FAQ's & How To's

Yes, native prairie plants can spread and fill in over time, but that does not mean bare spots should be ignored. Every prairie species has some way of moving across the landscape. Some spread by seed on the wind. Some are carried by animals. Some move through rhizomes or slowly expand from established crowns. Prairie once moved across continents, so it is absolutely capable of filling space. The important question is how much space and what is competing in that space. A small gap on the edge of a field may fill in naturally if the surrounding prairie is healthy and the gap is managed. A large unseeded strip, a compacted yard patch, or an area full of brome, reed canary grass, or turf grass is a different story. The prairie may eventually reach it, but weeds may claim it first. If a spot was missed during seeding, manage it like an opening. Keep invasive weeds from taking over. Watch for cool-season grasses creeping in. If the area is large or visible, interseeding may be the smarter choice. In small yard plantings, it is usually best to seed every square foot from the beginning because competition is high and expectations are usually higher too. It is also important to understand that “filling in” does not mean every species will appear evenly everywhere. Prairies form plant communities based on soil moisture, drainage, slope, shade, fertility, disturbance, and chance. One area may be heavy with black-eyed Susan for a season. Another may favor bergamot, grasses, sedges, or wetland species. That is not failure. That is prairie doing what prairie does. A mature prairie should become fuller, more complex, and more resilient over time. Just do not use that natural ability as an excuse to underseed, skip problem areas, or leave large gaps unmanaged.