Fall seeding can be very successful, too, especially on dry soils. Fall plantings on dry soils allow seeds to germinate in early spring and become established before the heat of summer. Clay soils can also benefit from fall plantings. Young seedlings can become established before the clay dries out in summer and restricts root growth. Careful soil preparation and weed control is essential with fall plantings.
Native flowers exhibit higher germination when planted in fall.
Fall seedings on erosion-prone sites require planting with a nurse crop for soil stabilization. The nurse crop will be winter-killed, but the dead roots will continue to hold the soil over winter, until spring when the prairie seeds germinate. For more information, we recommend purchasing the booklet Prairie Restoration for The Beginner by Bob Ahrenhoerster and Trelen Wilson.