Looking for local sources to Grow Native!

The Grow Native! program makes sourcing native plants easy for customers. Simply visit one of the participating retailers on the flyer below and look for the Grow Native! logo on plant stakes to find plants that will be a beneficial addition to any yard. 

 A list of participating retailers across Central Indiana is available online at Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District. You can learn more about these plants through the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society website.

Spring Seeding Tips for a Successful Lawn

Most Purdue University publications recommend seeding lawns in the fall or in late winter before the soil thaws. Winter seeding allows the seeds to enter cracks in the frozen soil creating great seed to soil contact. Sometimes we are forced to seed our lawn in the spring due to winter damage or initial establishment of a new lawn. If this is the case for you, please follow these tips to be successful.

Although any cool-season grass can be seeded in the spring, spring seedings are more successful with tall fescue and perennial ryegrass than with Kentucky bluegrass due to the faster germination rate and better seedling vigor of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue compared to Kentucky bluegrass. See image above for germination example.  If Kentucky bluegrass is seeded in the spring consider using a mixture of tall fescue: Kentucky bluegrass (90:10, weight: weight) or a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass:perennial ryegrass (such as 80:20, weight: weight). Seeding Kentucky bluegrass alone will result in marginal bluegrass establishment due to the slow germination and vigor of the seedlings and increased comp

etition from crabgrass. The table below gives the recommended seeding rates and days to germination per recommended species.  

New turfgrass seedlings have poorly developed root systems and thus they cannot effectively take up the nutrients from the soil. Therefore, it is important to fertilize frequently after seeding to encourage

establishment. To help the turf establish, apply a “starter fertilizer” to enhance seed germination and development. Starter fertilizer is high in phosphorus which is listed as the second number in the analysis on the fertilizer bag. For instance, a 16-22-8 fertilizer contains 22% P2O5. Apply the fertilizer according to the label directions would should supply at least 1.0 lb. P2O5 /1000 ft2. This application will likely include nitrogen (first number in the fertilizer analysis), which will also help the turf develop an extensive fibrous root system that is better able to take up nutrients and obtain water.

Table 1. Recommended seeding rates for lawns in Indiana.

Species	Seeding rate lbs/1,000 ft2	Days to germinate
Kentucky bluegrass	1.0 to 2.0	10-21
Kentucky bluegrass + perennial ryegrass	3.0 to 6.0	5-21
Tall fescue	8.0 to 10.0	6 to 10
Tall fescue + Kentucky bluegrass	5.0 to 7.0	6 to 21

Taken from Turf Tips written by Aaron Patton, Assistant Professor/Turfgrass Extension Specialist

Garden 2 Consumer Program offered in Hamilton County

Purdue Extension Hamilton County is proud to offer two sessions targeted to small farmers, current or aspiring entrepreneurs, and others looking to profit from foods they produce.  If you fall into this category and are need of more information for growing and producing safe, high-quality foods on food safety regulations, consider the following programs.    

On Wednesday April 13^th, I look forward to having Sharon Pattee from Indiana State Department of Health, Food Protection Program discussing 'home-based vendor' exemption in Indiana Law (HEA 1309). She will discuss if you can operate as a Home-Based Vendor or if you need to use a Commercial Kitchen. She will also talk about certifications that may be required.

On April 20^th, the final program with include food preparation tips and keeping food safe at point of sale. Christina Ferroli,  Marion County Extension Educator will discuss some of the ‘bad bugs’ to consider while dealing with fruits and vegetables and how to prepare some products in your kitchen safely.

If you would like to join us on April 13^th and/or April 20^th for these educational programs, please respond to this email to register.  The programs are scheduled from 10:00am to 12noon and will be located in the Annex at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville.  The cost for each program is $5.00 at the door.  For more information contact Diane Turner, Extension Educator Hamilton at 317-776-0854.

Native Plant Kits Available

Native plants are those that have grown and thrived in this area since before settlers made this area home.  Native plants are beautiful, low maintenance, and provide ideal food for many pollinators! This spring take the guesswork out of your landscaping and go native by purchasing one of the Soil and Water Conservation District’s native plant kits.

Marsh Milkweed

Each native plant kit is contains 50 native plants for $120 and takes the guesswork out of plant selection by providing a set of plants that will be perfect for your yard. There is a kit for any area of your landscape including pollinator garden, rain garden (for wetter areas), prairie garden, and shade garden.  Each kit contains 10 different species of native plants and can fill a space anywhere from 50 to 150 square feet.

Plant kit orders can be placed online at www.hamiltonswcd.org or by visiting the SWCD office at 1717 Pleasant Street in Noblesville. Orders and payment are due by April 24^th.  The plant kits will be available for pick up at the SWCD office on Friday May 13^th.

This native plant kit sale is part of the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department’s Mission Monarch program. Mission Monarch is a year of events and education on the Monarch butterfly and how we can help pollinators! Learn more here: http://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/1129/Mission-Monarch

More information on native plants and additional sources for native plant purchases can be found on the Hamilton County SWCD website or by contacting Claire Lane, Urban Conservationist with 

Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District.