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Re: burns: fire lanes

Thanks for the reply about the white dutch clover.  I have not
found it do be that invasive if it was managed but obviously
many have found it to be a problem.  I guess that is something
we all need to keep in mind when exchanging information on the
benefits or liabilities of various plant species.  A plant
that is manageable in one region can turn into a nightmare in
another region.  I guess none of us can emphasize enough the
need to be very careful when selecting plants for certain
conservation uses.  Even some native species can be aggressive
in certain areas.  

Andyswan wrote:
> 
> I am trying to establish some production plots of local ecotype natives
> sometimes near building sites so as not to take an odd chunk out of a
> cropfield  and I have found white dutch clover to be one of the very worst
> invaders and competitors that I have come across.  Starting clean in two
> years time some areas have completely sodded in with this weed and it is
> next to impossible to pull.  This coming from a guy who as a kid mowed
> around the patches because dad told me it was good stuff and let it go to
> seed.  This is not the root of my problems with it as that was more than a
> hundred miles from here.  Use caution in my opinion.  Better yet eradicate
> it where you want native plants to florish.  It is invasive beyond belief in
> my area.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brett Roberts <Brett.Roberts@il.usda.gov>
> To: prairie@mallorn.com <prairie@mallorn.com>
> Date: Thursday, May 04, 2000 9:49 AM
> Subject: 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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