Prairie Restoration Management - Art or Science?
by Don Gardner
Controlling Unwanted Plant Species
With the presence of more trees in most of the former prairie regions, woody species can readily become established on grassland. However, management with periodic fires offers good control of tree and shrub seedlings. Fire and the establishment of prairie encourage the displacement of most alien herbaceous species. Unfortunately, there are exceptions. Exotics such as teasel, reed canary grass, day lilies, phragmites, and sweet clover thrive amid prairie, even under a burning regimen. My efforts with yellow and white sweet clovers have involved a multi-year effort of spot herbicide-spraying, hand pulling, and removal from the site of any such plants with developing seed. Sweet clover is a biennial and dies after its second year. Thus, by preventing seed formation, the seed bank in the soil should decrease over time.
Some individuals with long experience in prairie work will disagree with some of my thoughts and suggestions. I am reminded of a comment by Dr. Kenneth Robertson, a botanist and the curator of the herbarium at the Illinois Natural History Survey: “What is interesting is that many different persons have used quite different methods, yet all indicate some degree of success in achieving a reasonably diverse prairie. It goes to show that prairie restoration is still an art, not a science!”
Eastern tallgrass prairie is a complex ecosystem with interactions and interdependencies not only among prairie plants but also involving their relationships with soil microorganisms, insects and other arthropods, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The prairie system is still not well understood, but in spite of the slow development of a restored or recreated prairie, each year can provide new insights and satisfactions. It becomes a privilege to feel that one is a part of that intertwined web and is gently encouraging its reestablishment.
Don Gardner lives in northern Ford County where he restores and writes about prairie. He serves as a member of The Illinois Steward Advisory Board. Photos by Robert J. Reber.
