Sign 20 - PRAIRIE RESTORATION
 

As noted in Sign 13, "The ideal vegetation cover for dry and poor soils is the original prairie sod. This drought-adapted vegetation with its many beautiful flowers was the dominant upland flora at Madison in 1840 as a result of earlier droughts and fires that had pushed back the forest.

Now, in our present moist forest climate, it is difficult to re-establish the slow-growing, deep-rooted prairie plants because the quick-growing weeds (Sign 22) overpower them in a few weeks before they can attain full size. Therefore, adding a layer of sterile dry sand may be of use in hindering the weeds. Once established, the prairie plants will enrich the sand with organic matter; but, by then, they will be thick enough to keep out both the weeds and the forest. If the sand layer technique succeeds, it may be useful in prairie re-establishment elsewhere.

The prairie grasses provide better cover for mice, rabbits and birds than does the exotic old-field cover - bluegrass, redtop, reed canary, timothy, quack, smooth brome, and sweet clover; yet harbors no nuisance weeds. Prairie grasses can be left alone or, as desired, be burned or mowed to control height and growth, since they grow shoots only once a year (midsummer)."

Here, prairie establishment is being attempted by plowing and seeding followed by selective summer mowing of the rank weeds. Time will tell if this technique is successful in giving the permanent prairie plants a chance to grow large enough to occupy the site completely, thus preventing further invasion of weeds.

Prairies can be distinguished from the common (mostly Eurasian) weeds of old fields and roadsides by their characteristic plants. For more information on prairies, see the U.W. Arboretum's "Guide to Prairies", 1971, or visit the Arboretum.