Transforming Lawn to Pollinator Garden: Establishing Native Prairie

We have spent the last 2 years transforming our lifeless septic leach field into a native prairie that is now home to many pollinators and animals. This lawn alternative is beautiful, functional, and very low maintenance. In this video we show you what we planted over the septic leach field, the process of eliminating the previously planted cover crop, and some of the more-than-welcome local critters that now roam here. In the next video of this series, we will discuss what you should and should not plant on a septic field.
Find Your Local Native Plant Nursery HERE: themeadowproject.com/resource...
Our Website: indyhomestead.com/
Our Affiliate Links:
Strongway Tow-Behind Plug Aerator: amzn.to/3VwSC2G
Milwaukee Impact Driver: amzn.to/48S773S
Milwaukee Lithium-Ion Batteries: amzn.to/3wYgi5v
Leather Gloves: amzn.to/3wRlwQI
Gardening Gloves: amzn.to/3IA0QiU
Extra-Long Thornproof Gloves: amzn.to/3VfZAJg
DiPel PRO DF (all-natural insecticide): amzn.to/3Txc51L
Wide-Brim Hat: amzn.to/48PpGWv
Sloggers Rain and Garden Shoe: amzn.to/4adfqbP
Gardening Knee Pads: amzn.to/48PAxjo
Pasture Grass and Forage Seed Mix: amzn.to/3T5V0u8
Red Clover Seed: amzn.to/3IwlGzF
Disclaimer:
Please note that this KZbin description contains affiliate marketing links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an affiliate, I only recommend products or services that I personally use and believe will add value to my audience. Your support through these links helps keep this channel running and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Thank you for your support!
Septic Leach Field Transformation Playlist: • Septic Leach Field Tra...
Septic Field Cover Crop Time Lapse: • Planting Cover Crop Ov...
Homestead Tour 2021: • Homestead Tour 2021: Y...
Beginning Homesteading Videos:
• Beginning Homesteading
Instagram: / indyhomesteadfam
Although we are homesteaders on youtube, we want to start out first by saying that we are by no means experts in the homesteading lifestyle. We still consider ourselves to be brand new, starting our family homestead from scratch. Two years ago we moved into this 100+ year old farmhouse with a little less than 4 acres of land, a couple barns, and a whole lot of potential. After being inspired by other homesteading channels, we decided to start our own to document our journey as a homesteading family.
We hope you enjoy and join us for the journey. If you choose to subscribe, don’t forget to hit the bell notification as well so you don’t miss out on future videos.
Keywords:
Native prairie, native garden, native landscaping, prairie restoration, sustainable lawn, lawn alternatives, now mow lawn, no mow yard, native prairie restoration, how to plant native plants, native plants, how to plant native prairie grass, what to put over septic field, what to plant above septic field, planting on leach field, leach field, growing over septic drain field, Landscaping Over Septic Drain Fields,indy homestead, pollinator garden, pollinator plants, perennial pollinator plants, from lawn to micro-prairie, Native Plants, Leach Field ,Septic Garden, Prairie, No Mow, No Maintenance, Permaculture

[@IndyHomestead]

Find Your Local Native Plant Nursery HERE: themeadowproject.com/resources/find-native-plants/ Happy to dedicate a part of our property back to nature and give a little something back. Consider what might be possible for you. No pollinator garden is too small and every one is infinitely significant for our planet. Happy planting!

[@andrew2693]

Which seed mix did you get? Looks like a great amount of variety there! We are looking to do a similar project in central Indiana.

[@larsfinlay7325]

there is food for many pollinators now where there was once just a lawn. you made a huge difference to your local ecosystem, to your neighbors' gardens, and to your bee and butterfly friends. keep up the great work

[@campt91]

Another option we have used to smother weeds and get a clean blank slate over a large area is to put down a large black plastic covering. We purchased one about the size of your area (40x100ft) for about $100. Then you just need to weigh down the edges with rocks or other heavy weight items so the wind doesn't blow it away. It usually takes 3 to 5 months during the spring and early summer to completely kill the vegetation but once you are done you have a clean blank slate with no herbicide used and no soil disturbance. We then planted it with cover crops and it worked for us perfectly and we got really good growth with almost no weed pressure.

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

Lovely video. I started my prairie over a decade ago. It's approximately an acre. In the beginning, I didn't do enough research and basically just let part of my yard grow, then burning it each year and adding more and more native plant seeds. I wish I could go back, but it's actually not too bad considering the rough start. It is deeply satisfying to watch the progress and see so many native pollinators, especially since I keep non-native honeybees. My original intent was to support the natives since honeybee pressure would be thick. To my delight, I do see more native wildlife in the prairie than my own honeybees. My guess is the honeybees tend to forage large swaths of pollen and nectar rich crops. So I feel that I have created some sort of balance in a roundabout way. Best of luck on your homestead. I'm glad I found your channel.

[@xxpowwowbluexx]

Tilling brings weed seeds back up to the surface to allow them to germinate. It also disrupts fungal networks in the soil. If you’re not dealing with compaction (and in some cases, even if you are), you should reconsider tilling.

[@soil-play]

I planted a small native prairie this spring using tilling and it was a HUGE mistake - so many weeds!!!! Will try herbicide next spring!

[@hermetix7231]

Don’t use herbicide! This will kill your soil. You cab use a heavy layer of mulch over cardboard or another material that blocks light to kill off the grass/ weeds

[@soil-play]

@@hermetix7231 That is another way to do it - takes more and not practical to scale up. Regardless, I respectfully disagree that an herbicide such as glyphosphate would harm soil any more than cardboard.

