it all with all this rain - when I go out, I get "eaten alive" with mosquitoes. Rosey. Anyway to keep that from happening? By the way, it loves my flower bed…and I am not enjoying it. But it’s good to know of the possibility –thanks for sharing. Lawn & Patio $67.09 $ 67. I rarely see caterpillars on them, honestly. The native grasses blooming the fields across the street were beautiful. How’s it looking now, Carol? Horse Love. Alas, I don’t know how deep they go. I’m worried that it may be too invasive and would harm the trees, but can’t figure out anything else that’s shade tolerant…. I’m not sure which I would prefer. Perhaps a barrier of low perennials or a rock wall of sorts? Help…after reading all the previous postings…and viewing the pics, I wonder if what I have is horseherb…the stems have a purplish color to them and the leaves look a little more elongated…I do remember seeing the tiny yellow flowers. If I switch over, I’d like to place a barrier around my property to protect my neighbors,and if I can do it with cheap and low-profile plastic pound-in sections, rather than concrete, that’d be a great selling point. Your picture poses the question perfectly, and for me the answer was obvious. For a while, it was key to us controlling the St. Augustine in the front, but now we’re planning our pathways and I’ve got a wonderful Cedar sedge spread going, along with the perennial and annual beds. But I do regret having Bermuda and St. Augustine (not that I planted it; that was the previous owners), so it’s not a big deal to switch from frustration with the grasses to frustration with another groundcover, unless I’ve got all three to deal with at the same time. We do mow it in spring or if we’re having a vigorous growing summer (not often in Austin) and otherwise we let it go and it keeps our topsoil from eroding. If you’ve ever walked past a field of horseherb, you are presented with an incredibly lush sea of green, with the daintiest of little yellow flowers throughout to catch your eye. I’ve had munching dogs and digging dogs and dogs that open gates. That was a very interesting post. I’m glad to hear that mammals like it! we have some on our side yard and I LOVE It. Wouldn’t be hardy up here, I bet. As for the grass, your best bet is to dig it out or try some method of sheet mulching or solarization. Our Southwest Desert horse pasture blend is specifically designed to withstand the hot, dry climate of southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. You can establish strips or herb patches in your paddocks or pasture that will allow your horse free access to beneficial herbs. Isn’t it nice that it tolerates mowing, Dee? The lawn at our previous home was about half grass and half herbs after I’d spent five years encouraging and supplementing the herb component. we got this big yard that my wife was wanting to spend lots of $ on planting grass. Martha, I can’t confirm either way, but I think if it were a concern, it would show up on a toxicity database, since it is such a prevalent plant in many areas. I’d pull the horseherb back first. Yay — horseherb would be my preference, too. Excellent photos Meredith. But ask around — if it grows locally, you might be able to find someone willing to give you a few from their yard. Walked by the tiny patch today merely to pick up a well thrown newspaper. where can you buy this? It only needs water in the worst of droughts, and it loves shade and sun. In Part 1, we’ll discuss the proper balance of seeds and herbs for optimum nutrition; in Part 2, we’ll address common weeds and how to control them. Lawns that mix grass and herbs are inexpensive, easy to care for, and tough enough to walk and play on. Came in to say thank you for the congrats. . Surprise! Return to Image Archive of Central Texas Plants. It spreads by both seeds and runners, which means that if the goal is to remove all of it, you’re going to have a challenge. At some point, I might have to strong-arm it if it gets too pushy with certain plants I’m also trying to grow, but we’ll see what gets established first in those areas. Will I regret it? I certainly never water mine, either, Kevin. Will have to see if it’s hardy in the NW! I live in arizona please be aware horse herb can be an irritant to some dogs. Ah, Horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis), also called Straggler Daisy. This means that I'm going to be digging it up and throwing it in the compost bin...unless it's horse herb...then I may pot some in 4" pots and bring it to the garden blogger get together. Meadow herb mixture for horses. Do you prefer to love it or leave it? I have never heard of it or seen it, might not be growing here in TN, but getting rid of lawns and their water needs seems to make sense. … Soft on the feet of little children, yet hardy enough to withstand the misery of drought. Woohoo! – Flavia We are in desperate need of a low maintenance ground cover in Hockley, TX and this sounds perfect. display: none !important; Is it partially a microbial thing? I plan on transplanting this year to have more. I think I got mine at North Haven Gardens. Planting an herb garden is a great way to share the joy of gardening with your horse. I’m in southern Kansas. This concern is that my neighbors may not appreciate it spreading to their lawns. Horseherb can spread to areas where some don’t want it, but so can any other number of weeds. Awesome sight. After last year, never thought I would complaint about rain, but I'm ready for a few dry days!! All encompassing and beautiful, once embraced. Horseherb often does thrive, which is one reason some people actually don’t like it, can you believe it? Frances. I’m in Austin, too. What do you think it will do to my Bluebonnets? Pam, I honestly don’t know how I would feel if I had a different kind of yard plan in mind. Lawn irrigation tops the list on where our municipal water goes, and the time for water conservation is now, especially in Texas. Didn’t know of this plant before. I think communication is the best thing — maybe your neighbors will be interested in it for their yard, too. Two downsides of using Horseherb as a “lawn” ground cover are, 1) it needs trimming along the edges to prevent weediness into the garden, and 2) it’s not evergreen. That is an extra bonus as we are on a sloped property with retaining walls and have watched our neighbors yard sink 1 1/2″ below ours and lose all topsoil. Diverse flower rich grassland offers grazing animals a naturally healthy and balanced mixed diet which is much closer to the ancient natural grassland these animals evolved to eat. I don’t know about other varieties, but those little yellow flowers are probably your key to identifying whether it’s actually horseherb. So I’m a fan. I decided to let it take over the lawn and it is now growing all over the place – with almost NO watering. Hmm, maybe your picture of the horseherb field at Hornsby Bend will change my mind. Yes, it is invasive, but no more so then anything else and at least it is pretty. I have never fertilized it and yet its a wonderful green color. 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