Long-time Reflection Riding volunteer Dr. Charlie Belin is ready to answer your questions in our occasional "Ask a Botanist" series. Charlie is a retired professor of ecology, an expert botanist, and essentially runs a clinic in his home greenhouse for dying plants people give him. Send him your questions and he'll do his best to help you out!

Dear Dr. Charlie,

I have attached photos of grass that grows along the trail to Edward’s Point, Signal Mountain. It turns a beautiful deep yellow in late November/early December. That is the best time to see the extent of the patches. Can you identify this for me?

Thank you, 

Carol

Hi Carol,

Charlie and our horticulture team had to put their heads together for this one. Dylan identified it as Arundinaria gigantea, also known as giant cane or river cane. Scotty also suggested Arundinaria tecta as a possibility. Either way, what you have there isn't just a grass — it's actually the one genus of bamboo native to North America!  

Arundinaria has been used by Native American tribes in the Southeastern Woodlands for a wide variety of things, from basket weaving and flute construction to utilizing the roots for their painkilling properties. 

If you want to identify a plant, we always recommend using iNaturalist. There is a huge community of specialists and enthusiasts that can help you figure it out; plus, you're contributing to a collective of citizen scientists with your data! 

Thanks for your question,

Bess + the Reflection Riding Horticulture team

Edit: our Botanist in the Attic, Zach Irick, has weighed in as well! He says it is A. appalachiana, a cryptic species of the cane that grows stunted up on the plateau. 

Dear Charlie,

My husband and I recently moved into our first home. The back yard used to be a lovely garden, but it hasn’t been seriously cared for in likely over a decade. (Our main focus to date has been removing the poison ivy). It’s pretty overgrown, and we’ll need to take out at least one dead tree. 

I’d love some advice on how to begin to move forward with caring for our yard and making selected improvements in an eco-friendly (and affordable) way that’s good for our toddler to play in but doesn’t involve just turning the place into a lawn. Is this something that you could help us with? Perhaps with some recommendations of native plants that would be good to look into? Or, do you know of an ecologically-thoughtful landscaping company who we might want to consult with? We also may try to level it out a bit to deal with some of the erosion and add a retaining wall and fence. We’d be grateful for any and all advice and recommendations you may have. Thank you so much!

Best wishes,

Lisa

Hi Lisa;

I was in your same situation about three and a half years ago with the home we moved into here in Chattanooga. The grounds had not seen any care in many years. After our experiences, I’m going to give you a staged series of ideas for the renovation of your yard. Please remember that this total process will take probably 3 - 5 years to achieve, but the final product will be very satisfying.

First of all, try to envision what the yard will be used for over the years. Will it be used for kids and games? Will it be used for just communing? Will it be used for some kind of crops? You might consider a landscape architect to help you develop a plan.

Second, take soil samples from several places in the yard in order to determine what you are dealing with. These samples can be sent to UTK for a few dollars for analysis, and it will help you plan for your goals.

Third, you should prepare a site plan that will incorporate the ideas for your yard that you have developed. You may want to divide your yard work into phases or stages that will make the work not only more affordable but will also break out the work and species into groups.

Fourth, concerning the plant species, you can insert into the yard, you really have come to the best place. Native plants you can purchase from Reflection Riding are already acclimated to our climate, region, and geography. Our experts (Scotty, Dylan, and Hannah) can guide you in your selections. Please take your plan with you when you visit so that they can see what you have in mind and help you even further.

Next, prepare for some dirty, aching work digging up weeds (the best way to get rid of weeds is to dig them up, not clip them at the surface). Please don’t work too hard or too long. That would just be counterproductive and would turn you off of further efforts.

Concerning species of grass to insert into your yard, you have several species or hybrids to choose from. Fescues, zoysia, etc. are just some of them, but you might choose a reasonable landscape firm to help you. There are many around here that are great, but I would suggest you contact some of your neighbors who may have ideas. I would provide your selected landscaper with your plan so they may understand your ideas. Get them to grade your yard if needed prior to laying sod or spreading seed. They should also guide you when to work with grass. Now is NOT the time to either add sod or to seed a lawn.

Good luck, and have fun with your developing yard.

Charlie