Micro prairies: No yard is too small to go with earth-friendly native plants

If glimpses of strikingly beautiful butterflies are scarcer than a rare bird alert in your yard, maybe it’s time to go native.

Native plants are key to aiding and attracting native insects and pollinators, including swamp metalmark and monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and endangered rusty-patched bumblebees that were once plentiful.

Restoring green space is important . . . no matter the size.

In fact, the more modest the yard, the easier it is to transform it into a micro prairie teeming with living things. Think of your yard as just one diminutive piece of the collective urban landscape.

No yard is too small for the inclusion of native plants, even one plant of butterfly milkweed can attract monarch butterflies to lay their eggs and result in caterpillars that become the next generation of monarchs.”

Numerous studies have shown that green spaces in cities improve air quality, reduce summer temperatures and benefit people’s mental health.

Restoration of the planet does not depend solely on the preservation of large tracts of land in a pristine condition. Small plantings of native plants, in urban and suburban landscapes, can provide critical habitat for a wide variety of birds, pollinators, other beneficial insects, even reptiles and amphibians, too.

The alternative of native plants.
One of the advantages of a prairie in a small yard is the replacement of a nearly sterile lawn with a living landscape of beautiful native flowers and ornamental grasses. . . . They also provide wonderful opportunities for children to learn about the intricacies of nature right in their own backyard.”

The term “prairie” has a specific meaning. Prairie is the French word for meadow. The term prairie has come to represent the mid-continental grasslands dominated by warm-season prairie grasses and many showy flowers. Meadow typically refers to cool-season grasslands more common in the higher rainfall (areas of) northeastern U.S. and Canada.”

Little house on the little prairie
It seems that homeowners are looking to spend more time with birds than with lawnmowers, as native plants top the list of demands in a recent survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

A whopping 84% of both single-family and multifamily owners wish to incorporate natives into their yards. Drought-tolerant plants and low-maintenance landscapes came in second and third on the list . . . some qualities that native plants can also deliver.

The initial preparation for natives is labor-intensive, but after that “maintenance is minimal.”

The first step is destroying turf grass and weeds.

For fast micro prairie results this summer, manually dig up the turf. Or, rent a mechanical sod cutter for larger areas. Visualize the area by using a garden hose as a border.

For an easy but slower method, Diboll recommended smothering the lawn with black plastic, cardboard or plywood for about three months.

Or, kill grass with a broad-spectrum, non-persistent herbicide such as glyphosate (Roundup) at eight-week intervals beginning in late May.

Plants then can be placed directly into the dead grass. The easy, slow method’s advantage is it does not disturb the soil and expose it to invading weed seeds.

Leaving a spot or two of bare soil in your yard is also beneficial to native bees, as 70% nest in the ground.

Once your natives are planted, water as needed until they are established in about two months.

Be patient with native plants, as they will first develop their long roots. Prairie plant roots can easily reach six feet or more, where turf grassroots grow only a few inches.

Mowing may be needed a few times the first season or two for weed control. After that, mow just once in early spring. Early spring is best because many insects overwinter in plants, and the native seed heads are a good food source for birds in the winter.

Transplants are better than seeds for micro prairie gardens. Seeds require two to five years to reach maturity, while many transplants will bloom the year they are installed (not all). Plants also result in tidier, planned gardens, while seeded prairies have a more casual and wilder appearance.”

Buy natives locally
Be picky about plant choice.

Regard any generic “wildflowers” with suspicion (especially in those free seed packets); make sure what you’re planting is truly indigenous and desired. The last thing you want is to unwittingly introduce invasives to your micro prairie.

It’s best to obtain native plants grown as locally as possible, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Most nurseries will reveal where their plants are grown, but ask if it’s not apparent.

Native plants are usually readily available.

From nursery, order online or by telephone. Live transplant plants shipped according to planting seasons. Seeds are shipped anytime.

Nurseries offer pollinator favorites, grasses, sedges, shade plants, and no-mow grass. You’ll find natives that thrive in clay or sandy soils, moist or dry areas.

Every year, the turfgrass shrinks and the native plants expand.

Also, keep a native plant guide, for your area, handy for easily identifying flowers and distinguishing natives from exotics or invasives. If something blooms in your prairie, it’s imperative to know if it’s native or something detrimental that should be destroyed before going to seed.