Native Terrace Planting Pilot Project
Not vibing with the turf grass and ready for a change? Want to provide gorgeous habitat to make the pollinators flock? Residents in select pilot project areas may opt to have their terrace - the strip of land in between the sidewalk and the street - sowed with a native seed mix rather than the usual turf grass after a street reconstruction project. If you live in a pilot project area and have been offered the opportunity to install native plants in your terrace by your Engineering Project Manager, this webpage will walk you through all the steps for success and best practices in caring for this planting.
Reconstruction Process
If you live in a pilot project area and have been offered the opportunity to install native plants in your terrace, the Engineering Project Manager will coordinate getting a signed waiver from you agreeing to the new care responsibilities. During construction, six inches of planting mix topsoil consisting of pulverized topsoil, sand, and compost will be installed in the terrace seeding zone. When the dust settles on construction, Engineering Department staff will sow native seed in the terrace. Residents will have the choice between a selection of native seed mixes. To ensure the best results, seeding will be delayed until fall or winter as the majority of native seeds require overwintering in order to germinate. Once the seed is installed, maintenance is the responsibility of the resident. This guide will walk you through the steps for success and best practices. Read this document thoroughly before deciding if a native terrace planting is right for you.
Seed Mix Options
Sun Lovin’
Features a diverse mix of native grasses, sedges, and flower species typical of a shortgrass prairie.
Bit O’ Shade
Boasts grasses, sedges, and flowers that one might typically find in an oak savanna.
Super Sedges
Want to keep it simple? These sedges can handle all conditions and create a simple, grassy look.
Why Native?
- Stores carbon
- High drought tolerance
- Provides habitat in urban spaces
- Attracts specialist pollinators and other insects
- Relatively low-maintenance once established
- Beautiful to look at all year long
Did you know?
Wisconsin hosts hundreds of native pollinator species, including bees (over 400 separate species), hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, and beetles. Many of them rely on specific native plant species or families in order to complete their life cycle!
Establishment Phase
Establishment of native seedings usually spans 1-2 years - the wait is truly worth it. Maintenance is typically more involved during the establishment phase. As the native plants fill in the space and ecological niches, those maintenance demands reduce significantly.
During the first year, residents should mow the planting with the mower deck set on the highest setting (typically 3") every other week of the growing season. In the event of a drought, residents may also lightly water the overseeded area.
Now, we know what you're thinking. Mow my native perennials? Are these Engineers trying to pull one over on me? Actually, no! This is common practice in prairie restoration; it helps to give native seedlings the advantage against faster-growing, taller weeds. Check out the resources page for in-depth material from the Tallgrass Prairie Center.
The second growing season, plan on transitioning to hand weeding. If there is still a large presence of weeds, residents should continue to mow every three weeks for the second growing season. It can be tricky to know what stage your terrace is at. Engineering conservation staff encourage questions about your terrace.
Long Term Maintenance
Removing weeds and monitoring for invasive plant species will likely be the most prominent long-term activities. Find a list of common weeds on the resources page. If you are unsure whether a plant is a weed, using a plant identification app is encouraged. Engineering staff will also be available through e-mail to answer any questions you may have.
Native terrace plantings do not require yearly clean-up, however it is recommended to wait until spring to remove dead vegetation. Hollow, pithy stems provide nesting habitat for various native insects. Fallen leaves are often the shelter-of-choice for the majority of butterfly and moth species that overwinter in this region. Seeds left in standing plant stalks are a winter food source for birds. Explore official guidance and tips from the Xerces Society Nesting and Overwintering Guide on the resources page!
Thinning plants may become necessary or desirable if you find that one species is successfully taking over to the exclusion of the other species. This can be done by transplanting, repeated pruning or simply removing seeds before they can fall.
Maintenance for Safety
Certain sections of the terrace have height restrictions for vegetation. This helps maintain accessibility and prevent vision hazards for pedestrians and vehicles. The seed mixes offered are comprised of shorter-stature species, however extra maintenance for height may be necessary in some areas.
Adhering to these policies is part of the vegetation maintenance agreement when opting for a native terrace planting.
If you live on a corner lot, vegetation should not exceed 30 inches in height within 40 feet of the intersection. This is to maintain visibility of vehicles and safety of pedestrians crossing the street.
If there is a fire hydrant on your terrace, a six-foot radius must be maintained for visibility and accessibility to emergency services.
A four-foot buffer where vegetation does not exceed 30 inches must be maintained adjacent to driveways. This ensures safety of pedestrians utilizing the sidewalk.
A two-foot buffer (in red) where vegetation does not exceed 8 inches must be maintained adjacent to the street. This ensures accessibility for residents parking on the street. If the street in front of your terrace doesn't allow parking at any time, this rule does not apply.
Height Management Tips & Tricks
Option One
Mow height restricted zones. Repeated mowing of these areas will result in plant self-selection for species that can tolerate repeated mowing.
Option Two
Plant low-growing native groundcovers in height restricted zones. Native species such as wild strawberry (Fragaria virginia) or Canada anemone (Anemone candensis) are desirable options that competitively fill in space. These can be sourced at most native plant nurseries and are occasionally available at a discounted rate through Plant Dane. Always call Digger's Hotline prior to disturbing any soil.
Option Three
Selectively trim plants in height restricted zones. Pruning back certain plants in early summer can not only prevent vision hazards but extend blooming time. This method may involve some observation and experimentation.