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Re: Goldenrod

Joan Lane wrote:
> 
> Thanks to everyone for all the advise on honeysukle and the dreaded kudzu.
> 
> To futher the discussion about notious plants in the prairie, I am
> wondering about all the golden rod that I have popping up all over the
> place.  I live in East Central Illinois and have about 4 acres in prairie
> grasses with some forbs and about another 3 acres that was farmed and then
> put into brome and alfalfa.  Both of these areas have been burned for three
> years but not last year. I have another 10 acres, that has little trees on
> it and has never been burned.
> 
> I am seeing so much goldenrod.  Will this pass as  did the giant ragweed
> and foxtail? Or, do I need to be doing something about it?  I actually like
> the look of it. It seeems great for the the insects and butterflies. (Has
> great galls for dried flower arrangements).
> 
> We are planning on burning some this March...wondering if I should be
> planning to do something about all the golden rod?
> 
> Thanks for the free advice.....Joan
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Goldenrod is considered a "pioneer" species.  For example a cropland
field that is left idle will likely have this plant in abundance during
the early seccesional stage.  I have made a few observations about this
species and prairie species in general:

  Due to the "efficiency" of the molboard plow in eliminating the 
  original prairie cover most prairie species are almost nonexistent
  on the landscape.  You would not see them much today in much of the
  prairie regions of Illinois had it not been for the efforts of the  
Illinois Natural History Survey, IDOT, IDNR, and other public  
conservation agencies. And  most of all, the private landowners who
  appreciate our natural heritage.  Many of the same people have been
working diligently to restore prairies and learning what works and what
doesn't.  It certainly is not merely purchasing a packet of
"wildflowers"
at the Walmart garden center, scattering them on the soil, and voila!
Goldenrod has managed to stick around and remain on the landscape much
more successfully than other species, even better than the native
grasses!  This should give folks some clues about this species.  In
short this is one "tough dude".  I now is very clear why it is so
abundant in areas of limited disturbance i.e. an abscence of tillage,
herbicides, and mowing.  The moral of the story:  If you are attempting
to restore a prairie community with some semblance of the original
diversity, you have to prevent-get rid of goldenrod.  It is just too
agressive and competetive with the other species that struggle to
establish on a landscape that has been dramatically altered.  It is
native and always has been part of our prairies but it was "kept in its
place" by the other species.  Goldenrod will be part of your praire
eventually.  Rest assured it will be there.  The point is you want the
other species to get established first then let the Solidago come in on
its own.  This way it has less chance to dominate.


Brett Roberts
Conservation Agronomist 
USDA-NRCS, Illinois


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