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Re: burns: fire lanes

  I second that!  White dutch clover would be an excellent
firebreak species.  It is cheap, easy to grow given reasonable
soil pH and fertility levels.  It grows very low to the ground
and therefore won't produce much fuel.  The biomass produced
is very succulent.  It is a cool season perennial so it will
remain green in the winter.  It is also good green browse for
wildlife. Although it is non native, it would not be
aggressive and thus jeopardize the native plantings.  It would
actually be my first choice of a firebreak species.  I also
don't agree with using tall fescue for this purpose.  Putting
the philosophical issues surrounding this species aside, it
just isn't a good firebreak species unless it was kept mowed. 
If not mowed it will produce quite a bit of fuel; not my idea
of a good firebreak.

Brett Roberts

Robert Wernerehl wrote:
> 
> THis is a useful topic and I hope others chime in. I have wondered about
> this myself. One plant that might work as a benign non-native might be
> white dutch clover, Trifolium repens. I haven't seen it get invasive. It is
> common in lawns up here in Wisconsin and greens up very early.
> Bob Wernerehl
> Iowa County, Wisconsin
> 
> At 10:02 PM 05/03/2000 CDT, you wrote:
> >Does anyone have suggestions for native plants to use in the establishment
> >of permanent fire breaks?  Grasses such as the wild ryes seem to be too
> >transient to do the trick.  I'm looking for something that would be green in
> >winter (Missouri), and could be planted in lanes to separate different areas
> >for easy rotational burning.  The NRCS suggested fescue, which is out of the
> >question.  Other recommendations have included benign non-natives.  Any
> >experiences or thoughts?
> >
> >,,Scott Lenharth
> >
> >
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