Small scale planting
A Pocket Prairie
by
Brett Myers


In order to gain some experience with the plant species on our list seedlings from germination studies were transplanted to a plot of unused ground next to the headhouse of the Howlett Hall Greenhouse. This gave us an idea of how species would perform when established in favorable conditions under intensive management.

This site was prepared for planting from 6/12 - 6/19/96. An area 30 x 17 ft was sprayed with Round-up herbicide and then hand weeded. The site was then tilled with a rotary tiller to 6 in. depth and covered with approximately 1 inch of hardwood mulch. About 25 work hours were expended in site preparation.


Views of site at various stages
Species in Initial planting

Species# PlantedPlanting comments
Forbs:
Allium cernuumAlc22individual - 1/8in. bulbs
Anemone canadensisAnc4groups- very small
Asclepias tuberosaAst23divided from from 4" pots
Aster ericoidesAse4divided from from 4" pots
Aster novae-angliaeAsn123 in. plugs-July 31
Baptisia leucophaeaBal1individual 3 in. plug
Eupatorium maculatumEum333 in. plugs
Eryngium yuccifoliumEry15quartered 4 in. pots
Ratibida pinnataRap7divided from from 4" pots
Silphium integrifoliumSii173 in. plugs
Solidago rigidaSor113 in. plugs
Solidago speciosaSos113 in. plugs
Tradescantia ohioensisTro28 divided from pot
Verbena strictaVes10divided from from 4 in. pots
Vernonia fasciculataVef164 in. pots
Zizia aureaZia53 in. plugs-July 31
Grasses:
Andropogon gerardiAng32Divided from 4 and 6in. pots
Andropogon scopariusAns263 in. plugs
Bouteloua curtipendulaBou6divided 4 in. pots x 2
Elymus canadensisElc104 in. pots
Panicum virgatumPav8divided 4 in. pots x 4
Sorghastrum nutansSon16divided 4 in. pots
Sporobolus heterolepisSph313 in. plugs


Howlett Site Plan
All plants were spaced approximately 12in. apart to create an immediate effect. Unless otherwise stated in the table plants were set out June 19 1996. The planting was arranged according to expected height with species becoming taller away from the sidewalk. Grasses were mixed with forbs for visual impact, weed control and to provide support for weaker stemmed species. There was no deliberate arrangement according to color, as it was expected that all would be compatible and we hoped to discover attractive combinations.

After planting the site was hand-weeded and watered whenever the soil appeared dry. These might seem like luxury conditions for wild plant species, but our desire was to see how well they could establish under favorable conditions before planting in more challenging situations. Plant and site views were taken with an Apple digital camera throughout the growing season.


Plants at various stages
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