How to Plant Prairie Grass & Wild Flowers

Overview

Prairie grasses and wildflowers are planted by broadcasting seed over a prepared planting area. This is usually done to restore or create a natural area for personal enjoyment, to attract wildlife or to protect the topsoil from erosion. Use only seed for prairie grasses and wildflowers that are native to the area where you are planting so there will be little or no maintenance on the site once established. Planting individual plants rather than seed to naturalize an area would be expensive, time consuming, and it will have little chance of success.

Step 1

Choose a planting site that is free of trees or large shrubs, which would shade the new planting area. Prairie grass seeds and wildflower seeds need to be spread or planted in September.

Step 2

Spray non-native plants or undesirable plants on planting site with a weed killer containing glyphosate to remove them. Glyphosate binds to the soil and will not damage the plants after two weeks. Avoid a long lasting weed killer so that you have an area will be ready for planting in a short time.

Step 3

Remove all weeds and dead plant debris two weeks after weed killer application. Rake soil well so seeds will have contact with the soil once broadcasted.

Step 4

Mix one part prairie grass and wildflower seed with two parts native soil in a bucket. Mixing soil with the seed will help distribute the seeds evenly while broadcasting the seed. It is all right to plant the prairie grass and flower seeds together because the wild flowers will grow and finish blooming by the time the native prairie grass comes up later in the season.

Step 5

Broadcast the seed mixed with native soil over the entire site working from one end to the other, slightly overlapping rows to insure complete coverage. If possible, water lightly, but supplemental water is not necessary unless the winter is unusually dry.