We chose only seed from plants that are native to central Illinois from these suppliers. The seeds of many native plants have built-in dormancy mechanisms which protect them from germinating before killing frosts or in times of droughts. In the wild, seeds will lie dormant until the proper conditions for growth occur. But in cultivation, a restorationist must become familiar with several simple pre-sowing seed treatment methods which will unlock the dormancy mechanisms and stimulate quicker, more consistent germination. This fact is useful in counteracting the problem of prairie grass outcompeting forbs.
Different species have different germination requirements.
Seed drills are the most efficient means of seeding a prairie. Unfortunately, we were not able to utilize this method because seed drills are very expensive to buy and costly to rent or hire the service. Broadcast Spreading Broadcasting seed in spring is the most common method of planting, either by hand or using a lawn-type spreader . Seeds planted in May or June avoid competition with the early, rapid weed growth. This is the method we chose for several years after the first planting, which was done in late fall due to the timing of the decision to start a restoration project.