How?

What steps should you take to plant your own prairie?

and other Q&A

We are not experts, but we did a little research. The seed mix needs to have a variety of species that are native to the region Each Species needs to be right to the temperature, soil, moisture and light conditions. For example in Iowa mix needs to be tolerant to colder weather, frost, draught, and also humidity and sun.

The Tallgrass Prairie Center website has a lot of smart How-to-Videos like

Designing Seed Mixes For Native Habitat;

How to Plan a Prairie Reconstruction;

How to Collect Seeds; and

How to Identify Prairie Seedlings.

Where can I find the list of state native flowers ? Visit bonap.org The Biota of North America Program has a list of different species

When we visited the Tallgrass center Greg Houseal show us a Periodic Table of Prairie Seed Elements. Here is a link to the full version of the table

Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program in Iowa provides money for projects in the form of grants. There is a Soil and Water Enhancement grants on this Iowa Department of Natural Resources website

If you are not in Iowa you many need to check your own department of natural resources

How long it takes? At the Prairie center we learned that it takes at least 6 months for roots to fully grow in their center, and 3 years in a ground.

Ms. Staci Mueller from the Tallgrass Prairie Center took us on a tour of the Center and answered all of our questions.

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