Long-lived perennials and decorative grasses are planted in huge swathes to a meadow in prairie-style planting, which is currently one of the most popular gardening trends. It’s a look full of movement, light and color, inspired by the flowers of natural grasslands. In all of its levels of planting, it resembles nature and adds a layer of interest as the seasons change. This sort of planting may create a quick impact with lots of color and texture because many perennials are fast-growing. Most gardens, regardless of size, would be a good fit for it. Why should you get prairie-style gardens and how can you achieve them? Outdoor living specialist Backyard Reflections is here to help!
This planting approach is greatly aided by several species of ornamental grasses. Because grasses are one of the most prevalent plant species in nature, they constitute the foundation of the meadow effect in prairie-style gardens. Throughout the growing season, they serve as a support for colorful perennials, but in the autumn, they shine brightly in a blaze of reds, yellows, and golds. They also have a plethora of eye-catching flower heads that glow in the dark. It’s easy to maintain most of them because they don’t mind what kind of soil they’re in and only need to be chopped back or cleaned up in the spring before they start growing again. Choose sedge or a bunch-type grass for the base, which is a layer of living green mulch, and space plants 12 inches apart. Sideoats, grama grass, and clustered field sedge are both sun-lovers, while white-tinged sedge is shade-lover.
You can customize this style to fit your landscape, whether it’s large or tiny. With a minimal palette that repeats in a rhythmic fashion or threads through the design, repetition is crucial to produce the prairie-style garden you want for your outdoor living. Nature rarely divides an area into one of these and one of that, instead preferring to disperse seeds or plants generously.
Limit your plant palette to five—one natural grass and four wildflowers—for a unified aesthetic that won’t overwhelm the area. Choose clumpers that behave and shorter (under 3 feet) kinds. Avoid bullies like the Canadian goldenrod, which has a lot of roots and seeds that self-sow all over the place. To maintain interest and encourage a variety of pollinators, aim for a series of blooms.
You’ll notice how distinct flowers are not only in terms of color but also in terms of shape once you start looking. There are button-shaped flowers (such as Knautia and Astrantia), daisies, and umbrellas, as well as some fluffy and foamy flowers. Adding interest and variation to your landscape by contrasting one shape with another is a good idea. It is easier to observe these little variances in the form if you keep your color pallet minimal.
Some flowers, such as salvias and foxgloves, resemble spires, and it is common for some allium species to be rounder. Nassella tenuissima, a light grass, allows bulbs and other perennials to push up between them and even provide support. One of the tallest alliums, ‘Mount Everest,’ a bulb planted in September that flowers in June, floats over the other layers. It gives the planting a unique feel to it. From purple to blue to white, alliums come in a wide range of colors. There are even some that are yellow. The heads of some (like Allium cristophii and A. schubertii) are enormous, which adds to the design’s fun and appeal. When peppered through the grasses, others are little in comparison but add a pop of color (A. sphaerocephalon is a good example of this type). Although the larger ones are more expensive, they are a good addition to the perennial garden.
It is easier to observe these little variances in the form if you keep your color pallet minimal. Some shapes look great when clustered together in your landscape, while others look great scattered over the garden. Ask yourself how they might look in their natural habitat if you’re not sure, and then draw your inspiration from there.
A tiny prairie provides texture and color change throughout the year, in addition to providing habitat for wildlife and food. Prairie plants have strong, deep roots that nearly double or triple their height, and dried seed pods and grasses look magnificent dusted in frost or snow). They aid in the removal of pollutants from the air and water, as well as the prevention of flooding and soil erosion. They also trap and store carbon.
With that in mind, here are some plants that would fit well in your prairie-style landscape design:
Backyard Reflections is a full-service residential landscape design/build company with 20 years of experience. Since the year 2000, we have offered premium landscaping services to transform dreams into reality, creating unique outdoor spaces. From initial consultation through project completion, our talented team specializes in collaborating closely with our clients. After installation, we may also maintain and protect the beauty of the finished project to ensure maximum appeal for your property.
For any inquiries, contact us through our Annandale Office (320) 274-6336, Nisswa Office (218) 454-1065, or fill out our contact form to request an estimate. We proudly serve clients and homeowners in the state of Minnesota.
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