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How to start a school garden |
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We started our garden by ordering plants & seeds from wild plant catalogues. Here's a few helpful sources: |
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The Vermont Wildflower Farm 1-800-424-1165 |
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Prairie Ridge Nursery 1-608-437-5245 |
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Native Plant Nursery 1-734-994-9592 |
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www.nativeplant.com |
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Planting |
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1. Native plants can usually tolerate cooler weather than tender annuals, so I usually plant about a month before the last frost date. Here in Chicago, that means I can plant in the middle of April. |
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2. Before you plant, you should arrange the seedlings (still in their pots) according to your plan. True prairies, of course, don't get planted according to a plan, but I have found that it does help to plant seedlings in groups so they make a bigger impact. |
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3. Another tip to keep in mind: Don't think you have to devote the whole garden to flowers. If you plant about 50% of the new garden in clumps of native grasses like Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Indian grass, or Northern sea oats, you will have fewer bare spots that invite weeds. |
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4. Pop the seedlings out of their pots and put them into the prepared ground. Don't bury them too deep or too shallow. Keep them at the same depth that they were planted in their pots. |
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5. Keep the plants watered for the first month at least. Native plants are hardy, but it takes them time to produce the deep root systems that make them drought tolerant. If you have extremely hot or dry weather during your first summer, I would suggest a weekly soaking after the first month. (Note: I have found that prairie plants will tolerate the worst heat and droughts after they are established, but they sometimes dry out on top, producing seeds and going dormant earlier than normal to conserve energy. The following year they will come back as normal.) |
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6. For directions on how to start your own seeds, see our link below. |
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Home |
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Restoration work at Swallow Cliff Woods, |
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G.Kerkstra school garden |
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Growing wild flowers from seeds |
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Earth Day presentation at the Field Museum |
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Free Seeds |
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Environmentally friendly crafts |
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Favorite Links |