Native grasslands once covered our nation’s Midwest and South. These areas contained grasses such as big bluestem, little bluestem and Indian grass, as well as flowers like purple coneflower, queen of the prairie, and tall coreopsis. As pioneers settled these areas, the majority of these fertile prairies were converted into agricultural land, leaving behind remnant prairies in areas that were not mowed or plowed. Today, pioneer cemeteries and old railway corridors can provide refuges for prairie species.
Smith Cemetery Nature Preserve in Madison County, Ohio
Prairie plants are adapted for drought conditions, and their deep root systems seek out water to depths of up to 15 feet. These deep root systems provide superior stability over modern cool-season turf grasses, most of whose root systems only extend a few inches below the surface.
Today, homeowners and businesses are discovering the value of these native species that do not require watering or fertilizers, and only require mowing once every 3-5 years instead of several times per year. Our prairie restoration projects have saved businesses tens of thousands in dollars in landscaping fees while providing ecological function. EnviroScience biologists can help select the proper warm season grasses for your site, can install the seed using no till drills, and can help you monitor and lightly manage the site as it develops.
EnviroScience prairie installation at a commercial distribution center
