Prairie Management

Our crews have thousands of hours of experience maintaining and restoring prairies. We are prairie enthusiasts and experts. Whether we are re-establishing new prairie habitat, improving existing degraded prairie, or maintaining pristine prairie, we have the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to produce high quality results. And we have fun doing it!

Our Knowledge

  • All our technicians are trained in identifying native and non-native species

  • We understand the importance of seasonal timing for ecological restoration. We adjust our techniques to account for challenges like removing invasive seed heads without further spreading species. 

  • We recognize that not every prairie is the same, and may require different management or restoration techniques

Our Skills

  • Mowing

  • Seeding

  • Herbicide application

  • Hand removal

  • Prescribed fire

  • Woody encroachment removal

prairie during fall
prairie lead plant

Native Prairie Establishment

We can handle every aspect of a prairie establishment and maintenance. 

Site Prep: Clear or thin the area of unwanted woody species

  • Using boots on the ground or heavy equipment when appropriate, we will fell, remove, grub, bury, girdle, and/or treat woody species

Seedbed Prep: Prepare a weed-free surface for the installation of native grasses and forbs

  • This is very site specific, but generally involves preparing the site for seeding by removing unwanted or invasive species, and regrading slopes when necessary

Seeding/Plugs: Installing or scattering a site specific mix of native grasses and forbs

  • We have many seeding capabilities depending on your preference and desired product

Establishment Maintenance: Encourage native germination and provide best conditions for native species to thrive

  • Properly timed mowing, fire, and/or spot spraying during the first 2-3 years of establishment can help ensure the success of the installation

Adaptive Plant Management: Long-term habitat management

Prairie establishments can take up to 10 years to become fully established. Adaptive plant management helps new prairies get to that point, and old prairies stay pristine under external stressors. Generally, adaptive plant management consists of spot herbicide treatment, mowing, hand removal, and/or prescribed burning. 

Our management plans are adaptable to any site specifics, but typically include 3-5 maintenance visits annually. Multiple visits per year target species with different growing cycles. The management times are adjusted each year per site based on observed species, growth tendencies, and seasonal weather. As with everything we do, we approach every adaptive plant management plan with our Light on the Land approach.

technician with a weed whip