1. Prairie Restorations, Inc.
Bringing People Together with the Land

2. Natural Vegetation of Minnesota
at the Time of the Public Land Survey,

3. Why Native?
Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur.
Extensive root systems to survive times of drought
Evolved along with local wildlife and therefore are often the best sources of food, habitat, and shelter
Less fertilization, watering, pesticide and herbicide usage

4. Native vs. Non-Native vs. Invasive

5. Using native species in the landscape
Considerations:
Match the species to the site conditions and location
It often takes good site preparation and management to make projects a success
Increasing biodiversity will increase ability to resist pests and disease and increase health

6. Uses of Native Plants Large areas where low maintenance is desired
Ecological restoration of an area to the original vegetation
Wetland, stream or shoreline buffers
Infiltration areas
Wildlife plantings and butterfly gardens
Erosion control or difficult areas

7. Ecological Considerations
Soil Type
Slope
Hydrology
Canopy Cover
Aspect
Existing vegetation
Land use history

8. Materials and Implementation
Restoration goal
Site preparation
Species selection and installation
Erosion control
Management

9. Plant Community Types: existing and potential restored
Prairie
Dry, mesic, wet
Savanna
Woodland
Wetland
Shoreline
Sedge meadow
Rainwater garden

10. Species Selection Native range Ecological considerations
Aesthetic considerations
Seed and/or plant materials
Custom mixes

11. Seed or plants?
Seed works well for larger projects – less expensive
Plants work well in small or designed areas
Plants work better in shady areas
Plants allow for higher species diversity
Typically a combination of seed and plants is best

12. Preparing, installing and maintaining a seeding

13. Site Preparation Very important! Spraying Controlled burning Mowing
Disking/tilling
Harrowing raking

14. Erosion Control Cover crop of wheat or oats Wheat or oat straw
Little bluestem straw
Erosion blanket

15. Plant Installation Plants can be added for: Increased diversity
Quicker establishment
Shadier areas
Wetter areas
Sizes
plugs
4-inch pots
1 gallon containers
Sod flats
Types
Grasses, sedges, rushes
Wildflowers
Trees, shrubs

16. Restorations take patience!

20. Maintenance Low maintenance, not no maintenance
Very important during the establishment period
Is watering necessary?
Mowing during the first growing season
Spot mowing, spot spraying, wicking
Hand weeding
Prescribed burning

25. An Established Shoreline Buffer

26. Year 3 Savanna Planting

29. Questions?