Category: Urban Conservation

Winter Seeding Natives

12/17/2020

Claire Lane - Urban Conservationist

After a long, cold winter the sunshine and warmer temps of spring usually inspire thoughts of flowers and new plantings and excitement over gardens and growth. But, did you know you don't have to wait till spring to get started? In fact, fall and winter can be the best time to start your native planting from seed. Fall and winter seeding, sometimes called frost seeding or dormant seeding, takes advantage of the cold, moist winter weather. These conditions help seeds break their dormancy and germinate successfully in the spring. This process is known as cold-moist stratification and many of our native species must go through this process before they are able to germinate.

A general rule of thumb in native plantings is that fall plantings favor germination of forbs while spring seeding favors native grasses. An additional plus for fall seeding is particularly relevant to wet areas or areas with heavier silt or clay soils like Hamilton County. It is typically easier to work and prep these soils in the dry fall as they tend to stay wet late into the spring. Difficulties working wet clay soil in the spring can make you miss optimal seeding windows as well as compact soils.

Site Prep
The key to establishing native seed in any season is good seed, soil contact. Your site prep should make soil contact possible and the freeze and thaw throughout the winter will work the seed into the ground to the appropriate depth. Site prep that leaves disturbed soil uncovered is not ideal for a fall/winter seeding, especially on erosion prone sites. Learn more about site prep options on the Site Prep page of our website.

Timing
Wait till daily temperatures are consistently under 70 degrees to avoid any fall germination. In central Indiana, November is a great time to get started. Most species need 30-90 days of cold-moist stratification so the earlier in the winter you get them broadcast, the better. A good option is to broadcast seed just before a forecasted snow. The snow acts as a temporary cover for the seed to avoid a bird smorgasbord of your seed. If you haven't prepped your site to allow for a winter seeding this year, it is possible to mimic the cold-wet stratification in your own fridge for a spring planting. Learn more here.

Seeding
Hand broadcasting is typically the best frost seeding method for smaller areas but you'll want to follow best pracitces to make sure your seed is distributed evenly. Learn more about seeding methods from Prairie Moon Nursery- How to Grow a Prairie from Seed.

Care
When spring arrives, keep an eye out for troublesome annual weeds. Hand pulling is your best bet for managing those early weeds in the first season. It can be difficult, especially for beginners to identify weed vs native plant seedlings but thankfully some resources are available. Check out the NRCS Prairie Seedling Guide or you can even create your own based on your seed mix. We have plenty of maintenance resources available on our Pollinator/Native Garden Info page.

*A note on sourcing seed
Sourcing your seed is very important as you can find yourself in a situation where your seed is loaded with fillers or even noxious weeds seed! You've done the work to prep and prepare, so extend that thoughtfulness to your species selection and your seed sourcing. We have a great list of native plant and seed sources available on the Where to Buy Native Plants page of our website. If you want to start small, we also have packets of seed available for free at our office. These packets are a simple mix of four species that will provide blooms for pollinators throughout the whole growing season. Learn more about the packets here. If you'd like to stop by to pick up some packets just give us a call to set up an appointment 317-773-2181.

More resources:
Purdue Extension - Now is the time to sow native grasses and forbs
Tallgrass Prairie Center- Dormant Seeding Prairie Field Day Video
Prairie Moon Nursery- How to Grow a Prairie from Seed

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Garden Tour Highlights Backyard Prairies

9/29/2019

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Claire Lane, Urban Conservationist

Our suburban backyards are often sterile affairs -- little diversity, many non-native plants, and a lot of time and effort mowing grass areas that aren't heavily utilized. While adding in native plants is a great start toward making a backyard a more ecologically vibrant environment, so much more is possible! The two properties featured in our August pop up garden tour are proof that you don't have to have acreage or native plants expertise to have a beautiful, functional, suburban backyard prairie!

Download the tour handout here

*includes the project timeline and process

In the summer of 2016, the Cotton family reached out to the SWCD to learn about sustainable options for management of their mostly turf-grass, 0.2 acre backyard. During a site visit, I helped them identify options including transitioning half of the grass area to a prairie meadow. The Cottons were immediately on board and soon their neighbors were planning their own, too. The SWCD provided guidance on preparing the areas, seed mixes (including sourcing and planting), initial management, and more. By fall of 2017, the Cotton and Grimes families were prepping their yards and in spring 2018 the seed was in the ground! Neighbors had some questions when the Grimes and Cottons started to kill off most of their backyard grass and probably even more questions during heavy weed pressure during year one. This summer, the landowners fought back annual weeds and were rewarded with beautiful peak season blooms featuring the yellow and pink of black eyed Susan and purple coneflower.

Signage from the SWCD and Wildlife Federation help educate friends and neighbors on the benefits of the native planting.

Denise Cotton (center) talks to garden tour attendees about her backyard prairie.

