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Re: Seeding forbs into Established Grass

>I have established grasses of mostly Indian grass, with some Big and Little
>Bluestem, (it seems the Indian Grass has out competed the other 2 grasses,
>in this, the 4th year of growing).  Virtually all the of the garbage weeds
>have disappeared except for trumpet vine, Fleabane daisy, bind weed and
>some sweet clover.
>Now I am considering sowing forbs into the grasses.  I have read about
>lightly tilling the grasses and then seeding into it.  I am looking for any
>and all info about this process, including when to do this (what time of
>year), how deep to till etc etc....Or any other suggestions/ideas ...thank
>you
>
>
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Alan,

We have done some interseeding in established grass stands and have had
mixed results.  It appears that if you mow the area quite regularily for a
season following the seeding at a height of 6-8 inches you greatly enhance
the ability of the seedlings to survive and will get a forb stand in 3 or 4
years.

Where we have not mowed in an established grasss stand we have very low
species diversity and only the most hardy species such as rigid goldenrod,
sawtooth sunflower, ox-eye sunflower, gray-headed coneflower and compass
plant.  The seed mix had about 50 species and it took 5 or six years to get
results.

You might also try spraying the grasses with "Post" which will supress the
grasses, but will not kill them and it will not kill most of the forbs.  It
is a soybean herbicide.


Carl Kurtz
515-477-8364
cpkurtz@netins.net 


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