Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Saturday - May 18, 2013

From: Indianapolis, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Meadow Gardens, Grasses or Grass-like, Wildflowers
Title: Creating a wildflower meadow
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have an area 1-6 acres worth that is currently grass that I would like to overseed with wildflower seed. The local native plant nursery says that would be a waste. I don't really want to kill grass with herbicide. What is your opinion on the viability of overseeding? The area is sunny with clayey soils. I have more money than time to throw at this project. i.e. I'd rather waste some seed than put a lot of time into it.

ANSWER:

The first thing you should do is to read our How to Article, Meadow Gardening, since it is a description of what it sounds like you want to create and our Guide to Native Plant Gardening has information on preparing the soil for native plants.  For your wildflower seeds to successfully germinate they must be in contact with the soil. Unless you can produce at least some bare soil for the seeds then I agree it would pretty much be a waste of your time and money.  However, there are two methods suggested in our article that don't involve the use of herbicides to create bare soil for the seeds:

  • Till the soil.  This method may also result in dormant weed seeds germinating, but the wildflower seeds will have an opportunity to compete.
  • Mow the grasses and then remove the resulting thatch.   This should create some bare ground for the seeds to contact.

You could also consider plant plugs to intersperse among the grasses rather than or in addtion to seeds.  Grasses are an important part of a meadow garden so you do want some native grasses in your meadow.

Spence Restoration Nursery in Muncie has both native seeds and native plant plugs to establish prairie meadows.  You can also look for other native plant nurseries in your area in our National Suppliers Directory.

Under Spence Restoration Nursery's Prairie Seed Installation you can see more information.  In their "AIA-USA construction document formatted specifications" they have minimal instructions for herbicide use to kill unwanted vegetation, in case you change your mind about that method to clear the area. They offer a list of native plants to use for seeding a prairie meadow.  Here are a few of those wildflowers and grasses that are recommended:

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New england aster)

Coreopsis tripteris (Tall tickseed)

Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower)

Helianthus occidentalis (Fewleaf sunflower)

Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)

Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye)

Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)

They recommend the seed be sown between April 20 and July 20 or in late fall and winter in your area for best results.

You can also see recommended native species commercially available as plants and/or seeds in our Indiana Recommended list.   Use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to specify the characteristics you want.

 

From the Image Gallery


New england aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Tall tickseed
Coreopsis tripteris

Eastern purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea

Fewleaf sunflower
Helianthus occidentalis

Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium

Canada wild rye
Elymus canadensis

Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum

Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans

More Grasses or Grass-like Questions

Getting rid of King Ranch bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum)
December 12, 2007 - I ranch approximately 1500 acres of land seven miles southeast of Marble Falls , Texas . At present, the land is inundated with King Ranch Bluestem; which as you know, kills by smothering all other na...
view the full question and answer

Alkalinity-tolerant grasses
July 24, 2005 - Dear Sirs - Are you aware of any grass species that could survive in strongly alkaline soils (ph from 10 up to 12) Thanks a lot.
view the full question and answer

Holding soil on a bank in Goldsboro, NC
July 25, 2010 - I live in Goldsboro, NC on a small ridge with a very steep bank on one side of our property. What native plants can we plant on the bank to help hold the soil. Also, what would be best to plant on t...
view the full question and answer

Grasses in Allen County, Indiana
September 25, 2010 - Do you have images of Northeast Allen County, Indiana grass specimens with i.d.? I am a student teacher and am putting together a nature hunt list for my students. Thank-you,
view the full question and answer

Failure to thrive of Cherokee sedge in Spicewood, TX
May 18, 2009 - I have several Cherokee sedges, just planted in March. Three of them are doing fine, but the rest look like they're dying. Some are right next to one that is doing great. Any ideas?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.