Your site was planned, prepped and planted. The installation is “done”. Now what? How fast will it develop? When will you get flowers? What do you need to do?
As much as we all want the beauty of a pollinator-attracting landscape right after it is planted, the truth is that establishing a prairie is the work of years and won’t happen overnight.
If the weather is favorable, weeds and/or any seeded cover crop may begin to appear within the first week after planting. It generally takes several weeks or months before the native seed mix begins to germinate. If the conditions are cool and dry, germination may be delayed for several weeks until favorable weather patterns return. Of course, Fall plantings will not germinate until the Spring of the following year.
It can be difficult to tell the difference when plants are young. Generally, taller and faster growing plants in a first year planting are typically weeds or cover crop. When a plant reaches maturity, it is much easier to identify, especially with the aid of a field guide or plant ID app.. As your native planting matures, the difference between desirable natives and undesirable non-natives will become more obvious.
When you begin to see vigorous growth, mowing becomes necessary to keep weeds from competing with the native planting. Weeds are inevitable in the first years of your project. No matter the previous condition of your soil, there are a few million weed seeds per every thousand square feet of soil. They will vigorously grow in fresh, open ground. Trust the process and trust us to manage weed growth in the early stages of your installation. Mowing during the first year can be critical for accomplishing this. The first mowing typically occurs when the weed growth reaches a point where it prevents sunlight from reaching the ground. This may be within one month of planting or it may not happen for a few months depending on the weather, your soil types, shade, etc. If you are contracted with PRI for maintenance services, we will monitor for you and mow as needed.
In most cases, watering is not necessary, especially when no live plants (seedlings) have been used. In many cases, watering may benefit the weeds more than the native planting! If seedlings have been planted, it may be a good idea to water them if the weather is unusually warm and dry until normal weather patterns return.
It is generally a good idea to tread lightly on a new planting; especially in loose, sandy soils (this includes pets as well!) Once the project has greened up and there is significant vegetation present (weeds, cover crop, native plants), you should be able to walk on the site with minimal risk to the young plants.
A native landscape matures over many years. During the first full season, the most
important work is happening out of sight.
Most native plants are perennials. Although perennial seeds will germinate the first year, the young seedlings’ root growth will be two to three times their above-ground growth. So while you may see very little above-ground growth, maybe only a couple of inches or less with some species, they may not flower until the second or third year. While this lack of visual growth can be frustrating, keep in mind that it is the strong root system of native perennials that enables them to be nearly maintenance-free at maturity.
You should see some of the faster growing plants such as Black-eyed Susan
or Side Oats Grama flower and set seed in the first year.
Although it is exciting to see this quick progress, mowing will likely be needed to keep weeds from setting seed and/or crowding out the slower growing native species and may disrupt your enjoyment of this early visual success. Mowing is done above the height of most native plants; those that are clipped and prevented from
flowering are forced to focus on their root systems,
benefiting the plant in the long run.
Most native plants are perennials. Although perennial seeds will germinate the first year, the young seedlings’ root growth will be two to three times their above-ground growth. So while you may see very little above-ground growth, maybe only a couple of inches or less with some species, they may not flower until the second or third year. While this lack of visual growth can be frustrating, keep in mind that it is the strong root system of native perennials that enables them to be nearly maintenance-free at maturity.
You should see some of the faster growing plants such as Black-eyed Susan
or Side Oats Grama flower and set seed in the first year.
Although it is exciting to see this quick progress, mowing will likely be needed to keep weeds from setting seed and/or crowding out the slower growing native species and may disrupt your enjoyment of this early visual success. Mowing is done above the height of most native plants; those that are clipped and prevented from
flowering are forced to focus on their root systems,
benefiting the plant in the long run.
Keep in mind that although you are in the second growing season for your restoration, your planting is still only 8-16 months old. During the second season residual seeds from the first season will germinate and the faster-growing native plants will become more obvious. Species such as Black-eyed Susan, Hoary Vervain, Wild Bergamot, Canada Wild Rye, and Little Bluestem will flower and produce seed.
The slower growing native plants will continue to mature, and their foliage will become more obvious. If growing conditions have been ideal, you may see some of these slower growing species put out a small flower or single seed head. However, there may be a need for weed control and one mowing might be necessary sometime between mid-June and mid-August. Spot spraying will likely be necessary this year as well. Live plants installed in the first year will start to blend in as seeded species begin to catch up in their growth, but remember these plants are still present, just more difficult to find. Projects that were installed as all live plants should look quite good but will likely require some weeding or spot spraying if weed species are
present.
In year three you’ll begin to see what you likely envisioned your native plant community would look like. Your planting is now 20-28 months old and beginning to mature. By the third growing season your patience will begin to pay off. Visible diversity is increasing. Both grasses and flowers are becoming mature, providing beautiful views for you and habitat and for an increasing diversity of insects, birds and more. Early successional plants such as Black-eyed Susan may begin to fade as other plants mature. Some grasses you thought you’d never see will begin to get a foothold. Some maintenance will still be required as invasive weeds try to invade your still maturing landscape.
As part of Integrated Plant Management, you may wonder if a prescribed burn is needed. While it depends on the current status of your site, it may be best to wait on a burn until year four or five.
Grasses will often dominate a restoration in the next few years as they flex their muscles and work to expand their root systems. At the same time, flowers are working to find their niche and will become much more obvious as the ecosystem works its way into a more natural balance. Late succession flowers will begin to show up as the years pass. Your landscape will likely change from year to year depending on growing conditions and the management techniques that are applied to your landscape. Watching these natural changes and fluctuations from season to season and year to year is one of the great joys of the natural landscape.
Mowing: Although native landscapes do not need regular mowing like turf, mowing is a useful tool in maintaining native landscapes. Mowing in the dormant season can hasten the breakdown of biomass, and mowing during the first growing season can control annual weeds while the tiny native seedlings develop. PRI can provide mowing of projects of any size using flail mowers and other equipment that is designed to mulch plant material into fine pieces that break down quickly.
Integrated Plant Management: During the growing season our crews can visit your site on a regular basis to conduct the appropriate methods of control for unwanted non-native or invasive species. By using a combination of techniques including spot mowing, selective herbicide treatment, and hand weeding. Our crews can discourage the growth of invasives while allowing the natives to flourish
Prescribed Burning: Prescribed burning is an extremely useful tool in the management of many types of native landscapes. Many plant community types are fire dependent and thrive when they are burned periodically. Proper planning, permitting, timing, safety, equipment and implementation are all critical when conducting prescribed burns. Our staff has the experience, training and equipment needed to conduct your burn safely and effectively.