Landscaping With Native PlantsLandscaping With Native Plants

How to turn your backyard in a prairie paradiseHow to turn your backyard in a prairie paradise

What is a prairie?What is a prairie?

Prairies are native grasslandsPrairies are native grasslands They extended from the Rocky Mountains to They extended from the Rocky Mountains to

the Eastern edges of Illinoisthe Eastern edges of Illinois The vegetation is tall grasses to the east, short The vegetation is tall grasses to the east, short

grasses to the west, with a combination of both grasses to the west, with a combination of both in the middlein the middle

Often supported up to 350 different species of Often supported up to 350 different species of floraflora

Extension of the Prairies in U.S.Extension of the Prairies in U.S.

Picture Courtesy of Chicago Wilderness

Prairies – A historical perspectivePrairies – A historical perspective

Grasses started developing in the Miocene Epoch, about Grasses started developing in the Miocene Epoch, about 25 million years ago25 million years ago

At the time of European Settlement they covered large At the time of European Settlement they covered large areas of Earth; they are known as prairies in North areas of Earth; they are known as prairies in North America, pampas in South America and steppes in America, pampas in South America and steppes in Central AsiaCentral Asia

Over time, the soil in which the grasses grew became rich Over time, the soil in which the grasses grew became rich in organic material due to their extensive root systemin organic material due to their extensive root system

Early settlers found this soil very productive and began Early settlers found this soil very productive and began converting it to agricultural useconverting it to agricultural use

Today only a few areas still have the pre-settlement Today only a few areas still have the pre-settlement prairies; these areas are known as prairie remnantsprairies; these areas are known as prairie remnants

Root system of the prairie grassesRoot system of the prairie grasses

Picture Courtesy of Chicago Wilderness

Why choose native plants?Why choose native plants? Prairie plants are well suited to the soils and environment Prairie plants are well suited to the soils and environment

of Illinois of Illinois They are perennials that do not require replanting every They are perennials that do not require replanting every

year year Prairie plants are nearly free of diseasePrairie plants are nearly free of disease Drought resistant Drought resistant They attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other They attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other

interesting insects interesting insects Spirit of conservationSpirit of conservation Prairie grasses are spectacular during the fall when they Prairie grasses are spectacular during the fall when they

assume their russet, yellow, bronze, and orange colors assume their russet, yellow, bronze, and orange colors

LocationLocation

Start by looking at your siteStart by looking at your site Imagine what you want to accomplishImagine what you want to accomplish Think about how much work you want to invest in your Think about how much work you want to invest in your

native gardennative garden Visualize the colors and layout (keep in mind the Visualize the colors and layout (keep in mind the

heights of the plants)heights of the plants)

Make a plan on paperMake a plan on paper Keep in mind measurements and planting requirementsKeep in mind measurements and planting requirements Do not exclude the rest of your property – plan the Do not exclude the rest of your property – plan the

native garden as part of a wholenative garden as part of a whole

Make Make a plana plan

Courtesy of Minnesota DNR

Site preparationSite preparation

Know your soil and sun/shade patternKnow your soil and sun/shade pattern This is a necessary step in order to decide what plants This is a necessary step in order to decide what plants

are going to be planted and whereare going to be planted and where

Eliminate turfEliminate turf You can do this with a turf cutter or you can smother You can do this with a turf cutter or you can smother

the grassthe grass Make sure you remove the turf completely before you Make sure you remove the turf completely before you

start plantingstart planting

Improve your soilImprove your soil

Choosing plantsChoosing plants

Since you made a planting design that shows the Since you made a planting design that shows the shade patterns in your yard, it will be easy to shade patterns in your yard, it will be easy to choose the correct prairie plantschoose the correct prairie plants

I included a list of prairie nurseries in Illinois; I included a list of prairie nurseries in Illinois; they can answer the more in-depth questions that they can answer the more in-depth questions that could arise from such a projectcould arise from such a project

You can also purchase prairie plants from the Soil You can also purchase prairie plants from the Soil and Water Conservation District Annual Plant and Water Conservation District Annual Plant SaleSale

Plants for full sunPlants for full sun

Pictures Courtesy of Chicago Wilderness

Plants for partial shadePlants for partial shade

Pictures Courtesy of Chicago Wilderness

Plants for shady areasPlants for shady areas

Pictures Courtesy of Chicago Wilderness

PlantingPlanting

Depending on your budget you can purchase “live” Depending on your budget you can purchase “live” plants in containers, bare root plants or seedsplants in containers, bare root plants or seeds

If you decide to use seeds be weary of vendors that If you decide to use seeds be weary of vendors that claim to sell native seeds and actually give exotics or claim to sell native seeds and actually give exotics or invasive speciesinvasive species

Follow the directions on the seed packet when Follow the directions on the seed packet when proceeding with the planting proceeding with the planting

Planting should be done in spring to allow plants to Planting should be done in spring to allow plants to establish their rootsestablish their roots

PlantingPlanting Now that you have the area Now that you have the area

cleared out, the plants and cleared out, the plants and the weed barrier cloth you the weed barrier cloth you are ready to do the hard are ready to do the hard workwork

First lay down the barrier First lay down the barrier cloth and secure it in placecloth and secure it in place

Use a knife to cut slits in the Use a knife to cut slits in the cloth where you are planting cloth where you are planting your plantsyour plants

Plant your prairie plants one Plant your prairie plants one per square foot; this is per square foot; this is necessary for proper root necessary for proper root growthgrowth

Cover the area with mulchCover the area with mulch Picture Courtesy of FrostProof.com

Picture Courtesy of H&E Sod

MaintenanceMaintenance

The first year after planting your prairie garden is The first year after planting your prairie garden is very important in terms of maintenancevery important in terms of maintenance

It will determine how well your garden will do in the It will determine how well your garden will do in the futurefuture

Two key components are watering and weedingTwo key components are watering and weeding Second component cannot be emphasized enough Second component cannot be emphasized enough

since the plants and weeds are in powerful since the plants and weeds are in powerful competition for resourcescompetition for resources

Once the garden is established the amount of Once the garden is established the amount of maintenance will reduce considerablymaintenance will reduce considerably

Eventually your garden will look like Eventually your garden will look like this…this…

ResourcesResources ““Gardening with Prairie Plants” ISBN 0-8166-3087-9Gardening with Prairie Plants” ISBN 0-8166-3087-9

How To Create Beautiful Native LandscapesHow To Create Beautiful Native Landscapes

by Sally Wasowskiby Sally Wasowski http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/nativeplants/factsht.html http://www.epa.gov/ecopage/springfieldtwp/index.html#Ho

meowners%20Resources – check out the homeowner’s fact sheets – check out the homeowner’s fact sheets

http://www.plantnative.com/how_intro.htm http://www.chicagowilderness.org/wildchi/landscape/index.c

fm -- check out the plants pictures and descriptions -- check out the plants pictures and descriptions

http://dnr.state.il.us/conservation/naturalheritage/prairie/cntnt2.htm

QuestionsQuestions