DID YOU KNOW... establishing a native plant community from seed can take 3 years or more?!

YEAR 1:  SITE PREPARATION AND SEEDING YEAR
 • Many areas will need 1 growing season (spring-fall) for site preparation, an exception may be an area with lawn grass.  Remove existing grass/weeds AND the weed seed bank in the soil by using herbicides or other methods you determine to be best.  Sowing the seed: We are an advocate for fall or frost plantings (mid-Oct or after).  Spring plantings (April-June) are an acceptable second choice.  You should not plant in the summer. (Click here for “Pros and Cons to Fall vs. Spring Plantings”).

YEAR 2: FIRST GROWING SEASON
• Most sites need maintenance mowings to keep weeds from going to seed and to allow light to penetrate the ground encouraging growth of the majority of the slow-growing natives.  You may get some blooms this year, most likely the Black-eyed Susan, but you must sacrifice those beautiful flowers if you want the other species to establish!  Keep the area cut to 4-6” this year.  Don’t pull the weeds!  This will disturb the root systems of the nearby natives trying to establish.

YEAR 3: SECOND GROWING SEASON
• This may or may not be the year you start enjoying the fruits of your labor.  You may need to mow once yet this year.  Be patient – although some species may reach flowering stages in year 3, many could take 5 years or more.

For more information on establishing a native plant community using seed, read the excerpt from our catalog….