Maybe by now you have heard of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy’s 9 Natives Program. Or maybe you’ve joined Della Barbato’s Pocket Prairie Teachers facebook group. Or better yet, maybe this is the first time you’ve heard of a pocket prairie or native plants! Welcome beginners and experts alike to a brief overview of how to install a pocket prairie, tips and tricks, and a couple of must-have plants.
Please note that if you are converting a large area of nonnative lawn into prairie, your protocol may be different than what is detailed in this article. The advice here is for pocket prairies less than 750 square feet.
Where to Start
Professional landscapers think of an outdoor space as their canvas, and you should too! Identify a section in your back or front yard that you would like to enhance. If you have a strict HOA, choose wisely. Consider your maintenance commitment, and choose a spot with appropriate visibility to the public. Consider how you will irrigate the area during the first two weeks of establishment.
The Eviction Notice
Before you plant, you will want to remove the existing unwanted vegetation. Avoid using synthetic weedblock fabric. Nutrients and soil symbionts will have an easier time getting to your new plants if there is no barrier. Breaking a persistent vine, bulb, or sedge at the top will only make it come back stronger. Removing the roots of any nonnative invasives will prevent them from ever returning. It’s an oddly satisfying feeling, and I will confess to occasionally swinging a giant root above my head in a victory dance. Like any job you don’t want to do yourself, you can always enlist the help of a professional.
Soil Smarts
Houston native plants prefer our clay soil. They do not need the soil amended. If you stick them in something light and fluffy, they might not tolerate it. That being said, if your site has been compacted by construction or years of frequent mowing, you will know when you start to try to dig. If it takes you an hour to dig two inches, you may want to amend with some good-quality compost, such as the leaf mold compost by Nature’s Way Resources or Farm Dirt Compost. This is more of a step for the gardener than the plants. As an added benefit, throw down some mycorrhizal granules as you plant, such as Microlife’s 6-2-4 fertilizer. Use filtered water if you can, because tap water can kill the microbes.
Plant Friends
Your new pocket prairie should consist of local native species. If you don’t know what “native” means, that’s okay. Experts in fields from ecology and botany all the way to sociology and linguistics have written libraries on this topic. I like the input Native American Seed has offered about our prairies. Author Douglas Tallamy would remind us of the biochemical relationship among plants, herbivores, and birds. Prairie plants like to be crowded. It makes them grow longer and stronger.
Two must-haves in your Houston pocket prairie:
Frogfruit is perennial, semi-evergreen groundcover that hosts the Phaon Crescent.
Salvia coccinea is a biennial or perennial that is semi-evergreen and comes in white, pink, or red. They are perfect plants: easy-to-grow, beautiful year-round, shade-tolerant.
Tip: include a legume for nitrogen fixing in the mix. Partridge pea is a great one, but is a rare find that might only be available at your local native plant swap.
For a more complete list, please consult this gem: NLCP list of local natives by region.
Where to Buy Natives
By the way, there is a growing list of awesome native plant nurseries in Houston.
Audubon Natives Nursery
Green Star Wetland Plants
Morningstar Prairie Plants
Next Door Nursery
Other than these rare opportunities, native plants can still be difficult to find. Fortunately, that is starting to change. This list of nurseries might supply your wishlist. Make sure you write down the species name to eliminate confusion.
Wrap It Up
Your pocket prairie installation is complete when you’ve top-dressed with mulch. You may find some leaves, straw, or tree chippings, or purchase a native hardwood mulch. Think breathable blanket. If you have access to a work truck or trailer and don’t mind getting dirty, do opt for the bulk mulch over the bagged mulch. It’s cheaper and less trashy. Your new prairie plants will not need regular watering or fertilizer after the initial 2-to-4 week establishment period. Natives can handle the stress!
Thank you for reading my blog post about Pocket Prairies. If you want to support prairie organizations, you can become a member of your local NPSOT chapter and NPAT chapter and attend our meetings. Happy gardening!
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