Comment

Comment by Heather Gill on April 30, 2012 at 7:07am

Thanks to both of you!  I've been lost.  I did not think of planting horizontal slopes.  Do you cover the seeds with any type of soil or just let them be?  I've been doing both- I did use side oats grama in my seed balls and we have had two good rains so hoping they are doing something.

Benjamin-I like the idea of Salvia.  I added purple coneflower to the seed balls and I have also started some purple coneflower and black sampson.  Hoping to get them established here at home and move them.  They are SLOW!

I wonder if Artemisia would work on the slope now that I think about it.

I love the dead head party and no I have not thought about how to show the plants... Any ideas?

Sorry you have been not well.  Hang in there.

Comment by Benjamin Vogt on April 28, 2012 at 6:30am

Salvia azurea, grey-headed coneflower, purple coneflower, side oats grama, baptisia--these are all deep tap-rooted and should help stabilize a slope.

Contributing Gardener Comment by Freddy J. Hill on April 25, 2012 at 1:03pm

Still here Heather, haven't made much progress on my prairie.  Was in the hospital all last summer and am just now pulling up last years excess weeds.  A couple of suggestions, use anything you like that says low water requirements, (many will add "after established").  Make short, 2 to 3 ft, arcs horizontal to the slope and plant a thick planting of various seeds.  Randomly scatter these around the area, varying the size and shape of each strip.  This will work against erosion and will give enough established plants to reseed with a little bit of help from you in the fall; perhaps have a dead-head party, going group to group breaking off spent blooms and crumbling the seeds in the same general area.  Have you considered a way to identify various plants in your prairie for people who want to stroll through and admire the flora?  I have tried several methods and haven't  yet settled on a permanent solution.  Shout back and we will keep up a conversation.  Check my page for pictures, by the album, and my garden updates, blogs, I have created over the years.  I think you will really enjoy them.

Comment by Heather Gill on April 25, 2012 at 12:01pm

Anyone still in this group?

Comment by Heather Gill on April 24, 2012 at 8:08am

We have a small acreage at church that we are allowing/encouraging to go back to native grasses and flowers.  Keeping people off the property was the first step.  Next we are trying to re-seed with seed balls that include Cone Flower, Big and little blue stem and Side Oats. 

Our struggle is the steep sand hill that surrounds the area.  Reducing weeds without messing up the ground.  Adding natives that will stabilize the soil.  Any ideas?

Comment by Benjamin Vogt on February 20, 2011 at 2:09pm

If you want native flowering perennials that draw in butterflies, can't go wrong with liatris ligulistylis, milkweed, wild senna, vervain, ironweed, eupatorium, coneflower, new england asters and aster laevis, goldenrod, mountain mint. Not only butterflies, but all kinds of bees and moths and flies and benefical wasps of every color. And I wish more people planted thistle--two natives, discolor and altissimum work well and are much needed for late fall nectar.

Contributing Gardener Comment by Freddy J. Hill on February 12, 2011 at 6:54pm

Think we're all learning.  I mulched my prairie with pine needles to cut down on lawn grass intrusion.  Gives it a great color and texture, along with some cooling of the soil below.

Comment by Connie Levell/Zn 4/MN on February 12, 2011 at 1:24pm

Have a sidewalk garden; that is, space between the sidewalk and the street divided by a rock walk & steps going down a short terraced slope to the street.  The top right side is planted with perennials (mix of native & non-native).  I want to introduce silene regia royal catchfly and will be gradually planting the left area.  Am definitely a novice at this and will avidly be watching this new group for tidbits of wisdom.  Glad to find fellow prairie natives out there!

Contributing Gardener Comment by Freddy J. Hill on January 17, 2011 at 12:46am

Just saw the new group, trying to establish a mini-prairie, got a few pics up. Check my pics, by the album, if you get a chance.