Jessica Lambert

When most people picture the Midwest before settlement, they imagine endless fields of corn and soybeans. In reality, much of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the surrounding states were once covered by vast expanses of native tallgrass prairie. These ecosystems supported incredible biodiversity, healthy soils, abundant wildlife, and thriving pollinator populations. An Endangered Ecosystem Today, prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. Less than 1% of the original tallgrass prairie remains across much of the Midwest, and some states have lost more than 99% of their native prairie due to agriculture, development, and changes in land management. Before settlement, tallgrass prairie stretched across millions of acres from Indiana to the Dakotas. Illinois was once covered by nearly 22 million acres of prairie. Today, less than 0.01% of that original prairie remains in an undisturbed state. Iowa tells a similar story. More than 75% of the state was once prairie, but less than one-tenth of one percent remains today. As fertile prairie soils were converted to cropland, most native grasslands disappeared. Fire suppression, urban expansion, invasive species, and intensive land use further reduced the remaining remnants. What survives today are often small, isolated pockets along railroad rights-of-way, cemeteries, preserves, and steep areas that escaped the plow. The largest remaining prairie is in the Flint Hills of Kansas which contains approximately two-thirds of the remaining native prairie in the U.S. These remnants serve as important reminders of what once existed and provide a blueprint for restoration efforts across the Midwest. The good news is that landowners can play an important role in bringing prairie back. With proper planning, site preparation, and long-term maintenance, a prairie planting can provide lasting benefits for wildlife, soil health, water quality, and the overall value of your property. Whether you’re establishing prairie through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or creating habitat on your own, understanding the process is the key to success. Why Prairies Matter Prairies are much more than fields of grass and wildflowers. They are highly complex ecosystems made up of dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of native plant species. A healthy prairie provides benefits to the land and habitat that cannot be easily achieved in other ways. Exceptional Wildlife Habitat Native prairie offers food, nesting cover, and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife. Pheasants, quail, meadowlarks, bobolinks, deer, rabbits, and countless other species depend on grassland habitat at some point during their life cycle. Grasslandbirds have experienced some of the steepest population declines of any bird group in North America, largely because native grasslands have disappeared. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, pheasant populations in Illinois have fallen by 84% since the 1990's. Iowa and Missouri have seen similar declines while Kansas numbers fluctuate greatly due to weather and expiring Conservation Reserve Program enrolled acres. Restoring prairie helps slow or reverse this decline by creating critical nesting and brood-rearing habitat. Pollinator Benefits Prairies support an incredible diversity of pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and other beneficial insects. Unlike traditional landscapes that may only bloom for a short period, a well-designed prairie mix provides flowers from spring through fall. This continuous food source helps sustain pollinators throughout the growing season. Species such as milkweed, coneflower, blazing star, black-eyed Susan, and native asters provide critical resources for monarch butterflies and many native bee species. Improved Soil Health One of the most impressive features of prairie plants is what happens below ground. Many native grasses develop root systems extending six to ten feet deep, with some reaching even farther. These deep roots: Improve soil structure Increase organic matter Reduce erosion Improve water infiltration Increase drought resilience Store carbon in the soil In many ways, prairie acts as nature’s soil-building system. Water Quality Protection Native vegetation slows runoff and helps filter sediment and nutrients before they enter streams, ponds, and rivers. Research has shown that incorporating native prairie vegetation into agricultural landscapes can dramatically reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss while improving overall water quality. Start Small and Build Over Time One of the biggest misconceptions about prairie establishment is that it requires hundreds of acres. In reality, even small prairie plantings can make a significant impact. Landowners can start by converting: Field corners Low-yield crop acres Filter strips Pond edges Hillsides Hunting food plot borders Rural home acreages Many successful prairie projects begin with just a few acres and expand over time. Less than one acres is helpful for plant diversity and attracting pollinators. One to five acres is beneficial nesting cover for grassland birds while greater than five acres makes a significant improvement for wildlife. If budget is a concern, consider planting a simple native grass mix first and adding additional forbs and wildflowers through overseeding in future years. The important thing is getting started today for all species to benefit in years to come.

