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seeding of forbs

To:  M. J. Hatfield

    Regarding time of seeding collected forb seeds into a 3-year old
prairie reconstruction, I recommend the following (what works well in my 26
acre prairie reconstruction/restoration site in south central Michigan).

   1) Late fall burn followed immediately with hand scattering the seed.
Spring of summer germination is normally very good, can be enhanced by use
of a light disking after scattering of seed (do not disk if soil is subject
to erosion)

   2) Early spring burn as described as above (not as efficacious as a fall
burn).

   3) Mowing to a final height of 6 inches with a bush hog in late fall
followed immediately by hand scattering the seed.  Important that the bush
hog is sharp, may require more than one mowing to insure that the mowed
prairie grasses/forbs and weeds are pulverized so that matts of mowed
vegetation are not formed.  I often start with the bush hog set quite high,
followed by a lower setting then followed by the final 6-inch setting.  A
subsequent light disking after mowing often enhances spring/summer
germination.

   Of the 3 options, I feel that option # 1 is most often the best; options
# 2 and  #3 are the fairly equal.  If soil erosion is a problem, I find
that option # 3 is the best.

   Success to you!

Clifford W. Welsch


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