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Native Grass Establishment Techniques <br /> The goal is not to install a complete ecosystem, but rather to establish an on-going process. <br /> Through the judicious use of mowing and seeding the manager sets the stage for natural <br /> plant succession. Defeating the annuals in a head-on battle is costly. Species composition <br /> and frequency of the annuals will change radically as more and more perennials take hold. <br /> The most immediate benefit of the mowing program will be the reduced dominance of the <br /> larger annual grasses such as ripgut brome and wild oats which will in turn encourage the <br /> native wildflower display. Mowing and litter removal in the spring will greatly reduce the <br /> subsequent annual grass densities the following year, aiding a fall seeding of native <br /> perennials. Non-selective and pre-emergent herbicides must be utilized carefully so as not <br /> to kill important natives. Mechanical methods can be effective. Light disking(top 2 <br /> inches), harrowing, and drilling in the right season and sequence will do little harm to the <br /> resident native annuals. The common native perennials, largely bulb species (Allium, <br /> Bloomeria,Brodiaea,Muilla, Calochortus,Fritillaria, etc.) or species with perennial <br /> rootstocks (Lomatium, Sanicula, Solidago, etc.), will resprout and in some cases spread in <br /> response to light ground disturbance. <br /> Perennial range and pasture grass seedings need special attention during the establishment <br /> period. This is true for both the native and introduced species. Unlike the annual grasses, <br /> perennials grow slowly the first year and take two years to develop into a good stand. The <br /> optimum time to seed perennial cool-season grasses is in the fall when moisture and <br /> temperatures are favorable for plant establishment. Spring seedings are possible with added <br /> irrigation. Weed control and proper seedbed preparation are critical in establishing a good <br /> perennial grass stand. Immediate objectives for successful stand establishment are: <br /> 1 . weed seedbank depletion and/or mortality <br /> Buckeye Ranch Resource Plan (November, 1993) <br /> 146 <br />