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MAINTAINING
GRASSLANDS FOR DIVERSE WILDLIFE HABITAT
The evidence that fire once burned our grasslands is easily
seen as one walks through an Ozark woodland and sees surviving,
spindly lead plant, goat’s rue, little bluestem and other
native plants being shaded by the trees and smothered by their
fallen leaves. These woods are a battling ground between the eastern
forest and the western prairie; the forces that maintained this
savanna community were fire and herbivores. American Indians burned
areas to attract the herbivores that they hunted. So, savannas
were prevalent. Settlers overgrazed the grasslands, and in later
years fire was suppressed favoring woodlands.
Today, using herbivores to graze native grasslands is a tool to
recreate grassland habitat for wild life, reduce brush, and facilitate
controlled burns. There are cost-share practices to restore rare
and declining prairie and savanna habitat. To learn more about
restoring native grasslands and how to facilitate burning by understanding
the grazing preferences of livestock, come to our Native Outpost
Day on native grassland restoration, (see front cover) call or
e-mail us to receive free newsletters
PLANTINGS FROM SEED
Proper site preparation, including removal of present vegetation
and preparing a seed bed, is essential. Because of the dormancy
in most of the wild-flower seeds, planting should be done December
through January. Lime, potash and phosphate may be added at planting
according to soil test. However, instead of nitrogen fertilizer,
add legumes which take nitrogen from the air and convert it to
a plant available form. When selecting plants and mixes, it is
important to consider the soils found on the site and choose plants
accordingly. For example, a plant typically found in a moist woodland
may not do well on a dry, rocky hill. One further consideration
is including plant species that provide food and shelter for wildlife;
everything from quail and turkey to songbirds benefit from native
plants.
ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPING
Natives can make or be part of a beautiful, low maintenance landscape.
To make flowerbed care easier, choose species which are adapted
to the site. It is also possible to alter the site to better match
the plants’ needs; remove topsoil to make a site drier or
add organic matter to make it moister. Weed control can be made
easier by including native grasses, which shade the ground, or
by covering the ground with landscaping cloth. For blooms throughout
the growing season, use plants with varied bloom times. Grasses
can provide orange to rusty red color in the winter, as well as
add texture and provide support for tall wildflowers. Butterflies
and hummingbirds may be attracted to flowerbeds by including species
they use as food sources.
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