Contents Applicability and Native Species Requirements ................................................................................................................. 3 General Considerations ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Benefits of Native Vegetation............................................................................................................................................. 5 Strategies for Restoring Resilient, Functional Landscapes and Maintaining Ecological Diversity ...................................... 6 Species Diversity ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Seed and Plant Source ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Native Variety/Cultivar Use .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Insecticides and Chemical Carry-over ............................................................................................................................... 11 Seed Mixes ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Companion Crops and Temporary Cover ......................................................................................................................... 13 Yellow Tag Seed ................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Prevention of Palmer Amaranth and other Noxious Weeds in Conservation Projects .................................................... 14 Guidance for Project Managers and Vendors .............................................................................................................. 15 Methods for Addressing Palmer Amaranth and Other Noxious Weeds ...................................................................... 16 Protecting Natural Communities ...................................................................................................................................... 21 Riparian Buffer Planning and Design ................................................................................................................................ 21 Providing Pollinator Habitat ............................................................................................................................................. 21 Climate Change Considerations ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Considerations for Plant Selection ......................................................... 22 Project Site Preparation, Planting and Maintenance ....................................................................................................... 24 Site Preparation Methods................................................................................................................................................. 24 Transitioning from Other Uses ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Seedbed Preparation .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Planting Considerations .................................................................................................................................................... 26 Seed Mixes ................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Temporary Cover Crops and Mulch ............................................................................................................................. 26 Planting Dates .............................................................................................................................................................. 27 Planting Date Guidance for Restoration & BMP Projects ................................................................................................. 27 Seeding Considerations .................................................................................................................................................... 28 Plant Installation Considerations ...................................................................................................................................... 29 Seeding Wetlands and Retention Basins ...................................................................................................................... 29 Prairie, Savanna and Woodland Edge Seeding ............................................................................................................. 29 Mulching ....................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Use of Native Seedbank ............................................................................................................................................... 30 Tree Planting ................................................................................................................................................................ 30 Aquatic Plant Installation ............................................................................................................................................. 30 Upland Plant Installation .............................................................................................................................................. 31 Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources . An equal opportunity employer 1 Inter-seeding ................................................................................................................................................................ 31 Seeding Forb Diverse Mixes for Pollinator Habitat ...................................................................................................... 32 Project Maintenance ........................................................................................................................................................ 33 Mowing/Cutting ........................................................................................................................................................... 33 Haying ........................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Hand Weeding .............................................................................................................................................................. 33 Biological Control ......................................................................................................................................................... 34 Conservation Grazing ................................................................................................................................................... 34 Water Level Control ..................................................................................................................................................... 34 Burning ......................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Spot Treatment of Weeds ............................................................................................................................................ 35 Woody Tree Control ..................................................................................................................................................... 35 Guidance by Project Type ................................................................................................................................................. 36 Native Prairie Reconstruction ...................................................................................................................................... 37 Pollinator Habitat ......................................................................................................................................................... 39 Wetland Restoration .................................................................................................................................................... 42 Agricultural BMPs (Including Harvestable Perennials and Cover Crops) ..................................................................... 45 Stormwater Basins ....................................................................................................................................................... 48 Lakeshores ...................................................................................................................................................................