What should I expect Year 2?

You should plan to mow once to a height of 12 inches around July 1st or before weeds begin to flower, and then evaluate the native planting to see if additional mowing will be needed. Spot mowing can be utilized in areas where weed pressure is still strong or in patches of persistent weed species such as Marestail, Ragweed, or Thistles. By mid-July stop mowing, and your new establishment should show some of the natives coming up, but it will still have a weedy appearance.

Do not use herbicides for spot spraying problem areas until Year 3 of the native planting, so it does not kill or damage native seedlings. Marestail (Horseweed) is a biannual and it will often show up in the 2nd year, which it looks worse than it really is, but its growth pattern still allows light through to the native seedlings.