You don’t need to live on the prairie to have a prairie garden. Natural landscapes featuring mainly native plants are being sown in yards across North America as environmentally friendly alternatives to turf grass.
These durable plant combinations include flowers, shrubs, and trees. They require little attention, add year-round color and interest, and provide wildlife-friendly habitat.
“Many species found in prairies are native to other plant communities found outside the Midwest, such as woodland openings, meadows, and barrens, as well as mountain and desert habitats,” says Lynn Steiner of Stillwater, Minn., author of Prairie Style Gardens (Timber Press. 2010). “And even if these plants aren’t native to your area, they are still often better choices than exotic plants that come from outside North America.”
City and suburban gardens often aren’t large enough to support meadows, but many prairie plants adapt well to smaller spaces, she said.
“They tolerate less fertile soils, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. They thrive on less water, reducing water use. And they don’t require heavy fossil-fuel input from mowing and trimming,” Ms. Steiner said in an email.
Margaret Brittingham, an extension wildlife specialist with Penn State University, said it takes some effort to get prairie plants established “but once done, they’re easy to handle.”
“They’re great for attracting birds and butterflies,” she said. “You can use them for cut flowers, too.”
To keep neighbors happy and win official approval from municipalities, make the conversion from lawn to meadow look tended and not unkempt, Ms. Brittingham said.
Some design suggestions:
By illustrating that your landscape is cared for and designed intentionally, you’ll show that you haven’t just allowed “weeds” to take over, Ms. Steiner said.