The Eastern Tallgrass Prairie once covered the mid-continent from central Kansas east into Ohio, from Texas north to Manitoba. On the richer, moister soils grew many taller plants. On poorer, drier soils, shorter plants predominated. Today, we use combinations of these plants to create the landscape effects we desire. Short prairies are a good choice for around homes and buildings.
Tall prairies are best when planted on larger acreages, or in background situations.
Include trails through your prairie so you can enjoy its different moods and intricacies up close. You may want to plant some areas of both tall and short prairie to create two different landscape effects and habitat types. Place the tall prairie to the back and short prairie in the front to create a layered effect. Beware that if you plant tall prairie to the west or north of your short prairie, the ripening seeds of the taller plants may be blown into the short prairie to the east and south. Eventually your short prairie may become a tall grass prairie, as the invading seeds from the tall plants grow and mature.