Black sludgey mess? Is it very wet there, outside the recent rain that is? Woodland soil is usually moist and rich with organic material but not "sludgey." It is more like compost than sludge. Soil that is wet all the time could be described as being rather "gooey" or sludgey. You may wish to wait on your plantings right now. See what plants grow there naturally throughout this season. What plants grow there, may give an indication of what types of plants you could plant there next season. Might be less frustrating and more fruitful for you in the long run. FataMorgana

Let me try to answer some of your questions. If you want to do a prairie/savanna planting it would be best if you could mow or burn occasionally, but it's not mandatory. Since it is a small plot it's possible that it can be maintained through culling weeds and woody vegetation either by hand pulling, or careful herbicide application spot treatment. I have to say that burning is sweet for keeping things in check when you are growing a prairie. I'm guessing from the later part of your post (pachysandra and moss) that this area is somewhat shady. If it is shady, I wouldn't attempt a prairie garden (full sun). A savanna garden (mostly sun) might not flourish either if it's too much shade. I think it might be better to create a woodland garden. there are lots of native and non-native plants that would flourish in a semi-shady site. A woodland planting does not require burning or mowing, but will require weeding. Rodents will find their way to your vegetable garden no matter what surrounds it. As far as Black-Eyed Susan, I'm quite sure they are referring to the regular flower not the vine, possibly Rudbeckia hirta.

The height you want is a hard one .... usually 'short' means about 2-3 feet. The suggestions already given are good ones but here are a couple more not listed. Juncus tenuis - path rush 1' tall, dry soil, sun to part Muhlenbergia cuspidata - prairie satin grass 1' tall, dry soil, sun Carex rosea - curly styled wood sedge 1' tall, dry-mesic, shade to part shade You may want to consider spring ephemerals for flowers...they die back once they've bloomed. Otherwise there are violets that are under a foot tall.

1. When you say "truckload of soil" I assume you mean ordinary soil which would be a very bad idea, it would become compacted and won't drain well. The roots would drown for lack of oxygen. You need to use an appropriate well draining 'non soil' organic potting mix. This rule is part of the ABC's of basic seed sowing in containers. 2. "Months watering" sounds like you intend to keep seedlings in trays a very long time, later you mention leaving them in there for an entire year and even worse, counting on them surviving summer in trays. This is also very bad. Trays might serve in a pinch to germinate seeds but certainly not for growing them on, crowded together in such shallow soil as a seed tray would provide. What you want is good root growth and trays would not provide this, that is not what a seed tray is designed for. It is meant for holding pots or cells. 3. Scaling back on water to keep plant growth in check to control size doesn't even make sense. 4. Growing seedlings in a container that has no drainage holes is simply not done. That would result in a stagnant mess, damping off, drowning plants etc. This is a sure way to kill plants even if they are water loving plants. I suggest you get online or find a book on basic seed sowing methods. It appears you are over analyzing and making things difficult along with a lack of understanding of how to sow seeds. Seeds have simple basic needs for good success and your proposal doesn't sound practical or promising at all. Check the seed sowing forum or even the winter sowing forum. Either place will give you better ideas than what you have proposed above.