Hand sowing prairie grass?

[lhfarm]

I rented a planter with a grass box to plant prairie grass a few years ago. I have a much smaller section (100' x 200') I'd like plant, but don't want to rent the planter again. I have the seed and I've used Roundup on the section.

I thought I would lightly disc the area to chop up the dead grasses and then use a hand seeder to put down the seed. Should I disc again or just let the seed stay on top of the soil?

Is there a better plan?

Thanks,

 

[wushaw]

You could roll a Culti packer over the seed to get a good seed to dirt adhesion.

 

[lhfarm]

Good idea. Since I don't have a culti packer, I might just use a roller. It is a small area. The seed is so light that I expect pushing it into the soil would be a good idea.

Thanks,

 

[Egon]

There may be some good information on this site. Detailed Planting Instructions for wildflowers by Prairie Frontier

 

[lhfarm]

There may be some good information on this site. Detailed Planting Instructions for wildflowers by Prairie Frontier

Thanks! Great site. I got my seed form Sharp Brothers Wild Flower Seed Company & Grass Seed Company - Sharp Brothers Seed Company of Missouri Home Page. I think I'll add some wildflowers to this area too.

 

[rox]

I rented a planter with a grass box to plant prairie grass a few years ago. I have a much smaller section (100' x 200') I'd like plant, but don't want to rent the planter again. I have the seed and I've used Roundup on the section.

I thought I would lightly disc the area to chop up the dead grasses and then use a hand seeder to put down the seed. Should I disc again or just let the seed stay on top of the soil?

Is there a better plan?

Thanks,

If you have a pic of the prarie grass you planted a few years ago I would be interested to see a pic of the planted area, what it looks like now.

 

[lhfarm]

If you have a pic of the prarie grass you planted a few years ago I would be interested to see a pic of the planted area, what it looks like now.

Right now it looks pretty sad. It really needed a burn, but it didn't happen. I did a mow, then sparyed roundup. The new grasses are just starting to green up. I have some pictures from last summer and winter I'll try to locate. We actually enjoy the grass in the winter as much as the summer.

 

[WarrenF]

Thinking out loud here....in nature, the seed falls on top of the ground. There are no rollers or cultipackers....and yet amazingly the seed comes up and does it every year....year in and year out.

I say go for it, and keep water on it. Bet without making things so very complicated you get a good stand.

 

[lhfarm]

Thinking out loud here....in nature, the seed falls on top of the ground. There are no rollers or cultipackers....and yet amazingly the seed comes up and does it every year....year in and year out.

I say go for it, and keep water on it. Bet without making things so very complicated you get a good stand.

That seems reasonable. I suspect the precision planting recommended by all the sites I've seen has more to do with the cost of the seed and wanting to ensure maximum germination.

We continue to have a very wet spring and I haven't been able to get the seed on the ground. Hopefully this weekend, although more storms in the forecast.