The weedy, fast-growing grass that shoots up in Richardson's medians between mowings has a name, and city crews say it resists most of what they throw at it.
At a City Council meeting Monday, Nov. 2, the Parks and Recreation Department briefed members on how the city maintains its green spaces and what it might change. Part of that presentation focused on KR bluestem, an invasive grass that the city says can grow as much as 12 inches in just a few days.
According to the city's summary, the species was brought into the United States for erosion control and livestock grazing, then spread on its own. It is difficult to control because it holds up against herbicides. Parks crews and contractors mow medians and rights-of-way on a 10-day rotation to keep it in check.
The grass does not tolerate cold, and the city says it dies back after the first freeze each year.
Low-mow and no-mow options
Staff walked the council through how often each kind of public space is mowed and fertilized, with separate schedules for athletic fields, park turf, the grounds of public buildings, medians, and creek and riparian corridors. The schedules are meant to keep areas safe and usable for recreation while protecting natural resources, according to the city.
The alternatives under review would change how the city handles low-mow and no-mow areas and how it removes unwanted brush, vegetation and invasive plants. No decision was made. The Parks and Recreation Commission will review the options first, and its feedback will come back to the council at a later meeting.