Reintroducing forbs into short and tall grass prairie
- Thread starter reddog
- Start date
reddog
Well-known member
Couple really nice rains lately. Now, if we can just get some heat... It's really looking promising right now. Not a thistle or dandelion in sight. Canadian wild rye is eliminated, and I walk around with a big smile on my face seeing all the different forbs popping out of the ground. Anxious for July!
Gone Catch'N
New member
Reddog, thanks for the pictures and discussion. This is very helpful for someone like myself with very little experience. I would like to reiterate the importance of getting the soil black and the use of milestone for one or two years prior to planting.
I have experience planting forbes using the rented NRCS planter. I found the planter to be too large. Even the smallest compartments were too large for the small seed size. I'm interested in planting just a mixture of forbes, no warm or cool season grasses, in 0.5-2 acre areas. What type of seeder did you use? Any information on low budget seeding options for 0.5 - 2 acre areas would be helpful.
I have experience planting forbes using the rented NRCS planter. I found the planter to be too large. Even the smallest compartments were too large for the small seed size. I'm interested in planting just a mixture of forbes, no warm or cool season grasses, in 0.5-2 acre areas. What type of seeder did you use? Any information on low budget seeding options for 0.5 - 2 acre areas would be helpful.
reddog
Well-known member
Thanks for the comments. To seed, I simply used a broadcast spreader pulled behind the RTV. I used a media of sawdust to enlarge the volume of the seed basis. I drug it lightly to open a little soil. Them broadcast. Then cultipacked. I'm of the opinion that cultipacked is important if you have the means.
Prairie Drifter
Well-known member
Reddog, one question, why a short-grass prairie in NW Iowa? I'm guessing it was originally tall-grass prairie unless there is an unstated soil issue.
reddog
Well-known member
Troy. The short grass prairie is so I can still enjoy my view of West Okoboji, which wouldn't be possible with fertile soil and tall grass natives. ( can see it with beans i. The surrouning fielf but not corn)I do have a 3 acre tall grass also on my acreage. The short grass was initially intended as a for patch with some grasses. That didn't work out so well for me initially but it looks like it will be stunning this year.