Bringing Back the Big Blue

In March of 2009, after three years of restoration in Old Mesic, it became obvious that autumn olive was going to remain a major problem in this prairie unit without some real competition.  I was really starting to wonder where the native grasses were in this prairie too, as many native wildflowers and sedges had returned after only three years of brush removal and prescribed fires.  But there were no native grasses.  Well that spring in 2009, I planted a hefty amount of big bluestem and indian grass seed in Old Mesic after one of our outstanding spring prescribed burns.  These are the two super powers of native grasses that would have historically occupied a mesic prairie in Michigan, so I was excited to reintroduce these important components back into our most pristine natural prairie communities on the farm.

Old Mesic, Burned and Brush-Hogged - March 2009

Old Mesic Looking North - March 2009

When I planted this seed, it was directly after our spring burns.  By the time these pictures were taken, I had already gone through and brush-hogged the standing autumn olive twigs which helped plant the seeds that had been sown by packing them down into the soil.  This probably helped with the germination rate of the seed that was planted and explains why planting seed in the fall is more successful than planting in spring.  Winter rain and snows help to drive the planted seed into contact with the soil which greatly increases germination.

Last summer (third growing season), I finally began to see the fruits of my labor.  At least a dozen big bluestem plants were identified in the middle of summer going to seed in Old Mesic.  These plants were still pretty thin last year, but our late spring burns that we just conducted should really help to provide a competitive advantage this growing season.  The fuel that these grasses will provide in future burns will really help to suppress unwanted woody plants too.  While it took three years for it to really show up, this just goes to show how hard it is to get plants started from seed in a mature prairie planting.  Patience is key!

Big Bluestem - Old Mesic, Summer 2011



Big Bluestem - Old Mesic, Summer 2011

Big Bluestem - Old Mesic, Summer 2011

Big Bluestem - Old Mesic, Summer 2011



Big Bluestem - Old Mesic, Summer 2011