Tips for Reading a Seed Bag Tag
Whether you purchase a one-pound bag of grass seed at a chain store or a 50-pound custom blend from Bamert, your seed bag will include a seed tag. These tags are required by law to protect the consumer and provide information about what they’re purchasing. But if the buyer doesn’t understand the seed tag, it […]
Engelmann Daisy: Species Spotlight
Engelmann Daisy is part of the “Big Four” of perennial forbs native to Texas. It will offer the same great benefits of the other desirable native species we’ve discussed in our series thus far. However, Engelmann Daisy—Latin name, Engelmannia pinnatifida—features some distinguishing differences to set it apart from the other three in this select group. […]
Leave the Leaves
This fall, put away the rake and forget those lawn bags. It’s time to leave the leaves and give your garden all the benefits that come from letting the leaves remain. We know it’s the norm to get the leaves picked up, bagged, and sent to the landfill, but when you do this, you actually rob […]
Maximilian Sunflower: Species Spotlight
Diversity is key to a healthy, thriving ecosystem. If you’re going to have to have a lot of variety, you might as well include a show stopper. Maximilian Sunflower shines as part of the “Big Four” perennial forbs with similar nutrition and nectar sources. Maximilian Sunflower—Latin name, Helianthus maximiliani—has its own merits as an ornamental. […]
For Beautiful Wildflowers in the Spring, Plant Them in the Fall
Even though the leaves are just beginning to fall, now is the time to begin dreaming of spring. Mother Nature needs time to get the beautiful, bright blooms of wildflowers just right. Wildflower beauty can abound on your property when you take advantage of fall planting, which offers the following benefits: Earlier blooms Additional time […]
Illinois Bundleflower: Species Spotlight
If you’re looking to attract a wide range of wildlife from deer and turkey to quail and dove, Illinois Bundleflower is ready to go to work for you. Illinois Bundleflower—Latin name, Desmanthus illinoensis—is part of the “Big Four” perennial forbs. Bundleflower gets its name from the shape of its seedpods, which are easy to spot. […]
Species Spotlight: Bush Sunflower
Within our land management circle, the term “Big Four” is commonly used to refer to the four grasses that are stalwarts of the true Tallgrass Prairie. The Big Four are both prized by stewards because of the benefits they lend to the ecosystem and desired by grazers for sustenance. We recently wrapped up our blog […]
Species Spotlight: Sand Dropseed
We’ve been talking a lot about the “big four” grasses of the Tallgrass Prairie lately. While these are the all-stars of the ecosystem team, they certainly could not shine without other grasses whose roles allow them to take hold and thrive across the prairies. One of these grasses is Sand Dropseed — Latin name Sporobolus […]
The Big Four: Little Bluestem
Reclamation projects rely on little bluestem because it grows easily and takes hold in a variety of soil types. Little Bluestem’s Latin name is Schizachyrium scoparium. It is a member of the “big four” grasses. Recognized as the state grass of both Kansas and Nebraska, it is easy to spot in the pasture throughout the […]
The Big Four: Switchgrass
We’re turning our conversation toward a member of the “big four” grasses of the true Tallgrass Prairie, Switchgrass — Latin name Panicum Virgatum. It is one of the most versatile members of the club. A native, warm-season perennial bunchgrass, it matures to about 3 to 6 feet tall. It has a distinctive bluish to bluish-green […]