BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Create a Prairie Garden

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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The Great Plains and Midwest regions of the United States are famous for their miles of beautiful prairies. Marked with the brilliant yellows, lavenders and crimsons of wildflowers, prairies are easily maintained once established, and can be created in your own backyard as a natural oasis, or simply to fill problem patches in your garden.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Seeds
Rake or hand tiller
Lawn mower

Step1

Choose your prairie garden location. Prairie plants exist for arid, moist and wet soils, so virtually any area can be adapted into a prairie garden. You may choose a steep sloped area which is difficult to mow and maintain, or an empty lot in which you would like to create a beautiful and natural looking prairie garden.

Step2

Determine which soil type is dominant in your prairie garden location, to help you determine which plants to plant. Wet soils, which see a lot or wildlife, particularly migrating birds, will be made up of short grass, horsetail, milkweed, sedges and various wildflowers. Taller grasses thrive in moist, yet not overly wet soil alongside broader-leafed plants and taller wildflowers. If your soil is dry, or arid, shorter grasses and plants such as Indian Paintbrush, verbena and bluestem will thrive.

Step3

Speak to a local nursery about your soil type and choose the plants you will use to create your prairie garden. Experts at your nursery will be able to guide you in the specific prairie plants native to your area, choosing seeds as well as how and when to plant.

Step4

Plant your prairie garden at the first signs of spring. Prairie plants do not require much soil preparation or upkeep after planting. Gently scratch the surface of the soil with a rake or hand tiller, sprinkle the seeds in a circular fashion for a natural look and gently press them into the soil with your foot. Do not bury the seeds, as they need plenty of sunlight to grow.

Step5

Maintain your prairie garden by simply mowing and raking twice each year to control the growth of weeds. Set your mower blade at about 5 or 6 inches and cut back growth in spring and late June. After about three years, your prairie plants should be strong enough that weed growth will not be a problem. The best part about prairie gardens is they require no fertilizer, no pesticides and virtually no upkeep.