Although prairie grass seed sold in the United States has generally had the awn removed, the long fluffy seeds often bridge in conventional seed drills and make planting difficult. Most hopper-type fertilizer spreaders can be calibrated to broadcast prairie grass seed. If seed is broadcast, however, be sure to lightly cover the seed with soil. This can be done by light disking or by following with a drag or harrow. Unlike many other cool-season grasses, prairie grass should not be cultipacked after seeding because it increases the difficulty of seedling emergence and the risk of stand failure.
Prairie grass seeding rate varies with seedbed condition, method of seeding, and quality of seed.
Generally, when seeding prairie grass alone, rates of 30 to 35 lb per acre are sufficient. When seeding in mixtures with a legume, seeding rates of 20 to 30 lb per acre of prairie grass are recommended. Germination of stored seed can decline rapidly, therefore seed should be used promptly and not stored from year to year. Weed control at the time of seeding and during prairie grass establishment is extremely important because of prairie grass's slow emergence and upright growth. The upright growth allows emerging weeds below the prairie grass to receive sufficient sunlight to continue growing.