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Re: Prairie restoration

> Brett Roberts wrote:
> 
> > Ridlon Kiphart wrote:
> > >
> > > The Native Plant Society of Texas, Native Prairies Association of Texas
> > > and Texas Parks and Wildlife are in the beginning stages of a prairie
> > > restoration in Cedar Hill State Park, just south of Dallas.  The area
> > > for restoration is an  87 acre former cotton farm which is overgrown
> > > with Johnson grass.  

> > To get rid of the Johnsongrass youre in for a long fight.  
> > of this species when used for this purpose  (1)  Prussic acid
> > accumulation
> > in tissues when subjected to stress such as drought.  This is converted
> > into HCN in ruminants (not good!).  (2)  Will not tolerate overgrazing.
> > Cattle love the stuff and if left to their own vices will graze it into
> > oblivion.   

What kind of soil are you on? Is it Blackland or the Chalk? I am
surprised
you did not mention Tall Fescue, which is the *real* problem on
established
stands on the Blackland.

Two individuals to contact in North Texas, are Bill Neiman,
www.seedsource.com,
800-728-4043, - he has ecotype seed, and Jim Eidson of the Nature
Conservancy, 
903-586-4139, both of whom have reestablished native grass in Texas.
These two
genetlemen can answer your questions about what works in North Texas.

In Texas, on Houston Black Clay, we have killed the johnsongrass by
overgrazing 
during April and May. Grazing pressure in the early spring sets it back
until July.
For the land that will be fallow, I would suggest getting two dozen
cows, or
one cow per two acres, and feeding them native hay while letting them 
heavily overgraze these areas. Talk to your cattlement neighbors about
leasing 
out the land, or buy the cows, then sell them in the fall. The native
hay 
will get you a jump start on seeding these areas. As mentioned before, 
native ecotype hay is available for North Texas. 

For the areas you plant to plant this year, an alternative to the above
is
to plant, then hay *every* 30-45 days with the cutter bar set at 8
inches. (Or
mow at this hight - but the debris can shade out the seedlings. ) Only 
the Johnsongrass and Annual Sunflowers will stick their little heads up
higher than this. Very few of the native plants you planted will get
higher 
than this the first year. The next year, after mowing or burning the
plots, 
hay again at the same hight in April and May. It is important to note
that in Texas Johnsongrass has a spring/fall growth curve, and really 
seems to be outdistanced in June/July/August by the
native grass. In addition, it also seems that the Johnson grass 
becomes weaker every year when it is not tilled. 
For people who will hay for you, visit your local
feedstore or ask your neighbors.

If you can find someone with cows and haying equipment, they may be able
to overgraze it and hay for free for you. 

Because this winter has been very, very wet and warm 
in Texas, expect near record levels of forage growth 
this spring and summer. 

-Austin Moseley
 Caddo Mills, (NE) Texas 
 Houston Black Clay      800.225.6204 x245
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