Church’s is one of the original growers ‘Cape’ American Beachgrass (Ammophila Breviligulata).
We are now in our third generation of our family owned
business, growing quality Beachgrass since 1962. That’s over 50 years
of experience. We ship our Beachgrass from Maine to North Carolina and west
to the Great Lakes.
Our family started growing beachgrass in 1962. ‘Cape’
American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) was introduced a few years
later and quickly became the dune grass of choice. It can be planted from
Maine to North Carolina and along the banks of the Great Lakes. It is able
to grow and thrive in very hot dry areas. The blowing and shifting sand that
partially buries American Beachgrass, helps to fortify the plant by bringing
nutrients from the sea to the plant. The plant spreads horizontally by
sending out an underground stem called a rhizome that shoots up out of the
sand making a new plant.
The root system, which is the key to dune stabilization,
will extend deep down into the dune core. American beachgrass does not only
grow along the ocean, but also thrives along the bay, harbors and even on
the base of bluffs. It does not like to be continually flooded with water
though. Beachgrass grows and thrives when it is protected from foot traffic.
Sand fencing around the planting site is an important part of the dune
restoration project.
Sand dunes along our shore play an important role
in protecting life and property from the incoming waves and storms. Given
its dense root system and its ability to grow through the accumulating sand,
American beachgrass helps to stabilize the sand dune and actually “grow” the
dune.