Native Plants

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.

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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!

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Saturday - September 12, 2009

From: Newton, KS
Region: Midwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Overseeding sprig planting of native grass in Kansas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Can I overseed a Sprig planting of native grass in Kansas in the Fall?

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants doesn't see why not! Fall is ideal for planting grass seed because the cold winter weather helps insure germination. The tricky thing about overseeding is to insure that you have sufficient bare ground for the seeds to fall on. You obviously can't plow or easily use a seed drill to plant since the sprigs are growing there; so, you will have to rely on broadcasting the seeds and they must be in contact with bare ground for germination. You can read some tips on planting prairie grasses and wildflowers from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

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Saturday - September 12, 2009

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