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Planting & Maintenance Guide
InstallationGallery
Planting
Native plant
communities can be established by seeding or planting living plant
material. Plants are faster to establish and can be planted in areas
it is difficult to establish seedlings, such as areas that are
frequently flooded. Seeding is typically more appropriate on larger
sites and is a more economical choice. Seeding is most successful if
planted in the spring or fall. (between May 1st and June 15th or after
October 15th and before December 15th) Soil seed contact is necessary
for seeds to germinate; the soil should either be tilled, a special
drill for no-till seeding can be used, or the seed can be scratched in
using a garden rake. In either case the seed should be planted no
deeper than _ to 1/8 inch deep. Agrecol plants PLS seed which
guarantees a consistent number of live seeds are planted.
Native
plants are best installed after the chance of frost in the spring and
in time for some rooting-in before the first frost in the fall. Plants
should be fully hydrated before planting and the root ball should be
loosened slightly. Watering may be necessary until plants are
established.
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Maintenance
Mowing,
selective herbicide applications or digging, and controlled burns are
the key tools used in the restoration of native plant communities.
Mowing the prairie can help to keep non-native annual plants from
producing as much seed. Natives are slower to establish because they
often spend the first year or two building an extensive root system.
Annual weeds tend to be faster as they need to reproduce in a single
year. Mowing also removes the cover annual weeds create and will
allow more light to penetrate to the prairie seedlings. Mowing should
be done several times the first growing season and continue until
native plants begin to push annual weeds out. Mowing should be done at
a height of 6 to 12 inches depending on the height of the native
vegetation.
Weeds
Invasive perennial weeds such as Canada thistle,
Quackgrass, and Reed Canary Grass cannot be managed with mowing alone.
Spot spraying a glyphosate based herbicide is often the most practical
way to eliminate these weeds. Although digging or pulling weeds can
also be successful.
Controlled Burns
Controlled burns can aid greatly in the
establishment of many native communities. Many weeds are suppressed by
burning and several native species are greatly benefited. Burning can
allow regrowing plants to receive more sunshine, decrease of pest
pressure and release nutrients that were bound in organic matter.
Burns can be done as soon as enough fuel is available which may be up
to three or more years. All burns should be done in accordance with
local ordinance, all applicable permits should be secured and the crew
should be comprised of professionals who are certified and experienced
in these types of prescribed burns. If burning is not possible, mowing
the site and removing the debris can be substituted. However, mowing
is typically less effective at eliminating weeds and brush and does not
carry many of the benefits listed above.
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