Frequently Asked Questions

To place an order request, please create an account and add your desired items to a cart. After submitting your order request, our team of experts will carefully review it. A team member will contact you to discuss any adjustments needed and will provide a payment link via email to complete your purchase.

Key #1 – Prepare a good seedbed
Removing all pre-existing vegetation, loosening the soil and removing the thatch will allow sunlight to penetrate into the soil.

Key #2 – Firm the soil
After tilling or loosening the soil to allow for good air and moisture penetration, you must firm it to achieve good seed-to-soil contact.

Key #3 – Plant shallow
The rule of thumb is that seed should not be planted any deeper than 1/4”. One exception is eastern gamagrass, which can be planted 1” deep.

The most important time to control weeds is before planting when complete vegetation control can be achieved. After seeding, a selective herbicide can be used to control certain groups of undesirable plants. Check with a vegetation management specialist.

We do not recommend using fertilizer when establishing native plant species. Natural fertility on sites being planted in native or wetland species is generally adequate. The use of fertilizers can promote the growth of weed species which can out-compete your native plant species. Fertilizers can also lead to contamination of nearby wetland areas. We do recommend adding well-decomposed, organic material to all sites when the topsoil has been removed or depleted, as this is the better way to improve soil fertility.

State-specific ecotypes will grow in other states as long as the species naturally occurs in your region.

A mix of species will increase the site’s functionality and add to successful establishment. A diverse mix will attract a greater diversity of pollinators and birds to the landscape.

We offer mixes for many different site types. To see all of our Seed Mixes, click on this link to use our seed finder tool. Our website offers in depth information about our stock mixes with application rates and species composition.

We always strive to obtain pictures of our mixes from our customers as well as from site visits. We have both individual species as well as group species pictures available that represent what a site will resemble when established. The appearance of a mix will vary from site to site and from season to season.

Stock seed mix formulas may vary within a year or between years. Each mix is created with a particular guiding philosophy. As new species become available, they will be added to enhance the performance of the mixes. Occasionally, a crop may not be available due to crop failure or high sales. This will lead to a reformulation using the remaining species in the mix. To adapt to these variations in our formulations, we recommend you use the phrase “Ernst Mix (X) as currently formulated” when writing your specifications.

Our sales team is able to create a mix to your specifications, contingent upon inventory availability. Custom mixes must be ordered in whole pound increments and a 5% custom mix charge is added to the total.

Seeding rates are based on our experience with native meadows and our desire to establish strong, individual plants. Planting cover crops that are too aggressive or thick diminishes the long-term viability of the perennial meadow plants. We have concluded that the annual, small grains, such as oats and rye, are the best cover crops or companion crops to plant with native seedings when there is a need. Due to its physiological adaptations in warmer regions, brown top millet is recommended for portions of the planting season. Grain cover crops can reduce competition from aggressive weeds because they grow quickly and also reduce the potential for erosion by providing quick cover. We do not recommend annual ryegrass as it is too aggressive and long-lived.

A cover crop is a fast-growing species that is used to protect soil and water resources. A companion crop grows rapidly and provides long-term protection for the desired plants.

Inoculation involves adding a specific bacterium, “rhizobia,” to legume seeds. Rhizobia have a beneficial relationship with legumes in that, when root nodules develop, the bacteria inside convert nitrogen gas from the air to a form which is used for plant growth.

Calibrating a drill or broadcast seeder is dependent upon seed bulk density and required application rates. Many native and naturalized seed mixes contain a mix of large, fluffy seeds and small, dense seeds. Some drills have special seed boxes that can meter large, fluffy seed. Many native seed mixes are planted at 10-20 lb. per acre (1/4-1/2 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft.).

