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Our seed packets include:
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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. |
Show off your garden!
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These seed packets were made possible through a Clean Water Indiana Grant.
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