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Re: *!?#@! CROWN VETCH

I'm fairly certain the CRP honchos are going to frown on the 
interseeding idea, since they seem to go for dense stands of pure, 
wildlife-free grass. (Somebody set me straight if I'm being too 
cynical here.) 
Crown vetch is very resilient and will take several years to 
eliminate. It makes sense to spot-treat with a broadleaf herbicide 
like 2,4-D or Garlon (Read those labels!), and concentrate on 
replacing the vetch with a grassy patch. You could then use that 
valuable forb seed elsewhere in the site, where it won't get in the 
way of controlling the vetch. The seeds of crown vetch are 
hard-coated and will continue to germinate where the patches now 
exist for many years. Proper management for a healthy prairie stand 
should help keep it at bay later, but continued vigilance will be 
necessary. I would avoid plowing -- it's just too big a disruption to 
the system that already has attained some level of stability and 
habitat value.

James C. Trager
Shaw Arboretum
P.O. Box 38
Gray Summit MO 63039
PH# 314-451-3512
FAX 314-451-5583
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