When the sun starts to shine and the air loses its chill, it is easy to get the itch to wake up a yard in hopes of having the best looking lawn in the neighborhood. Knowing when and how to fertilize a lawn in the spring can be tricky. Over-fertilizing a lawn, or fertilizing it too soon, can cause more problems down the road. Whether you are establishing a new lawn or caring for grass that has seen better days, be sure to know the what, when, and how much when it comes to lawn care. Do I need to fertilize my yard? Soil tests are the most accurate way to determine if your yard needs fertilizer. Most yards in the midwest do not need fertilizer to grow. In fact, if applied too early, fertilizer can stunt root growth which will hurt grass growth later in the summer when we reach the drier months. In early spring, it is best to let roots establish first, then focus on grass growth. Without deep roots, grass becomes more susceptible to heat and drought, pests, and disease. Removing dead grass and leaves allows moisture to reach the roots which aids root growth. Fertilizer can assist grass in maintaining its health when applied at the right time. Late April through May is the ideal time to apply a slow release fertilizer, with the safest date being mid-May when the threat of frost has passed. Which type of fertilizer do I need? Established lawns need nitrogen and potassium for growth. Lawn fertilizer will generally come in a 4-0-2 or 3-0-2 formulation. The first number represents the percentage of nitrogen in the bag, the second number is the percentage of phosphorus and the third number is the percentage of potassium. Phosphorus should only be used on new lawns to help establish root growth. Established lawns have enough phosphorus in the soil and do not need additional phosphorus applied. Additional phosphorus will contribute to run-off which negatively affects the environment. In fact, the states listed below restrict or ban the application of phosphorus-containing fertilizers unless it will be used on a new lawn or a soil test proves a deficiency. States restricting or banning phosphorus-containing fertilizer application on lawns: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Virginia, Maryland, Maine, and Washington. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for grass growth as it provides the energy for growth and helps grass maintain its bright green color. It also helps to recover from environmental stress and keep the lawn thick and lush. Yellow grass, thin growth, or grass that isn't growing is often a sign of low nitrogen. Potassium is key for water management in grass and also helps to prevent disease. Potassium is often available in adequate amounts in the soil naturally so a soil test will guide you in what you need. How much fertilizer do I need? The amount of fertilizer your yard needs directly correlates to the size of your yard. The saying "too much of a good thing is a bad thing" rings true when it comes to fertilizer. Over fertilizing not only wastes money, product,  and contributes to pollution, it can quickly kill the grass you have worked so hard to establish. An overabundance of nitrogen will burn your grass leaving you with a brown and dried lawn that will take time to recover. Before you can apply fertilizer in the correct amount you need to know the square footage of your yard. Measuring with a tape or laser is the most accurate, however Google maps can be helpful as well. Using Google maps on a desktop, find your address, go to "map tools," then "measure." Click points around your yard until you close the shape and Google will tell you the total area in square feet. While still an approximate number, this is much better than guessing. It is generally recommended that nitrogen be applied at a rate of one pound per 1,000 square feet for full sun lawns and about a half pound per 1,000 square feet for shade lawns. To easily calculate your needs, visit the Purdue Turf Fertilizer Calculator. Following these tips will help you get that golf course looking yard you desired, but think "rough" more than "green." Mowing your yard too short, less than three inches, opens it up to water loss, pests, disease, etc. Resist the urge to mow every time you see growth in order to maintain your "best yard in the neighborhood" designation.

