The native seed mix is in the ground around a portion of the KPVA retention pond. Volunteers seeded Section 1 (green) along the south berm and Section 2 (yellow) above the east retention wall on November 24, 2024; section 3 (red) awaits next year.
Planting Guidelines from Native Connections in Kalamazoo, MI, describe four steps to achieve successful establishment of their native seed mix:
planning,
site prep,
installation,
and maintenance.
The next step, maintenance, requires patience, as the flower-laden mix will not appear showy until the third year (2027). An aggressive mowing schedule in Years 1 & 2 keeps the new growth low to prevent annual weeds from seeding while giving the seed mix time to build up roots and eventual height.
Section 3 (red) can be a 2025 experiment. Volunteers have curtailed much of its invasive growth, but spaghetti-like roots of English ivy and bittersweet remain as late fall temperatures end the gardening zeal. One technique advocated by some landscapers and naturalists is to apply a water-safe herbicide to all growth instead of hand-pulling weeds. Once the site is clear of growth, introduce the native seed mix.
The east and west ends of the pond, in the parcel owned by KPVA, have been partially cleared of invasive plants. However, aggressive final steps to clear the ivy and irises there are on hold awaiting HOA decisions on retention wall replacement. The south bank of the pond lies within Lots 14 and 15.
A next step is to prevent a landscaping subcontractor from applying a pre-emergent that spreads into the edged landscaping beds where the seeds are.
In 2025 the recommended maintenance schedule calls for mowing the vegetation to a height of 4-6 inches when it reaches 10-12 inches.