Helictotrichon sempervirens, Blue Oat Grass, is planted here in conditions that might at first seem conducive to success, but in reality are not. These plants are growing very weakly planted in heavy soil under regular irrigation. Here the crowns are rotting resulting in spindly plants, a problem that is compounded by the mulch that holds moisture tightly around the crown and our heavier soils here. These don’t have a chance. What is beginning to take hold here, though it is difficult to photograph at this growth stage under these light conditions, is the very aggressively spreading annual Crab Grass, Digitata sanguinalis. Each plant is said to be capable of producing upwards of 8,000 seeds. This particular weed wasn’t much of a problem 30 years ago but has been proliferating, particularly across rights-of-way, rivers, vacant, disturbed and compacted sites. It seems to be everywhere. This planting as managed is essentially an opportunity for any weed in the area as the intended planting struggles and dies out.