Prairie Garden Landscape Design

This garden recreates the look of a prairie wildflower meadow by using gracefully swaying tall Grasses as the background. If space permits, Saccharum Grass could make for an eye-catching feature; otherwise use Calamagrostis Karl Foerster’ as an alternative option. Create the ideal garden by providing it with full day’s sunlight and average soil. Before planting, clear away existing grass or weeds, and after setting out perennials sow seeds of nonaggressive grass varieties such as Little Bluestem. These will quickly grow into tufts of beautiful meadow grasses, adding even more of a naturalistic appearance while suppressing weeds. Just a late winter cutting of dry Grasses and stalks should suffice as maintenance; sturdy wildflower varieties only need additional watering during times of drought. Midsummer through fall, your prairie garden will come alive with color!

Helpful Hints If your space does not allow for Saccharum Grass or you live in Zone 4 or 5, an excellent alternative would be Calamagrostis arundinacea or Calamagrostis’Karl Foerster’.
To achieve an authentic natural effect, incorporate local trees and shrubs into your Natural Selections landscape. Perennials found here make perfect cut flower bouquets; harvest blossoms soon before or after they open for longer-lasting displays.
Once seeding begins, many prairie perennials such as Coreopsis, Rudbeckia, Liatris and Echinacea quickly take hold in the landscape.