This August, the Soil and Water Conservation District teamed up with the homeowners and the Central Chapter of the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) to feature these backyard prairies as part of the INPS Central Chapter "pop up garden tour" circuit. Each year, native plant enthusiasts open up their yards on fairly short notice (pop up!) to Central Chapter membership and the public to share the joys of gardening with native plants. On a beautiful August 3rd afternoon, over 100 friends, neighbors, native plant lovers, and native plant/prairie curious individuals toured the two beautiful backyard meadows.

INPS reps marked unique native plants in the prairies, the SWCD hosted a table with free seed packs and loads of conservation information, and the Grimes and Cottons displayed a photo board showing photographs and information from their prep and planting process. Attendees took advantage of the time with the homeowners to pick their brains on the rewards and practical challenges of taking on this type of project. The results spoke for themselves.

Garden tour attendees review the photo display of the prep and planting process.

Create your own
If you are interested in taking on a similar project in your backyard, HOA common area, or church or school property, we're here to help! There is planning assistance and possibly even financial assistance available. If you're not ready to turn most of your backyard into meadow, consider converting a small portion or corner of your yard. The SWCD has free packets of a 4 species native seed mix and various other seed packets are available for purchase through retailers such as Carndo Native Plant Nursery, Prairie Nursery, and Prairie Moon Nursery. The also keeps a website of local native plant sales here. Check out site prep and planting information on our website and below to get started (note on seed-- not all seed mixes are created equal, especially "native" or "wildflower" seed mixes at box stores. Often, these mixtures include non-native or even invasive species and aren't the best fit for our pollinators and wildlife). The plant kits available from our spring plant sale are also a great jump start for a small area.

Resources:

Our handout featuring the Grimes and Cotton timeline and process (PDF)
Where to buy native plants/seed
How to plant an area from seed
Join The Indiana Native Plant Society- a great resource and network for everyone from experts to newbies!
Grow Indiana Natives Program- INPS program highlighting native plant retailers AND a native garden certification!

While planning, consider things like utilities, HOA covenants, and overall neighborhood aesthetic sensibilities. Backyard native plantings are a great opportunity to educate friends and neighbors on the beauty and function of native plants. The SWCD has signage available and little actions like keeping tidy borders and using a bench or birdhouse to show care for the area can help people see that your natives aren't "weeds" resulting from lack of care but actually a beautiful, tended home for pollinators and a sustainable choice for your yard!

Remember, a prairie isn't just something 'out there in a park somewhere' but quite possibly, literally, in your own backyard.

How to create your own backyard meadow:

Whether you have 10 square feet or 10 acres, replacing turf grass with native plants is a great way to reduce maintenance on ecologically sterile areas of your property and replace them with vibrant, diverse native plants that support pollinators, wildlife, water quality, our ecological heritage, and our ecosystem.

Planning
Consider the existing vegetation on your property as well as underground and above ground utilities, easements, invasive species and potential weed pressure. Use local resources such as your SWCD, INPS chapter and members, Master Gardeners, and Grow Indiana Native resources to guide planning and source quality seed and/or plants.

Terminate existing turfgrass

Smother/solarize - Use mulch, newsprint, cardboard, tarps or other materials to kill grass. This method can take as little as 60 days but often requires a full growing season for an effective kill.
Sod cutter- A sod cutter can also be used on lawns free of perennial weeds.
Till - Avoid tilling if possible as it can expose weed seeds.
Herbicide - Glyphosate applications in the fall and/or spring can be successful for prep. Wait 10 days before seeding. It is possible to apply herbicide, mow/scalp the area, and seed directly into dead grass. Rake or lightly roll seed in.
- Note- while organic is great, don't immediately discount herbicide use. For some homeowners, a timely and properly applied herbicide can aid in a transition from a resource intensive land use (turfgrass) to a beneficial land use.

Seed/Plant - Mid-September - late November is a great time to seed natives. Fall plantings favor flowers and don't require watering.
March - April seeding favors grasses.
May - June seeding allows for more soil preparation and spring weed control but may require supplemental watering.

Maintain - Weed control during the first years is critical. Mowing will be necessary ~1x month the first year to combat annual weeds. Target noxious weeds with hand pulling or herbicide. More info is available here.
Enjoy - Consider certifying your garden through the Grow Indiana Native Program. It's free!

Notes-
Seeds should be planted no more than 1/4 inch deep.

Many natives require cold stratification to germinate. A fall or winter seeding is great to provide stratification naturally.
Erosion prone sites may require a cover crop of oats and rye or an erosion control blanket.
Seeded areas take patience! It is often three years before areas become successfully established.
Native areas are lower maintenance, but not no maintenance. Expect more weed pressure in the first few years--maintenance should drop after the planting is fully established but will never be zero maintenance.

Need more info and details? Checkout the resources, guides, and links at hamiltonswcd.org/seedpack & IndianaNativePlants.org

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Hamilton County SWCD News

Winter Seeding Natives

Garden Tour Highlights Backyard Prairies

How to create your own backyard meadow:

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