A simple method for calibrating a seeder is to add a bulking agent (kitty litter) to create an even flow of seed. Add 40 lb. of a bulking agent to 10 lb. of seed and calibrate for 50 lb. per acre (1 lb. bulking agent to 1/4 lb. of seed per 1,000 sq. ft.). Divide the seed into proportional areas of the project. Start seeding at a lower rate than the calculated rate. If possible, plan on seeding half of the seed in one direction and make a second pass with the remaining half of the seed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Many native seeds have long germination periods and require particular conditions (proper temperature, light or light period, moisture and physiological conditions). We often see germination within four weeks of field corn emerging from the soil. The seedlings of long-lived, deep-rooted perennials typically produce more root structure than top growth, making the plants hard to identify. Some species in a native meadow take two to three years to become fully recognizable. Perennial plants do not produce flowers and seed heads until they have well-established roots. During this period, vigilant weed control (high mowing and/or an herbicide application) is necessary to assist in establishment.

The natural process of burning, which is beneficial to native species, generally occurs during the dormant season or early spring. The benefits of burning can be replaced by mowing during the dormant season. While winter burns or mowing generally favor forb production and wildlife, late spring or summer burns or mowing increase grass production and control more woody vegetation.

Shipping depends on how many orders we have to process at the time of your order. We ship on a first come, first served basis. Please order as far ahead as possible.

We require at least one week’s notice when bioengineering orders are placed, as we custom cut your order for you.

Yes. Generally, we require air orders to be placed by noon; however, during our busy season, air orders may be cut off earlier in the day.

We are always adding new species to our inventory. Please call for the latest additions.

Some species sell out quickly due to demand and/or harvest volume. We can make substitution suggestions that maintain the functionality of the original species.

There are a number of reputable seed installation contractors around the country. One example is Monarch Vegetation Service, an independently owned and operated mobile ecological restoration company that specializes in native and pollinator friendly vegetation.

Creating an account is simple. Visit our website, click on the “Account” button, and fill in your details under “Register”. Once your account is set up, you’ll be able to use your login details to access your account where you can store shipping and billing information, track past orders, and save projects for future reference.

A “Saved Project” allows you to create a list of items that can be modified, saved for later, or submitted as an order request. You can return to your saved projects at any time to reorder by clicking the cart button or adjusting your selections by clicking the cart button, updating your project, and selecting update cart. At this time, you will want to resave your project under a modified name if you wish to access it in the future.

When you submit an order through the system, it’s not an immediate purchase. Instead, you are submitting an order request for review by our sales team. They will contact you to confirm details, collect payment, and finalize the order before it is processed.

Once you submit an order request:

1. You’ll receive a confirmation number.
2. Our sales team will review your order for accuracy, availability, and any special conditions.
3. We’ll contact you to confirm the order details, arrange payment, and address any questions.

Once your order is submitted, the sales team will contact you with updates as they occur. Additionally, a tracking number will be provided once the order is shipped.

Each order request is assigned a unique confirmation number, which you will receive immediately after submitting an order. This number is crucial for tracking your order, communicating with our sales team about your request, and making future inquiries or reorders based on past orders.

No, payment is not collected at the time of submission. After your order request is reviewed and confirmed by the sales team, they will contact you to arrange payment. Once payment is received, your order will be finalized and processed.

After confirming the details and receiving your payment, we will notify you that your order is officially approved and in the processing stage.

If you need to modify your order after submitting the request, you can contact the sales team directly using your confirmation number. They will assist you in making any necessary changes before finalizing the order.

Your account will keep a record of all past orders and saved projects. You can easily access these and submit a new request for reorder by selecting items from your previous projects.

Our sales team is here to help! You can reach out to us at any point with questions or concerns. Please have your confirmation number ready when contacting us for faster service.

All previous projects can be found after logging into your account under the “Account” tab -> “Past Projects”. Here you will have the ability to delete your project or move it to your cart to checkout.

At this time, you need to create an account to submit an order request and track your orders. This allows you to store shipping and billing information and save projects for future use.

Yes, if your order has not yet been finalized, you can update your shipping address. Please contact our sales team with your confirmation number to request changes.

Once your order is finalized and payment is received, processing times may vary based on the items and shipping method. Our sales team will provide an estimated delivery date after confirming your order.