Personal Golf Course to Prairie Conversion in Michigan

Converting a Golf Course to a Functional Prairie

This private residence in Galien, Michigan wanted to convert their personal golf course to a diverse prairie while also supporting their woodland. Turf to prairie conversion enhances ecosystem services like water filtration, air purification and temperature regulation while improving soil health and increasing biodiversity.

Stewardship of Natural Areas

Creating proper conditions for a thriving prairie and nourished wooded area was step one in this conversion.  This required eliminating invasive species and non-native vegetation. Efforts also focused on promoting the establishment of native plants through seed collection & dispersal during the growing season.

In the fall of 2022, a turf treatment was applied to remove typical non-native grasses. Following this, our team distributed Pizzo Native Plant Nursery’s economy prairie seed mix. In the winter months, Pizzo & Associates focused on the woodland, clearing nonnative trees and shrubs with attention to aggressive native trees as well. The next two springs called for spot treatments with mowings only & the results are striking.

Nourished Michigan Natives

The summer of 2024 was year two of stewardship and this prairie showed its rejuvenation clearly. Due to the emergence of native thistle, Cirsium discolor, we know that once the non native grasses were eliminated in 2022, the seed bank opened up and produced. Native thistle was not included in the mix from our team but stored in the earth waiting for the proper conditions to show, which has been created and encouraged by Pizzo & Associates.