Done with mowing? How to transform your lawn into a native, perennial landscape

Prairie plants

In general, prairie grasses can be separated into two categories: warm-season and cool-season grasses.

Warm-season grasses grow in the summer, flower and fruit in the fall, and then go dormant after the first frost. In the fall, these grasses turn to beautiful shades of gold, orange, and bronze and produce seeds for birds and other wildlife. Examples include broomsedge, bluestems and Indiangrass.

Cool-season grasses grow in the late fall, winter, and early spring, flower and fruit in the late spring, then go dormant in the summer. Examples include oatgrasses, witchgrasses and bluegrasses.

Meadow plants

When planting a native meadow, you can choose between annuals and perennials. Annual meadows, commonly found in wildflower seed mixes, grow quickly and provide vibrant color but typically need replanting each year. Some annuals may self-seed and return the following season. Perennials, however, are cold-hardy plants that return year after year. While they can thrive for many seasons, their lifespans vary, with some lasting only three to five years. Though perennials bloom for shorter periods, they require less water once established, making them perfect for drought-prone areas. They also attract local pollinators and provide food and habitat for wildlife. Many perennials can be divided or reseeded, allowing them to flourish and keep your meadow thriving over time.

Georgia has a wealth of endemic wildflower species that thrive in diverse habitats, from coastal dunes and pine sandhills to savannas, meadows and forests, Pennisi said. While many of these plants are found in undisturbed natural areas, some have adapted to human-made landscapes like roadsides and farms, often appearing along road banks and edges. The UGA Extension publication, "Visual Guide to Common Wildflowers of South Georgia," provides a visual guide to common herbaceous plants in sunny areas of south Georgia. Though not an exhaustive list, it highlights easily recognizable plants that are valuable to wildlife.

"Many of these plants exist naturally in the landscape, so being able to identify them as they appear and letting them become naturally incorporated into your yard makes this type of gardening more fluid," Pennisi said. "And the seeds come free, so that's an added bonus."