Can I establish a wet meadow prairie from seed in the bottom of a standard detention basin?
Yes, providing the site is properly prepared and void of competing vegetation. Eliminate existing cool season turf grasses with a Glyphosate based herbicide (Roundup or equal) prior to seeding. Critsite offers an excellent native seed mix containing local-source native grasses, wildflowers, and some wetland species for use in establishing a wet meadow prairie in the bottom of a standard detention basin (see ‘Tip Sheet’ for “Creating a Wet Meadow.” In most applications, the user should utilize a biodegradable straw blanket (Greenfix WS072 or NAG S150BN) to ensure that the seed does not float from the soil. Our firm also recommends the use of a mycorrhizal inoculant (GroLife granular, or equal) per the seed producer’s recommendation at the time of seed installation.
