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Re: weeds

On Fri, 25 Jun 1999, MJ Hatfield wrote:

> I'd like to ask you folks who are working with restoration and
> reconstruction of prairie to list the weeds in order of nastiness, and
> explain why. And perhpas list your method of preferred control. Feel
> free to add to the list.

	I'll share with you what I spend most of my time worrying about on
three restorations and one remnant in southeast Nebraska.  

remnant:
	Smooth brome and kentucky bluegrass are well established
throughout, but I am comfortable with the control that has been acheived
through spring burning and fall/winter/spring grazing. Red clover is very
abundant, and I am unsure if I need to worry about it, or what could be
done to control it.  I suspect the clover may benefit somewhat from the
grazing/soil disturbance of the livestock.  If it were grazed through the
growing season the clover might be negatively impacted.  I have been
spending considerable time the last few years cutting and spot spraying
rough-leaved dogwood and smooth sumac, and good results are evident.  I
have been pleased with the spraying results - the shrub canopy apparently
intercepts the majority of the spray because there appears to be good
diversity of high quality forbs remaining in the areas that have been
sprayed.  There is also a small patch of St. Johnswort that will get
sprayed next time I at this site with a sprayer.

restoration #1:
	Roundup was used to prepare a smooth brome/tall fescue/alfalfa
field for planting to warm season grasses.  Locally collected forb seed
has been added at various times after the initial grass planting. All
three of the original species have since re-established their presence, in
some places they are dominant. The fescue is especially troubling because
it appears to be displacing the native grasses.  I intend to spray the entire 
field in early spring to control the grasses.  I may end up spot spraying
the alfalfa, but I'm curious to see if it might fade out of the picture as
the stand develops.  This site isn't grazed because I'm trying to learn
how it will develop without grazing.

restoration #2:
	An agricultural field was planted to native grasses and a
commercial forb mix.  An ancient grass drill was used, and seed was not
distributed evenly throughout the site.  In areas where seed was not
placed, kentucky bluegrass has established a sod, and I imagine it is
preventing the subsequent establishment of most other species in these
areas.  Fire hasn't been much help with these spots because they
typically don't burn.  They don't accumulate very much litter and
they were very green every time I have burned the field.  Smooth brome is
also spreading from an adjacent fencerow.  This stand was grazed heavily a
couple of springs, and it was obvious that the brome was well
controlled.  I suspect the grazing probably helped the kentucky bluegrass,
because it would have reduce litter accumulations, and may have actually
stimulated its spread.  Again, I intend to spray the entire field in early
spring to control these two grass species.  A hilltop at this site has
always had an infestation of musk thistle.  Every June I pull the heads
off and pop the plants out of the ground with a tile spade. The heads then
get incinereted.  The first couple of years were much worse than
subsequent years, and I think it has steadily lessened in severity, but
the persistance of the seed bank at this location is impressive.

restoration #3
	A brome field that is undergoing succession as native species
(mostly forbs) from the adjacent remnant invade. Fall/winter/spring
grazing has definately reduced the vitality of the brome sod, resulting in
a greater abundance of numerous forbs.  This site has also had a few
spring burns, but I don't think the burning alone has had as much of an
impact as the grazing. The native grasses are responding slowly, except
tall dropseed which is very abundant. I like this site because the process
of succession is very evident to me there. I may try various interseeding
techniques with native grasses to speed things up.  The grazing has
probably contributed to a good cover of white clover throughout most of
this site, but I'm not worried about it. I imagine it will fade out as
taller species establish themselves.

All of these sites have numerous other non-native species but I don't
worry about them.  Blissfull ignorance perhaps, but they don't impress me 
as being detrimentally abundant or susceptible to the control methods I
employ. Does anyone have any thoughts about abundant red clover? Any
opinions on whether it is actually a threat or is it just an annoyance?
Any ideas on how to control it?

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