Most real estate companies pick a side. They focus on city homes or on land. Very few truly understand both. At LandGuys, we bridge that gap and bring both worlds together. Our team helps people buy and sell rural homes and land with confidence, revealing each property’s story and value along the way. Every LandGuys broker and agent is a licensed REALTOR® trained to handle every step of the process, from pricing and financing to surveys, soil maps, and septic inspections. Our agents also undergo yearly training to stay current with new and improved processes, ensuring that clients benefit from the latest tools, marketing techniques, and compliance standards. Whether it is a home on acreage, a recreational property, or a working farm, our agents know how to bring listings to life and connect them with the right buyers. They are familiar with what buyers are looking for in homes and understand the unique considerations that come with rural living, from well and septic systems to access, zoning, and maintenance. In every state we serve, clients choose LandGuys because we understand the lifestyle and value that come with rural living. “Danny sold my house in as little as 20 days and got so much more than I could have imagined. He made the experience easy and I could not be happier with the outcome.” — Sarah, Iowa FEW COMPANIES BRIDGE BOTH WORLDS LIKE WE DO LandGuys combines the best of residential and rural real estate. Our agents help clients with homes on acreage, country homes, farmland, and recreational properties. As a result, we understand both sides of every transaction. Every Great Real Estate Agent Should Know What LandGuys Agents Also Bring MLS exposure through Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, and Homes.com. Expanded land marketing through LandWatch, Lands of America, Land and Farm, and AcreValue. Buyer financing, pricing strategy, and marketing. Soil maps, tillable acres, habitat, and crop productivity valuation. Staging, photography, and property presentation. Drone footage, mapping, and showcasing topography and access. Inspections, appraisals, title coordination, and closing. Surveys, easements, zoning, well, and septic understanding. Neighborhood, community, and lifestyle insights. Land and wildlife management, recreational setup, and agricultural investment knowledge. Communication, negotiation, and client guidance. Real-world experience from backgrounds in farming, construction, and wildlife management. Many properties do not fit neatly into one category. For example, a property may include both a home and productive land. These are exactly the types of listings where our expertise shines. “We worked with Justin and Luke to sell our home on 45 acres. Their expertise in valuing both the home and the land made all the difference. They respected our goals and helped us achieve them. The property sold in five days.” — Stef, Wisconsin REACH THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE LandGuys is more than a brokerage. It is a connected network of agents working together across Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Kansas. Each day, we share listings, leads, and market insights. This collaboration gives our clients more exposure than smaller local offices or large, cookie-cutter corporate brokerages can provide. In addition, our website and social media network generate more than a million impressions each month. Through property videos, digital ads, drone footage, and agent features, our media consistently stands out and sells. Clients often say they feel like they have already toured a property before stepping foot on it, and that is exactly our goal. Furthermore, we tell each property’s story with care. Every photo, video, and description is crafted to show not only what the land looks like, but how it feels. That storytelling helps buyers connect emotionally and builds trust before they ever visit in person. “I could not be happier with my experience working with LandGuys. I listed my 60-acre property with a small cabin, and within three days we had a serious buyer at full asking price. Their marketing captured the property’s unique appeal perfectly.” — Adam, Illinois THE LANDGUYS DIFFERENCE Our strength comes from real-world experience. Many of our agents have backgrounds in septic systems, electrical work, home building, land management, investment, house flipping, rental properties, and even legal and title work. Because of this, we offer advice that goes far beyond standard real estate. We know the process from contract, inspections, and repairs all the way through closing, and we are committed to guiding clients through each step with clarity and care. This experience allows us to give clients insights that are both practical and trustworthy. We understand how land and homes are built, maintained, and valued because we have worked in those fields ourselves. Our clients can move forward with confidence knowing they are working with people who truly understand every layer of the process. We do not just list properties. Instead, we tell their stories. We help buyers see the value in every acre, every tree line, and every front porch view. “Andrew helped my husband and I list and sell our beautiful home. He did everything in a timely manner, handled everything and got our house sold in a week! Easy guy to talk to, lovely to work with and easy to get ahold of!” — Katie, Illinois THE BOTTOM LINE LandGuys is one of the few real estate companies that can truly say we are experts in both rural and residential real estate. Whether it is a home on acreage, a recreational property, or a family farm, we know how to showcase its value and connect it with the right buyer. We help people buy and sell rural homes and land with confidence, revealing each property’s story and value along the way. Talk to a LandGuys Agent Today Find the right partner for your next move at LandGuys.com.