As we are wrapping up the remaining warm moments of summer and autumn here in Upper Michigan, Eagle Shoreline Protection and our staff have been doing plenty of things (business and otherwise) to prepare us for the transition into winter! One of those things is looking ahead to the next year and doing whatever we can to get the most out of Michigan’s relatively short growing season.
To get the most out of this short growing season, you should plant native wildflower and grass seed during late fall to early winter so they have a chance to complete their growth cycle by springtime when we’re all out and about looking for them.
Michigan State University says that “late fall planting (November-December) is typically the best time to seed. Most native wildflowers require several months of cold temperatures before they will germinate. By planting in the fall, the seeds will be worked into the soil by the freeze-thaw cycle and ready to emerge in the spring.”
Maintaining the plant life on your own property is important not only aesthetically, but also structurally! As living shoreline specialists, we have seen the damage that underplanted properties take. The deep and expansive roots that feed native plants stabilize the ground they are planted in. This is why spreading seed mix and installing plant plugs are VITAL parts of nearly every project that Eagle Shoreline Protection does. Especially if you live near water or deal with a lot of stormwater runoff, native plants can make the difference in saving your land and lots of reparation work in the future!
If you’re in the Midwest like us, take the advice we’ve been given from our native plant supplier, Native Connections, and get your native wildflower and grass seeds in the ground now, before the soil freezes! Happy fall!
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