EcoGro Ecological Stewardship

Although it may take just a few minutes to sow native seeds on even a very large site, it may take years before a plant community becomes fully established. The first three to five years of restoring a native habitat are fundamental to its success. Some native plants can be slower to grow from seed than the more familiar cultivated plants, hybrids and invasive weeds. To produce a native prairie, meadow or savannah will require some patience and understanding from the landowner as well as a selective management program.
Unfortunately, many of the exotic Asian plants imported to our country and cultivated in our gardens have begun to take over many of our natural areas. For example, early soil conservation programs encouraged planting kudzu because it is great at rapidly covering barren ground. However, it doesn’t know when to stop. Just like kudzu, other nuisance plants such as Winter Creeper, Ivy, Bush Honeysuckle, Privet, Multiflora Rose, Chinese Silver Grass, Purple Loosestrife and Burning Bush are commercially available and widely used as ornamental landscape plants. Through the introduction of these invasive exotic species, we now see how quickly they aggressively overcome our native ecosystems.
Fortunately, we have devised several management practices, tactics and tools to reduce the competitive pressure on the plants we desire. With monitoring, oversight and selective weeding during the first few growing seasons, a native plant community will be able to thrive on its own, with very little maintenance. Nothing could be better suited to our climate and landscape than the native plants that have been thriving in Kentucky since the last Ice Age.
As part of our ecological restoration services, we work with the landowner to create a suitable stewardship program before the project begins. Many contractors or clients would consider a project finished when the last seed is sown. We see it as only the beginning.
Services include: