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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - June 27, 2010
From: Olivet, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Meadow Gardens, Septic Systems, Wildflowers
Title: Wildflower garden for a drain field in Olivet MI
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a large area that is currently lawn over a drain field. I would like to turn this area into a wild flower garden. Will the wild flower roots, etc. cause any concerns or damages to a drain field? Thank you for your help!ANSWER:
Please begin by reading our How-To Article Meadow Gardening. Native wildflowers and grasses are the best possible cover for a drain field. They have fibrous roots which will help hold the soil and permit the plants to take up some moisture from the drain field, but will not have woody roots like shrubs and trees. We never recommend woody plants over a drain field or any sort of septic system. Those plants are going to grow long, sturdy roots and aim straight for the moisture in the ground. In the process of doing so, they can mess up a drainfield, crack drain pipes and block the process. Perennial grasses and both perennial and annual wildflowers will keep nearly continuous coverage. Basically, you are establishing a prairie and in all prairies the grasses will eventually take over. To prevent this, you will need to control where the grasses spread and keep adding wildflower seed, or let the wildflowers reseed themselves by not mowing until the seeds have dropped.
We will go to our Recommended Species section and select some wildflowers, both perennial and annual, and grasses, all native in and around the Eaton County area, in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a to 5b. You can follow each link to the page on that plant to find out what amount of sun it needs, soil moisture, propagation instructions, even bloom time and color. You can use the same technique to make more selections.
Annual Wildflowers for Eaton County MI:
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
Viola sororia (common blue violet)
Perennial Wildflowers for Eaton County MI:
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Caltha palustris (yellow marsh marigold)
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)
Gentiana andrewsii (closed bottle gentian)
Geranium maculatum (spotted geranium)
Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine)
Grasses for Eaton County MI:
Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)
Muhlenbergia glomerata (spiked muhly)
Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Tridens flavus (purpletop tridens)
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Wildflowers Questions
Wildflower succession from Austin
April 02, 2011 - I am interested in learning about a wildflower "cycle" (not sure of a better term). I recently saw the Wildflower special on PBS that talked briefly about an area that had wildflowers that naturally...
view the full question and answer
Will recent freezes delay wildflowers from Dripping Springs TX
February 15, 2011 - What effect will the recent freezing temperatures have on the Texas Hill Country Wildflowers? Will it delay blooming?
Thank you!
view the full question and answer
Moving Iris bulbs
April 15, 2011 - I will be moving and want to take my Iris bulbs with me. Can I dig them up now that they are in flower?
view the full question and answer
Native Equivalents to Lily of the Valley
February 24, 2011 - Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majuscula) with its delicate drooping flowers is my favorite flower. Unfortunately, it's hard to get in central Texas as a cut flower, much less to grow.
Are...
view the full question and answer
Getting started in gardening
September 16, 2006 - Does the center publish any or several planting guides to help gardeners get started?
I find it is overwhelming understanding where to start. I have some lake property in East Texas close to Athen...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |