KC Permaculture Extension Bulletin # N100 February 2017 Author: Steve Mann

Prairie Restoration and Establishment Strategy Using Permaculture Ethics and

Principles: Soil Solarization, No-till Cover Cropping and Snow Seeding
Techniques for Native Species.

These methods are suitable for old fields, commercial landscapes, and home scale garden and
landscape applications.

We advocate a multifunctional approach that honors the Permaculture ethics of Earth Care, People
care and Fair Share. We dont poison the Earth, we dont poison people and we dont poison all the
other creatures living on our site and downstream by spraying death-a-cides.

The techniques we are covering are time sensitive and success requires adhering to a schedule (table
1) that is sensitive to the seasons and the local conditions. There is usually a period of precipitation,
late August to mid September in the Kansas City area. Late summer rains and cooler nights lower
soil temperature allowing seeds to germinate. You should plan on having your cover crop seed in the
ground before these rains.

Table 1
Step Date Range
Solarization June 1st to August 1st
Soil Microorganisms Inoculation August 1st - 15th
Cover Crop Establishment August 15th September 30th.
Snow Seeding Seed mix January 1st February 15th
Mow and Spot Weed May - June of 1st year

Steps for a Successful Project:

1 Site preparation

We use no till methods because tilling has multiple negative environmental consequences:

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KC Permaculture Extension Bulletin # N100 February 2017 Author: Steve Mann

Tilling oxidizes soil organic matter decreasing the carbon content which favors non native
species and Eurasian grasses, decreases soil carbon sequestration potential..
Tilling destroys soil pore structure decreasing water holding capacity causing compaction
Tilling exposes the soil seed bank to the germination zone increasing weed pressure.
Tilling increases wind and water erosion.

Instead of tilling we will first mow or clear plants and materials from the site. We then cover the soil
surface with a plastic sheet covering to heat the soil. The solar infrared radiation is trapped under the
plastic sheet warming the soil with temperature reaching as high as 180F killing current vegetation
and many seeds and pathogens in the soil.

The restoration area is solarized using clear, 2 - 4 mill poly sheets from June till August killing off
current plants and many seeds and pathogens.

The goal is to maintain daily soil temperatures above 110F in the top 6 inches of the soil for six
weeks.

Figure 1 Black Poly film solariaztion at a community garden

Materials for Solarization:

A number of common materials are used for solarization; clear or black polyethylene sheets from 2 -
4 mil and heavy reusable tarps. Clear poly film removed from greenhouses or high tunnels can be
reused for solarization project. Any tears or holes can be repaired with a patch and clear tape. The
edges of the poly sheets must be buried in the soil to trap the heat under the film.

Black poly film can be used but temperatures under the material may not reach as high as
temperature as with clear. One advantage of black film is that sunlight is blocked from plants under
the film hastening their death.

Before applying the film the area should be watered thoroughly to field capacity.

Sheetmulching can be used as an alternative to using plastic film for smaller areas. Sheetmulching
consists of a weed and light barrier such as newspapers or cardboard laid on the soil surface after

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KC Permaculture Extension Bulletin # N100 February 2017 Author: Steve Mann

debris is removed then covered with at least 3 of mulch, leaves or other organic materials. (See KC
Permaculture Extension Bulletin # M110 March 2016. available at:
https://www.scribd.com/document/305206346/Mulching-and-cover-crops-for-soil-protection-weed-suppression-
and-nutrient-management ) . Sheetmulched areas are best planted with plugs or potted plants.

2. Improving the competitive environment for natives:

After solarization, compost tea inoculant that includes indigenous microbes and mycorrhizal fungi is
sprayed on the surface to re inoculate the soil with these essential organisms. If possible a high
carbon top dressing such as biochar can be applied to increase soil carbon thus favoring native
perennial species.

Winter kill cover crops (Table 2) are planted after solarization and soil inoculation, by mid August in
the Kansas City area. Winter killed cover crops out compete winter annual weeds and decompose
quickly leaving relatively weed free fields.

Table 2
Cover Crop Species Some Cultivars Advantages
Buckwheat Mancan Rapid Growth, Organic Matter
Forage radish Rapid Growth, Subsoiler
Diakon, Nitro Radish
Spring oats Rockford Rapid Growth, Organic Matter
Mustard Florida Broadleaf, Rapid Growth, Subsoiler
Idagold
Millet Browntop Fast Growth, Organic Matter
Sorghum Sudan BMR Erosion Control, Subsoiler, Rapid
Growth, Organic Matter

Cover crop mixtures add diversity and can be matched to site soil conditions and moisture
availability. Seeds are drilled or broadcast at the mixture recommended rates.

Figure 2. Diakon radish cover crop

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KC Permaculture Extension Bulletin # N100 February 2017 Author: Steve Mann

Spring oats, mustards, buckwheat and radishes can be planted from late August through September.
In the normal Kansa City winter these species will die when the temperature dips below 25 F for 5
days in a row.

Figure 3. Buckwheat cover crop

3 Seeding and planting

Native species and grass are snow seeded January March into the dead cover crop residue.

Snow Seed a native forbs and grass mix appropriate to your goals, site slope, aspect, soil type and
moisture profile.

Precision snow seeding can be used to create beds of the same species adjacent to each other in a
design pattern.
.
4) Maintenance
Mowing and spot weeding of persistent unwanted perennials and grasses. Perform a prescribed burn
if possible. Organic herbicides spot treatment may be required for heavy infestation of rhizomatous
grasses. Hand weeding may also be requires to ensure best stand of natives.

Community Garden after solarization to remove turf.

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KC Permaculture Extension Bulletin # N100 February 2017 Author: Steve Mann

References:
Soil Solarization for Gardens & Landscapes: Integrated Pest Management for Home Gardeners
and Landscape Professionals. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Available online at: http://ucanr.edu/blogs/ucdweedscience/blogfiles/25439.pdf . Last accessed
January 29, 2017.
Fitzpatrick, G. S. 2004. Techniques for restoring native plant communities in upland and wetland prairies
in the midwest and west coast regions of North America. Report prepared for City of EugeneParks and
Open Space Division, Eugene, Oregon.

Gill, H. K., McSorley, R., & Treadwell, D. D. 2009. Comparative performance of different plastic films for
soil solarization and weed suppression. HortTechnology, 19(4), 769-774. Available Online at:
th
http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/19/4/769.full . Last accessed January 29 , 2017.

Masabni, J. G. and J. G. Franco 2013. Soil Solarization. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Available online at: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/files/2013/09/soil_solarization.pdf .
th
Last accessed January 29 , 2017.

https://agdev.anr.udel.edu/weeklycropupdate/?p=4712