8/3/2019 Ohio; Making a Prairie Garden - Ohio Department of Natural Resources

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Making

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Ohio’s PrairieLandscapeTe land that greeted early settlers to Ohio wasan expanse o great orests, with a scatteringo small and large prairie openings. oday,only ragments o those prairie openings havesurvived. Teir beautiul grasses and prairiewildowers may be used today in backyardgardens and public spaces.

When grown rom seeds, a prairie garden may take two, three or more years beore owers willappear. For the astest growth, use container-

grown plants. Seeds or plants purchased rom vendors specializing in Ohio prairie species willgive the best, most reliable results.

Many prairie plants are rare or endangered,which means they are protected by law romunauthorized collection. Unless you have permission from the landowner, do not collect seeds from an existing prairie. It is illegal tocollect seeds or plants rom Ohio’s state naturepreserves, wildlie areas and other state lands.

When using seeds, site preparation is crucial. Be

sure to place seeds on bare, rm weed-ree soil.o keep weeds rom dominating your garden inthe rst ew years, inrequent mowing may benecessary while the small seedling prairie plantsare growing deep roots.

Choosing the RightPlantsIt is wise to use only those prairie species oundnaturally growing in Ohio. Te ollowing is a listo some beautiul, easy-to-grow prairie plants:

GrassesIndian grass (• Sorghastrum nutans)little bluestem (• Schizachyrium scoparium)switchgrass (• Panicum virgatum)

Forbs (wildfowers)buttery weed (•   Asclepias tuberosa)Culver’s root (• Veronicastrum virginianum)dense blazing star (• Liatris spicata)alse sunower (• Heliopsis helianthoides)oxglove beardtongue (• Penstemon digitalis)hairy sunower (• Helianthus mollis)prairie coneower (• Ratibida pinnata)purple coneower (• Echinacea purpurea)rough blazing star (• Liatris aspera)tall coreopsis (• Coreopsis tripteris)

Virginia mountain-mint (• Pycnanthemumvirginianum)whorled rosinweed (• Silphium trioliatum)wild bergamot (•  Monarda fstulosa)

Maintaining yourPrairie Garden

Te biggest challenge or prairie gardeners iscontrolling weeds during the rst two or three

years. Prairie plants spend their early yearsgrowing deep roots, while weeds grow quickly above, crowding and shading the still-shortprairie seedlings.

Weeds can be controlled using herbicides,mulching and hand weeding. Young prairieseedlings can be dicult to identiy, so use carewhen weeding.

By the third growing season, the annualmaintenance needed or most prairie gardens isthe removal o last year’s dead stems and leaves.In early spring, the garden should be eitherraked o or mowed down with a lawn mower.Re-sprouting prairie plants need warm soils and

direct sunshine. Removing the previous year’sstems and leaves will help new growth. Te rakedo prairie material makes ideal weed-suppressingmulch in other ower beds or vegetable gardens.

A mature prairie garden requires no covering,no pruning, no spraying, no irrigation and noertilizer—saving the prairie gardener hundredso dollars in maintenance costs and hours o labor. In act, there will be little or you to do, butenjoy your colorul natural landscape eature!

o learn more about Ohio’s prairie landscapesand protected prairie state nature preserves,please visit www.ohiodnr.com/dnap .

Ohio Department of Natural ResourcesDivision o Natural Areas and Preserves

2045 Morse Road, Bldg. F-1Columbus, OH 43229

(614) 265-6453

Native Prairie Seedsand Plants

8/3/2019 Ohio; Making a Prairie Garden - Ohio Department of Natural Resources

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Making aPrairie GardenPrairie gardens, regardless o size, recreatesmall examples o one o Ohio’s most beautiuland rare ecosystems—the tallgrass prairie.Easy-to-grow prairie plants are among nature’smost spectacular owers, producing blooms

o brilliant yellows, reds and purples. Native

prairie grasses and owers are hardy species,resistant to disease, pests and drought. Mostthrive in poor soils and once established,require little maintenance.

Choosing aSuitable SiteAn important rst step in creating a prairiegarden is to choose an appropriate site. Teonly requirement is adequate sunlight. Direct,day-long sunlight is best, although many prairie plants can grow with a hal-day’ssunlight. Shaded sites, with less than a hal-day o direct sunlight, will not support sun-loving

prairie plants.

Prairie plants grow in three dierent soil types:xeric (dry), mesic (moderately moist) and hydric(wet) soils. However, they will thrive in a variety o soil textures ranging rom clay to sand, andthey will tolerate a wide range o soil ertility andacidity. Dry and mesic prairie plants preer loosesoil with good drainage. Wet species grow inpoorly drained areas, where water stands afer aheavy rain or soils are seasonally wet.

Some prairie species may visually enhanceproblem areas, such as soggy areas or gravel hills.Check the site requirement or each plant speciesbeore planting them at your site.

Create aPlanting DesignOnce you’ve selected your site, considerdeveloping a planting plan. Nurseries which sellprairie plants or seeds may also carry reerencematerials to help you select the best species oryour prairie garden.

For more detailed inormation, consider

contacting the Ohio Prairie Association atwww.ohioprairie.org  or check with your localMaster Gardener program, oten located inyour county’s extension oice. he ollowingtips will help you design an attractive andhealthy prairie garden:

Use only native Ohio prairie species and,•

when possible, purchase your plants rom anOhio nursery. Species and plants rom otherstates are not always adapted to Ohio’s soiland climate conditions.

Match plants to your soil—xeric, mesic•

or hydric.

Fit the size o the p•

garden. Keep tall pPlanting in curves,•

your prairie a natuInclude prairie gras•

which support otheprovide wonderul Plant species which•

color throughout turn your prairie g•

by selecting plants

butteries, birds anFor larger prairie g•