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Re: planting preparation


My favorite prairie planting, because it has spring flora 
(Pedicularis, Dodecatheon, Zizia, Camassia, Baptisia bracteata 
a.k.a. leucophaea) and conservative things like Melanthium and 
Gentiana, as well as a fine matrix of more common stuff, was 
established as follows: 

Mowed late August, 1993.

Sprayed with Roundup at recommneded rate in late September, 1993

Sowed with a mix of about 100 species of mesic and moist mesic 
prairie species and a separate mix of wetland species at 
waters edge, mid-December, 1993

---sowed on top of snow
---this on top of residue of mowed-sprayed vegetation, NO soil prep
---more snow fell on top of seeding the next day

Mowed to prevent fruiting of abundant Eupatorium serotinum (not 
killed by herbicide treatment), August 1994

Very patchy burn February 1995

Mowed to limit fruit set of abundant Cirsium discolor which 
germinated previous summer, July 1995

First successful burn February 1996, again in February or March of 
1998,1999, 2000.

Has been a valuable source of seed of Aster laevis, Gentiana alba, 
Solidago speciosa and several wetland species since 1996.

The key points here are:
Only one spraying of Glyphosate was used.
No soil preparation or removal of vegeatation residue.
Late autumn sowing. Mowing to manage early successional weeds.
IMPORTANT, among major perennial weeds, only fescue present in any 
     amount, and though still present, it is diminishing under 
     competition from abundant prairie vegetation.

COMMENTS?
James C. Trager, Ph. D.
Shaw Arboretum
P.O. Box 38
Gray Summit MO 63039
PH# 636-451-3512
FAX 636-451-5583
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