Weed ControlWeed control prior to seeding is criti-cal. Controlling existing vegetationbefore planting is necessary to estab-lish a successful seeding. Planting intoestablished vegetation, such as turfgrass, requires a chemical treatment tokill the existing vegetation. An alter-native to chemical treatment is placinga weed barrier over the vegetation,such as weighted down black plastic,until the vegetation dies.

A Firm SeedbedA firm seedbed is very important forgood seed to soil contact necessary forseed germination. Plant seeds lessthan one-quarter inch deep. Use a no-till drill or broadcast seeds after tillageand compaction of the seedbed. Youwill be able to see seeds on the soilsurface at this depth. Consider hiring acontractor who specializes in nativelandscapes to prepare and seed thesite.

Seeding Date GuidelinesPlant seeds within these guidelinedates:Spring April 1-July 1Dormant Nov. 15-FreezeFrost Feb. 1-March 15

Establishing NativeLandscapesAny perennial plant requires time toestablish from seed. It is a multi-yearprocess to achieve the desired, expect-ed result. Consider signing a three-year maintenance agreement with aspecialist to help obtain your desiredresults.

Maintaining NativeLandscapesNative landscapes do not requireweekly mowings like turf grass.However, annual mowing andremoval of clippings is recommended.These plantings also do well with firemanagement. Talk with an expertabout possible fire managementoptions.

Native LandscapingWebsiteswww.iowaprairienetwork.orgwww.prrcd.org/inl/index.htmwww.prairienet.orgwww.ia.nrcs.usda.govwww.urbanwaterquality.org

“Seeding NativeLandscapes” was designed andprinted by:

the USDA-Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS), incooperation with Urban Resources &Borderland Alliance Network(URBAN).

Photos provided by Jennifer Welch,URBAN; Stacy Schlader, IowaNRCS; and Jake Janski, MinnesotaNative Landscapes, Inc.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where appli-cable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual'sincome is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communica-tion of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimina-tion write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Management Tips

Native plantings work well in open space next to trails. Notice the mowedturf grass border that keeps the site looking well-kept.

Native plantings, such as the oneabove, require less maintenancethan turf grass, a cost-effectivealternative for many businesses.

Native plantings are beautiful additionsto any urban landscape. Once estab-lished, native landscapes are low main-tenance areas that provide great habitatfor insects and birds adapted to Iowa.

Native plantings are also good for theenvironment. Their root architectureincreases soil organic matter, buildssoil quality, and helps retain and infil-trate stormwater.

Incorporating native plants can be aseasy as planting young plants intolandscaped areas. With additionalwork, larger plantings can be estab-lished through seedings. Adding amowed turf grass border around nativelandscaping in urban settings gainswider acceptance of the new look.

What to ChooseIt is important to choose high qualityseed mixes native to Iowa. Numerous

Iowa seed producers sellhigh quality native mixesthat match a variety of siteconditions and preferences.One aspect of native land-scaping some people findunappealing is an unevenappearance, with somespecies reaching six toeight feet tall. Some nurs-eries offer seed mixes fea-turing lower growingnative species (4 ft. or less) with amore uniform appearance. This mightbe more suitable for urban settings.

The Establishment ProcessDuring establishment, the native land-scaping site can look weedy orunkempt, especially if it is not properlymanaged. During the first two growingseasons, annual weeds can dominatenative plant seedings. People often

become frustrated with how a youngsite looks. The best way to ensure asuccessful native planting is to under-stand the process. For example, manypeople become frustrated that nativeplants do not establish as quickly asbluegrass lawns. It takes severalmonths before it is possible to see andidentify native plant seedlings. Youngnative plants establish their deep (6–12ft.) root systems before they put muchenergy into above ground plant growth.Once the roots are established, theplants will dominate and bloom beauti-fully. This may take two years or more.

Timeline On the inside of this brochure we pro-vide a timeline for native plantings,from seeding to establishment. Thistimeline applies to smaller neighbor-hood settings, larger acreages, or evenlarger corporate, campus-type settings.The timeline illustrates the steps to takeand what to expect when planting avariety of native landscapes.

The purple coneflower is a beautifulsummer/fall bloomer that attracts butterflies,bees and other pollinating insects.

Establish native plants from seed for beautiful, lowmaintenance landscapes that provide a multitude ofbenefits for neighborhoods, acreages, businesses,parks, trails, and urban settings.

Seeding Native Landscapes

These native grasses and forbs, established from plants, make a beautifullylandscaped area on this acreage in central Iowa. Helping People Help the Land

Iowa

May Year 1 June Year 1 July Year 1 Aug. Year 1 Sept. Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

SeedingPlant a diverse native seed mix into bareland. The soil above had no perennial vege-tation. If the site already has vegetation, itis important to chemically kill the existingplants prior to seeding.

No Cause for AlarmOne month after planting, annual weedsmay be the only visible vegetation. If theproper preparation, planting and mainte-nance procedure is followed, sparse growthis no cause for alarm during the establish-ment year.

Light the WayThree months after seeding, it may be pos-sible to detect native plants among annualweeds. Mowing provides sunlight necessaryfor small native plants to develop during thefirst growing season.

Mow OftenMowing will reduce competition from fastgrowing weeds and allow light to reachnative seedlings. Frequent mowing duringthe first growing season will help plantsbecome established.

Keep On MowingMow 6-8 inches high about three times dur-ing the first growing season to keep weedsat bay. Most plantings will also need to bemowed twice in the second growing season.

Residential SettingNative plantings provide a beautiful, lowmaintenance substitute for turf grass inwide open areas of residential neighbor-hoods. As new species mature and bloom, itwill be spectacular!

Early BloomersThe Black-eyed Susan is an example of anearly bloomer. These flowers can be veryshowy in year two and become less promi-nent over time. An inspection of a newestablishment should indicate a diverse mix-ture of natives.

Corporate SettingBusinesses can incorporate native plantsinto their campuses. Above, a colorful mixture of native species protect the waterquality of this pond from sediment runoff,fertilizers and other chemical pollutants.