Project Planning and Design

The time you take to properly plan and design your project will pay off and result in a more successful and long lasting native plant establishment which will offer the environmental, economical and aesthetic benefits you are trying to achieve. The tips listed below will be helpful as you plan your project.

Determine the site conditions

• Soil type: Look at and feel the soil and determine whether you have sand, loam, clay, or organic soil. Sandy soil is gritty and will not stick together or clod. Loamy soils stick together, but will easily crumble. Clay soil is sticky and smooth, with little or no grittiness and will form a hard clod that will not easily crumble. Organic soil, or muck, is dark black in color, is frequently mixed with mineral soil (sand, loam or clay) and occurs on former wetlands. Be sure to choose species based on your soil type.

• Hydrology or Moisture level: Determine if the site is dry, medium or wet in nature. Does the area puddle and retain water or does water drain quickly after rainfall? Is the site in a low-lying area or upland? Is the site near a river, lake or spring? Choose species that would thrive at your site. Species composition differs greatly between dry prairie, mesic prairie, wet prairie, and wetland habitats.

• Topography: Determine the slope of the site. The slope may influence the moisture levels and/or sun exposure. Keep in mind that steeper slopes may limit the methods of installation.

• Sun exposure: Be aware of how much sun the area will receive. Most sun-loving plants need at least a half-day of sun. If you have less than a half-day of sun, you need to select plants that require part-sun or shade.

• Existing vegetation: The site should be inspected closely by someone familiar with the native and non-native plant species found in the area. If specific native species are present in sufficient numbers, the site may need to be handled as a restoration project, requiring appropriate methods to protect the existing plants. If the site has existing non-native or invasive species present, prepare a plan for the removal of these species prior to the natives being introduced. This is a critical element that should not be minimized in efforts.

Research typical plant species in the area

It is a good idea to research the history of the land prior to European settlement. Maps are available on the Michigan Natural Features Inventory website . You should be able to determine the plant community that existed prior to development which would be a good clue as to what plant species will survive on your property. (Due to changes in the landscape since European settlement, the presettlement land cover may no longer be appropriate for your site.) If similar natural areas are present near to your site it may be helpful to determine what native species are found there.

Select proper species

Choose a mix of wildflowers and grasses based on your research. Select species that are suitable for your site based on soil type, hydrology, and sun exposure. This will be critical for the success of your native planting. Add as many species as possible for greater diversity. A well-designed mix will contain flowers that bloom at different times throughout the season, will include warm season grasses for structure and diversity, and will attract a variety of wildlife. Your project size, objectives and budget will help determine the level of seed mix that is appropriate for your site. Firms specializing in native plants can help you select plants species for your site.

Obtaining native seed

• Local Genotype: Consider purchasing native seed and plants from local sources and ask if their material source originates locally (Michigan) or at least regionally (Great Lakes region). Local genotypes are recommended because they are naturally adapted to the area and preserve our local diversity. Members of the Michigan Native Plant Producers Association (MNPPA) produce and provide native seed and plugs that originate from Michigan. MNPPA members are committed to enhancing the diversity and health of Michigan’s unique natural heritage. Several reputable seed producers in the Great Lakes states provide seed that originates regionally.

• Seeding Rates: You will need to determine the size of the area, in acres or square feet. This will be very important so that you order a sufficient amount of seed. There are 43,560 square feet per acre. You should order a little more seed just to be safe (perhaps 10%). Seeding rates of grasses should range from 3 to 7 lbs per acre, and forbs should range from ½ to 4 lbs per acre, for a total mix of 6-10 lbs of seed per acre. Seeding rates depend on site conditions, preferred showiness, and budget.

• Cover Crop: Since natives are slow to germinate and establish, annual cover crops such as Seed Oats or Annual Rye, which germinate quickly, are often used to help stabilize the soil and compete against weeds the first year. Seeding rates of the cover crop range from 10 to 40 lbs per acre. Cover crop also acts as a carrier, making the native seed easier to disperse.

• Pure Live Seed (PLS): Native seed tends to be quite bulky or fluffy, and may contain a fair amount of inert material. The germination rates can be quite variable, sometimes as low as 50% or less. For that reason native seed is sometimes sold on a Pure Live Seed (PLS) basis. This means that enough bulk seed is provided to the purchaser to ensure that the correct amount of viable seed is provided. For example, if a customer orders 10 lbs of a species that is only 50% PLS, 20 bulk lbs of the seed would be provided, and the customer would be charged for the 10 PLS lbs of actual, viable seed. Most suppliers sell native grasses this way, and some also do this for native forbs. Some suppliers state that they use a PLS system, but only adjust up to an arbitrary figure, maybe 80%. So it is quite important to ask suppliers how their pricing for grass and forb seed is figured.

Plan the appropriate timing of installation

Planting can be done in the spring, or late fall through winter. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. As you think about scheduling installation, keep in mind that you should plan on at least a few months and up to 2 years of preparation before seed installation.

• Spring seeding: For best spring planting results, native seed should be planted between April 15 and June 15. A spring seeding will generally favor the warm season grass species over the forb species during the first year. Many of the forb seeds that do not germinate the first season will appear the second year.

• Dormant seeding (late fall – winter): Dormant seeding is timed so that seeds will not germinate until the following spring. Dormant seeding can be done anytime when there is no snow on the ground from late-fall to mid-winter (mid October – February). Most people choose to plant mid-October through late November to avoid planting in frozen soil. It can work after the ground freezes if a no-till drill is used to cut into the frozen soil. Planting in the winter may be a good idea in areas that are too wet during the rest of the year, or when areas need to be supplemented with new seed (when rehabilitating a site, or when the first seeding did not take well). Dormant seeding is generally more favorable to forb species than to grass species.

Caution: Avoid planting in the middle of the summer (July – August). There is a significant risk of heat and drought. You might waste a lot of time and money in seed and installation. Also avoid early-fall seeding. The soil is warm enough in early-fall for germination to take place, but root and plant growth on the newly sprouted natives is minimal. Because most of these natives are warm season plants, plant growth slows or stops in mid-fall. The result is that the natives are not developed adequately to survive the winter cold temperatures and may experience frost heaving. Often winter survival is poor. Fall plantings should be delayed until the air and soil temperatures have cooled off – usually after October 15.

Once you have planned and designed your native planting, you are ready to prepare your site.