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The Seeds of Conservation
Native vs. Introduced Grasses
Grasses that were indigenous to America before the settlers came are commonly considered native grasses. When people came from Europe as well as the rest of the world, they brought their favorite seeds with them. After planting these introduced species, some died out because they were not acclimated; some survived and adapted to their new environment; and some became so invasive that they have become a serious problem. However, native plants are more drought tolerant, disease and pest resistant, and certainly more beneficial to wildlife than those that are introduced. Once established, they require no fertilizer and much less maintenance.
Warm Season Grasses grow actively in the summer, go dormant after the first frost and remain dormant throughout the winter until soil temperatures are approximately 55o to 60o F.
Cool Season Grasses grow best in cool weather and go semi-dormant in the sum- mer. These grasses are usually planted in the late summer or spring and they begin growing earlier in the spring than warm season grasses.
Selecting the Seed
Plant the types of native seeds that are in your area. A good source of information is you local extension agent or NRCS conser- vationist. Our production fields are from varieties that were released by the USDA Plant Material Centers located throughout the United States. These varieties have been through a complete and thorough breeding program that has determined their range of adaptation, pest resistance, and performance under several different
climatic and site conditions. “Ecotype” seed certainly has a place, however they have not been tested and so we don’t know if they are adapted to a county, region, or state and they have not been studied under the strict guidelines of a USDA research program. We believe that by using variety named cultivars that are produced on our own farm we are providing our customer with the very best seed possible. Our goal is to “exceed your expectations” by providing you with a product that has the best op- portunity of success.
Often it is best to plant a blend of differ- ent species of grasses to achieve your goals, whethter for wildlife, erosion, conservation or to improve pastures for grazing. We have some exellent blends in stock and we will also do custom blending to your specifica- tions at no extra charge.
Weed Control
Controlling weeds is very important in establishing a healthy stand of natives. This can be done using a herbicide such as “Roundup” before the seeds are planted. It is also important to control weeds the first two years after planting. We do not recom- mend using any harsh chemicals on young grass plants. Mow or shred when weeds are 10 to 18 inches tall being careful not to mow less than 6 inches to prevent damage to new grass growth. We recommend using controlled burns every one to three years to help stimulate new growth and controlling undesirable weeds.
When and how to plant: Seed may be planted either in late summer or spring. Cool season grasses establish well in winter months and warm season grasses will not begin to germinate or grow until the soil