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Planting Wildflowers and Native Grasses
Depending on the species and the time of year you receive your
order, your plants may be in various stages of growth. Early spring
orders will most likely be dormant, without any visible growth. Later in
the season, your plants may just be beginning to green up or mostly
growing.
It is best to have your planting area prepared before your plants
arrive. All existing vegetation should be removed. The bed should be as
clean as possible to prevent existing weeds from competing with your
plants. This can be accomplished mechanically by digging or tilling. For
best results this should be repeated every three weeks until no sign of
sprouting occurs, which may take an entire growing season. In addition,
several applications of a short duration herbicide (e.g. Roundup©) may
be used. Be sure to always follow the manufacture's application
instructions.
Be sure to choose plants or collections adapted to your soil type. For
example, our Great Prairie Collection is adapted to mesic sites and will
do well in a rich garden soil. The application of additional fertilizers
is not recommended as this produces excessive vegetative growth and
floppy plants.
Plants should be installed as soon as possible after you receive them. |
Care and Installation
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Remove plants from
box/shipping materials. |
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Keep your plants in a
shaded area out of direct sunlight. |
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Water your plants, being
sure to saturate the soil. |
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When planting, place each
plant slightly lower (1/4-1/2 inch) than it was growing in the
container. Completely firm the soil around the plant. |
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Be sure to water all
transplants in well, keeping them moist until they are established.
Watering should continue through the first growing season. Prairies
can grow with little or no water, but only after their roots have
become deeply established. WATER YOUR PRAIRIE CAREFULLY THE FIRST
YEAR. |
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The unplanted, bare areas
between and surrounding each plant may be mulched to retain moisture
and suppress weeds. Apply mulch no more than 2-3 inches deep. Be
sure to keep the mulch away from the crown of the plant to prevent
rotting. Do not use raw bark or wood chip mulch, as the decaying
woody material extracts nutrients from the soil and stresses the
plants. Use clean, composted or degraded mulch. |
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Beds should be hand-weeded
during establishment. In the fall, leave dead vegetation standing to
provide winter interest. In spring, remove last year's dead
vegetation to allow sufficient light for new growth. The previous
year's mulch can be left, but cut away dead plant stems and leaves. |
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