• Introduction
• Evaluating the potential for natural recovery
  • Burn severity & plant survival
  • Noxious weed cover & survival
• Revegetating with competitive plants
  • When revegetation is necessary
  • Formulating a Seed Mix
  • Things to consider
• Establishing competitive plants
• Managing competitive plants
• Integrated Weed Management
• Preventing noxious weeds
• Eradicating small weed patches
• Managing large weed infestations
  • Mechanical control
  • Chemical control
    • Timing & placement
  • Cultural control
  • Biological control
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Developing a burned-area IWM plan
• Summary
• Sources and Credits
• Additional Resources
• Interactive Exercises

Rangeland Weed Management - Establishing competitive plants

Seedbeds & seeding methods

Seedbeds and seeding methods

Where practicable, seedbeds can be prepared by dragging small chains or raking the soil surface both before and after seed broadcast. (If the site is steep or extremely rocky or remote and inaccessible, it may be impos- sible to prepare seedbeds. Counter these difficulties by doubling or trebling the broadcast rate recom- mended for drill seeding.)

A site accessible to equipment can be seeded with a no-till drill. This tractor-pulled machine opens a furrow in the soil, drops seeds in the furrow at a specified rate and depth, and rolls the furrow closed. By placing seeds at the proper depth, this method of seeding enhances seedling establish- ment while minimizing the distur- bance of soil and of existing plants. Ideal seeding depths are about one- quarter inch for small seeds, about one-half inch for large.

Enhancing the establishment of seeded species

Good germination and establishment can initiate successful revegetation. Hallmarks of a good revegetation plan typically include:

• using species adapted to conditions of the site;
• if an ash layer is absent, preparing a seedbed before and after broad- cast seeding. Use a no-till drill if the site is accessible to equipment.
• adding nitrogen-fixing legumes to improve the soil structure and contribute to a healthy nitrogen cycle, which is essential to long- term revegetation success;
• increasing seeding rates to: improve the chances of desired seeds’ competing successfully with weeds, and increase the likelihood that adequate amounts of broadcast seeds find safe sites;
• providing a protective mulch cover, such as native certified weed-free hay, to protect soil and seeds from erosion, to conserve soil moisture and to moderate soil temperatures. Native hay mulch can contain seeds of native plants, which help diversify the plant community.
• removing as many noxious weeds as possible (usually with herbicide applications); and
• deferring grazing by means of fencing or herding until vegetation has been successfully established, usually after two growing seasons. When palatable, slow-maturing shrubs are recovering, do not graze until they have produced viable seeds.