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Restoring native plant communities is a highly variable process. There are many ways to achieve results and an almost infinite combination of seeds and plants that can be used. In general, woodland restoration is the most costly followed by wetland and then prairie. The bottom line is that costs can and will be highly variable.
In small areas of less than 5,000 sq. ft. the site preparation, seeding and other work can often be done by anyone willing to commit the time and energy. Some equipment, such as a sprayer and tiller, is likely to be needed but basically the work can be done without a specialized contractor. A tractor with implements is always helpful.
For larger areas, however, larger equipment will be needed and in most cases so will a specialized contractor. Obviously, for all projects of any size, the quantity and quality of the seed and plants will greatly impact costs. Forb seed can be especially significant.
The result is that generic pricing does not often fit the specifics of any one project and it is offered up here as only the most general of guides.
To help quantify the diversity levels, a scale of 1 to 10 is used and it is assumed that a professional restoration contractor is employed to do the work.
Prairie Installation Estimates - Cost per Acre (43,500 sq. ft.) Increase 25% for wetlands - double for woodlands.
Diversity
Level |
Description |
0-1
acre |
1-3
acres |
3-10
acres |
10+
acres |
| 1 |
4-7 native grass species seeded.
No wildflowers seeded or planted. |
$3,100 |
$2,400 |
$2,100 |
$1,250 |
| 2 |
4-7 grass and 4-6 wildflower (1 lb/acre) species seeded.
No seedlings planted. |
$3,400 |
$2,700 |
$2,400 |
$1,550 |
| 3 |
4-7 grass and 8-15 wildflower (1.5 lb/acre) species seeded.
No seedlings planted. |
$3,600 |
$2,900 |
$2,600 |
$1,750 |
| 4 |
5-8 grass and 10-20 wildflower (2 lbs/acre) species seeded.
500 seedlings planted/acre. (10-15 added species.) |
$4,700 |
$4,000 |
$3,700 |
$2,800 |
| 5 |
5-8 grass and 10-20 wildflower (2 lbs/acre) species seeded.
1000 seedlings planted/acre. (15-20 added species.) |
$5,500 |
$4,800 |
$4,400 |
$3,600 |
| 6 |
5-8 grass and 10-25 wildflower (2.5 lbs/acre) species seeded.
1500 seedlings planted/acre. (20-25 added species.) |
$6,500 |
$5,800 |
$5,300 |
$5,050 |
| 7 |
5-8 grass and 12-25 wildflower (3 lbs/acre) species seeded.
2000 seedlings planted/acre. (20-30 added species.) |
$7,400 |
$6,700 |
$6,150 |
$5,800 |
| 8 |
5-8 grass and 12-25 wildflower (3.5 lbs/acre) species seeded.
2500 seedlings planted/acre. (20-30 added species.) |
$8,450 |
$7,800 |
$7,150 |
$6,800 |
| 9 |
5-8 grass and 12-25 wildflower (4 lbs/acre) species seeded.
3000 seedlings planted/acre. (25-35 added species.) |
$9,400 |
$8,700 |
$8,050 |
$7,700 |
| 10 |
5-8 grass and 12-25 wildflower (4 lbs/acre) species seeded.
3500 seedlings planted/acre. (30-45 added species.) |
$10,300 |
$9,600 |
$8,950 |
$8,600 |
The above figures are cost estimates to have PRI install your native prairie community. The figures include site preparation (spraying, disking, and harrowing), materials, seeding, and planting, as well as the first year mowings. The estimates do not include site preparation burning or straw mulching. Site preparation burning costs are variable and determined on a site-by-site basis. Straw mulching to control erosion on sloped sites averages approximately $450/acre.
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