News

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Native Grass Workshop Announced

Replanting prairies is a new sustainable landscape trend in the Southern US. Native prairies restore wildlife habitats, are much lower maintenance (saving fuel and water) and create a unique sense of place. Over the next few months, Trees Atlanta will be planting nearly 8 acres of prairies along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. Ultimately similar native grass prairies will appear along the entire BeltLine.

As part of this endeavor, Trees Atlanta is partnering with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on a two day workshop for establishing prairies in the Southeast. This partnership will continue with a multi-year research project focusing on removal methods of invasive exotic plants while establishing prairies.

The workshop is free of charge. For more information, including agenda and instructor bios, and to register, click here.

About the workshop

The two-day workshop is being held on March 1st and 2nd at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center from 9am to 3pm. The workshop will provide advanced level training and information on native prairies.

Workshop details (as provided by the staff of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)

Day 1—Installation

Topics will include:

  • Services of functional landscapes
  • Soil specifications
  • Soil testing
  • Compost
  • Compaction
  • Species selection
  • Establishment techniques.

Day 2—Maintenance & Monitoring

Topics will include:

  • Short and long term establishment
  • Invasive and native species
  • Best Management Practices
  • Integrated Pest Management
  • Monitoring techniques.

Who should attend the workshop?

Professionals that would like to design or install prairies in the Southeast will benefit from this workshop. People with interest in volunteering with Trees Atlanta, The Atlanta BeltLine and Beltline Adopter groups are encouraged to attend. Individuals interested in improving bird habitat, restoring native plants and ecological research are also encouraged to attend.

This workshop is free to attend but you must RSVP. Space is limited.