This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris chat with Erin Garrett about native grasses and how to use them in our landscapes. Erin is a Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment educator with University of Illinois Extension who is a wealth of knowledge on native grasses and all things native plants! We dive into how these grasses function in a prairie and how that translates to your yard. Plus suggestions for what native grasses might work best to transform your landscape!Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/EaFf5zziNiQSkip to what you want to know:0:31 Hey Ken! Remembering cicada pizza and growing sedges from seed.5:01 Welcome Erin! Superman Festival in Metropolis, Illinois. Cicadas are LOUD!8:43 The role of grasses in prairie.12:57 Are native grasses different from the ornamental grasses we plant in our yards?15:20  Seems like a lot of non-native lawn grasses are cool-season grass. Do we have any native cool-season grasses?16:53 What are the benefits of growing native grasses?19:12 Are there any drawbacks to using native plants in the landscape?22:16 What species of native grasses are recommended for the home landscape?28:03 When planting native grasses with flowers, does it help to plant the flowers first and then later the grasses? Plus talking seed ratios of grasses and forbs (wildflowers)30:13 Buffalograss is a native grass that grows low and is used for lawns in some areas. Is buffalograss a good lawn alternative in Illinois?34:21 Fun with nimblewill36:57 What tips does Erin have for creating backyard meadows or prairies?44:18 Where can people go to find out more information about native grasses?46:55 Thank yous and coming up next week.Illinois Extension Grasses Website https://extension.illinois.edu/grassesGrasses at a Glance Video Series https://go.illinois.edu/GrassVideosGrasses at a Glance blog https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/grasses-glanceSpotlight on Natural Resources Podcast https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/spotlight-natural-resourcesContact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.eduCheck out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us