[@jessebraunmusic]

I read that is why if using tilling, you need to till twice, at least 2 weeks apart to kill the second round.

[@snowyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

glyphosate is damaging to plant, animal, and human health. undiluted it may cause cancer

[@logans3365]

I’m launching conservative efforts on my grandparents 30 acres of land, starting with a 3 acre field, continuing into wooded efforts, and ideally getting neighbors on board with the idea, and expanding into a very large nature reserve.

[@HomeHarvestCo]

Your passion for plants is contagious! 🌱💚

[@themightypotato3803]

Such awesome information, thank you for sharing. Im an Ohioian with a dream and this gives me such hope!

[@ErelasInglor]

Great start, would be fantastic as a pasture forage long term as well with rotation.

[@meganmcbride9894]

Thank you so much. I have been looking to see how other people created a meadow over the leach field.

[@joeleming9605]

Amazing video. I hope there's a summer 2022 update. Great work.

[@IndyHomestead]

Thank you, Joe! We are happy with the results and would love to document and show this year's progress.

[@charlesburkhart800]

Just beautiful. What patience you have!

[@snowyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

your voice is so nice?? very gentle/calm

[@CharlieElliott24]

Would love a spring update

[@lorylewis6767]

I will be doing g this in a front yard easement a utility made last year! Wish me Goodluck! BATTLE GROUND, IN

[@ssjordan34]

This is a great video for the span of time you cover. Thank you!

[@bersef]

Awesome stuff. Can't wait to do something similar on my property in Southern Tasmania.

[@tiltedleader]

I would love to see a small fire to reset the native prairie

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

Hey guys 👋 just dropping by to rev you up a bit and say we MISS you! Hope you’re all ok ❤❤

[@komorebi.1570]

So beautiful 😍

[@Stevelemontrudy]

Looks really great!

[@ContemplativeSoul]

This was helpful. I've had to look up several sources on what they recommend for transforming a large area into a wildflower meadow and this was the first one that told me I should keep it mowed down for the first 2 years. I'm a little disappointed to hear that but I'll do it to make sure it's done right.

[@bcendrars1]

Thanks so much ! thevideo explain very well the steps, we can see at which period of the project and which month of the year the flowers start to appear, i loved that ! I'm starting the same project in Quebec, Canada (seeds from OSC) with a 30m2 of full sun that i have in my small yard ! Patience is key !

[@Alexander-rq9he]

Awesome!

[@outdoorstudios2022]

Thanks for the video, keep them coming!!!

[@gardentours]

Great idea 👍🏼

[@Windsor.royals]

Beautiful.

[@thedarkestrainbow]

@indyhomestead what was the specific seed mix you purchased from Heartland?

[@Kyaide]

So how do you maintain this area after this point? It seemed too tall to mow. (I understand leaving the stalks and seed heads for wildlife)

[@heidimcellistrem3367]

Great video and graden. Do you plan to do burns to maintain your garden or will you mow at the end of the season. I have a 3 year old native garden and not sure how I will maintain it. I'm in the city and I don't know if my garden will continue to grow with natives if I don't burn. Maybe I can mow and rake at the end of the season?

[@tazfi1866]

One thing for sure is to not now or weed it until next spring because the insects need the dead plant parts as a winter refuge ;)

[@shawnafitzsimmons1852]

Hi, great video, thank you! Quick question: I want to do this over my septic field (smaller space than yours) but our property is bordered by an old stone wall that has invasive grasses and other plants that I think we are going to have a hard time removing without destroying our wall. If we plan our native prarie garden like you did, is it going to be inevitable that these invasive will just take over in a matter of years? And if so, would a good alternative just to be to till the section and plan wildflowers only and weed the area (ugh)? Thanks for any advice. Beautiful job!

[@IndyHomestead]

Shawna, I'm happy you liked the video! I am definitely not an expert so take my advice with a grain of salt. From my understanding, preparation is the most important step during this whole process. Some people opt to till, some might consider tarping, while others use herbicide in order to prep the area. You want, as close as possible, a blank slate to allow your new plants to establish themselves and thrive. How you get there is entirely up to you. As you said, it is inevitable that invasive species will soon encroach. However, with a well prepped site, your new plants will have the leg-up they need in order to out-compete other less favorable species. If you are prepping over your septic field, be cautious using tilling methods as this can damage your pipes (if you are unsure of their depth). Tarping over septic leach fields is probably less than ideal as it inhibits the field's ability to evaporate and get rid of excess moisture. Due to excessive heat and lack of oxygen, tarping may also disrupt the fragile microorganism environment that helps purify your wastewater. I would speak to your local health department or contractor if you have concerns.

[@shawnafitzsimmons1852]

@@IndyHomestead thank you so much! We are nervous about tilling for that very reason (unsure of depth) and we are personally against herbicides (unless you can recommend any organic ones?) so I think we'll be contacting our local Cornell Co-op Master Gardner program. Really appreciate it!

[@spensers]

what riding mower do you have?

[@IndyHomestead]

2007 Cub Cadet RZT 50

[@randomconsumer510]

Fire... all the native Prarie plants evolved with fire.

[@therandomman6647]

I love mowing grass and all my mowers, but we really need to stop destroying the native ecosystem.

[@nerrade]

Alternative preparation: Do nothing. Plant some seeds. Let them grow. Remove the plants you don't want. Done.

[@alanwong3989]

There is no such thing as weed.

[@twibute1512]

what did i just smoke then

[@snakey973]

Manure is a bad idea. It can carry seed from weeds the cattle were eating unless you hot composted it first. Also too much nitrogen isn't necessarily good for prairie plants but helps the non-native plants to out compete the desirables.