This Septic Safe seed mix has all the qualities to make that crappy site into something beautiful and beneficial. These species are rugged; they will thrive in the moisture-sucking gravel above tanks and leach fields, as well as withstand the additional heat emitted from below. Once established, this combination of plants averages 2 to 3 feet in height. The colorful flowers throughout the growing season will provide year-long interest and support local pollinators like butterflies, bees, and birds.
Native plants create tight-knit communities with entwined root systems that will prevent soil erosion while absorbing excess moisture and *ahem* nutrients: Nature’s original filtration devices. These plants perform well in full or partial sun and prefer to keep their roots dry; this means that, although some roots dig deep, they will not seek out the piping underground or clog up the works.
| The doo’s and don’ts of planting over septic systems: | |
| Don’t Doo: |
Doo Doo: |
| Don't add a lot of additional soil |
Doo install herbaceous, non-woody plants |
| Don't mulch heavily |
Doo prioritize drought tolerant species |
| Don't irrigate or water excessively |
Doo plant perennials (for minimal ground disturbance) |
| Don't compact the soil |
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| Don't dig deeply or till |
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| Don't fertilize |
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For seed mixes of 1/8 acre or less, we include a temporary cover crop at no additional charge. ReGreen is a sterile, short-lived perennial wheat hybrid that can be planted spring or fall.
All mixes are subject to change without notice depending on availability of species.
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Septic-Safe Seed Mix by Prairie Moon® Nursery 12.52 lbs per acre | 142 Seeds per sq/ft |
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WILDFLOWERS |
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|
Botanical Name (Common Name) |
% by wt. |
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Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine) |
1.00 |
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Artemisia ludoviciana (Prairie Sage) |
0.13 |
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Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) |
2.00 |
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Asclepias verticillata (Whorled Milkweed) |
0.50 |
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Baptisia alba (White Wild Indigo) |
1.00 |
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Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea) |
16.02 |
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Coreopsis lanceolata (Lance-leaf Coreopsis) |
2.00 |
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Crotalaria sagittalis (Rattlebox) |
1.00 |
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Dalea purpurea (Purple Prairie Clover) |
2.50 |
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Echinacea pallida (Pale Purple Coneflower) |
2.00 |
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Gentiana flavida (Cream Gentian) |
0.50 |
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Helianthus occidentalis (Western Sunflower) |
1.00 |
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Lupinus perennis subsp. perennis (Sundial Lupine) |
2.50 |
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Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue) |
1.50 |
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Pycnanthemum virginianum (Mountain Mint) |
0.12 |
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Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) |
3.50 |
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Solidago nemoralis (Old Field Goldenrod) |
0.13 |
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Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (Sky Blue Aster) |
1.10 |
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Symphyotrichum sericeum (Silky Aster) |
1.75 |
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Tradescantia ohiensis (Ohio Spiderwort) |
3.00 |
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Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain) |
2.00 |
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Zizia aptera (Heart-leaf Golden Alexanders) |
1.00 |
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Total of WILDFLOWERS: |
47.15 % |
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GRASSES, SEDGES & RUSHES |
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Botanical Name (Common Name) |
% by wt. |
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Bouteloua curtipendula (Side-oats Grama) |
22.42 |
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Carex brevior (Plains Oval Sedge) |
4.00 |
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Carex muehlenbergii (Sand Bracted Sedge) |
1.00 |
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Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Love Grass) |
0.25 |
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Juncus tenuis (Path Rush) |
0.75 |
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Koeleria macrantha (June Grass) |
2.00 |
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Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) |
22.42 |
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Totals of GRASSES, SEDGES & RUSHES: |
52.85 % |
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For seed mixes of 1/8 acre or less, we include a cover crop at the rate of 10.5 lbs/ac. ReGreen is a sterile, short-lived perennial wheat hybrid that can be planted spring or fall. |
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| (FILTER PLANTS IN THIS SEED MIX) | |
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Last updated 12/15/25 |
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7 Questions asked on Septic Safe Seed Mix
As for clean up - you can cut plants back late fall or early spring. We are fans of waiting until spring so overwintering insects and other wildlife can utilize your prairie. A small area can be raked off or mowed off early spring, but best maintenance would be a spring burn every other year or so, if you can get a burn permit in your area.
*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.
US Shipping & Handling Charges
SEED: $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail online SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!
Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost.
BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS: $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost.
TOOLS and BOOKS: ship free! (within the contiguous US). APPAREL: shipping fees are determined by Bonfire.
**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.
Shipping Season
SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.
BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.
POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping late April and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Early shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.
Packing
SEED is packaged in paper envelopes for small quanties, and plastic bags for large quantities. If multiple bulk qtys of seed are ordered of the same species, we pack them as one. i.e. two 1/8 oz is packed in one 1/4 oz envelope. Small qtys of seed are sent in paper padded mailers to protect the seed from being crushed during transit.
BARE ROOT PLANTS are packed in slightly moist peat moss and bagged by species. Depending on order size, we pack in paper padded mailers and cardboard boxes. Some orders get packing peanuts to protect the roots; the peanuts we use are compostable.
POTTED PLANTS are grown and shipped in plastic pots and trays. We pack in cardboard boxes and inserts.
Delivery
We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please use a valid email address that you check regularily when you order.
FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.
