The SWCD has a limited supply of native pollinator seed packets available for free!  This mix is a selection of 4 native species that have staggered bloom times throughout the growing season. This is important because pollinators need access to pollen and nectar from spring through fall.

All flowers in the packet grow to approximately 2-4 feet in height. These seeds prefer full to part sun and mostly dry soils. 
Each packet covers up to 100 square feet (~10 feet by 10 feet). 

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Our seed packets include:

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
  Bloom: June-August
  
  
• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
  Bloom: June-August
  
  
• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
  Bloom: June-September
  
  
• Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
  ​Bloom: September- October

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Planting instructions:

Preparation:
Prepare your seed bed by eliminating existing vegetation. This can be done via herbicide, sod cutter, repeated tillage, or smothering/solarization.

Best results achieved by sowing seed onto bare, loose soil and tamping in lightly. Do not plant seed more than ¼ inch deep or it will not germinate. Seed can be spread April-June or mid-October until the ground freezes. It is also possible to seed in early winter prior to snowfall or during snow free periods throughout winter.

Watering:
Spring planted gardens should be kept moist for 3-6 weeks after planing then occasionally or during dry spells.  After the first year watering should not be necessary except during drought periods. 

Maintenance:
A light layer of mulch can help suppress weeds. Until the planting is established hand weed the area to eliminate unwanted vegetation. Refer to the seedling photos to familiarize yourselves with what your new, desired seedlings look like.

As your plants mature and fill in you can prepare your garden for each new seasons growth by cutting down standing vegetation from the previous season in late winter before new growth begins (after.  Leaving your garden standing through winter provides valuable habitat for nesting insects and seeds for birds. Avoid spring garden prep until daytime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees so those beneficial insects have time to emerge.

Avoid pesticides and insecticides!  You are planting a pollinator garden to provide habitat and food for our pollinators. If you see some insect damage-- that is a good thing!  Avoid chemicals in your pollinator garden.  Additionally, native plants do not require any fertilizer inputs. 

Patience:
Native seeds have dense root systems and take a couple growing seasons to germinate and mature. Have patience and allow two to three seasons to fully establish.

Native plants are beautiful and benefit our ecosystem but some people aren't as enthusiastic or haven't been informed of their benefits. Help us shift the perception of native landscape plants by keeping your native garden tidy and maintained. Learn more here.

Need more details?
Prairie Nursery and Prairie Moon Nursery have GREAT seed establishment guides that cover planning, planting, and maintenance in detail.

Check them out here:
Prairie Nursery Seeding Resources
Prairie Moon Nursery Resources

Good or Bad!?!!
It's often hard to tell the difference between native plant seedlings and weeds. Use the resources below to help guide you.

Common Weeds- White River Alliance

NRCS Seedling ID Guide

Items for purchase:
​The Tallgrass Prairie Center Guide to seed and Seedling Identification in the Upper Midwest

Prairie Seedling and Seedling Evaluation Guide

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These seed packets were made possible through a Clean Water Indiana Grant.