Ask The "Prairie Doc"

Silphium Terebinthinaceum, M.D.

Got a question about Prairie Design, Establishment, Maintenance, or other related topic? Ask the "Prairie Doc"! He'll be happy to answer your questions at his earliest convenience. Please do be patient, as the Doctor is not always In. He may be out on a house call, helping his clients give birth to healthy new prairies. If your condition requires immediate attention, please refer to our compendium of Frequently Asked Questions.

Here are some of the latest questions for the "Prairie Doc", along with the Good Doctor's prescriptions.

• What is the difference between choosing plants vs. seeds?
• What is "No Mow" grass mix?
• How do you determine how much seed needs to be purchased per site?
• What is involved in preparing a site for a prairie planting?

What is the difference between choosing plants vs. seeds?

Plants are better for small sites, short-term establishment goals and a more generous budget. Seeds are better for large sites, long-term establishment goals and a smaller budget.

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What is "No Mow" grass mix?

Prairie Nursery's "No Mow" grass mix consists of six varieties of Fescue grasses to create a fine-textured "flowing carpet." The average height of the leaf blades are 4 to 6 inches. The best time to plant the No-Mow mix is between late August to late September, allowing the seeds to germinate and establish a root system. This helps to prevent weed growth in the spring.

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How do you determine how much seed needs to be purchased per site?

Prairie Nursery consultants will custom design seed mixes based on landscape specifications and typically use the following formula to help determine a seed budget: 10 pounds of wildflower and prairie grass seed per acre (43,560 square feet/acre).

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What is involved in preparing a site for a prairie planting?

Many factors are considered in site preparation, such as the installation technique, site size and what biennial or perennial weeds are on the site. The techniques involved in preparing a site are:

1. Smothering, which takes one year.
2. Sod cutting of established turf, taking anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
3. Cultivating only, usually up to 1 year.
4. Herbiciding, takes 2 weeks to 1 year depending on the site.

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 About issues with this website, please contact Ann Schmidt anns@prairienursery.com