Garden Tour Highlights Backyard Prairies

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