11
Davey Resource Group
September 2015
WILDFLOWER PRAIRIE
The wildflower prairie habitat is one of the focal
points of CLNP and receives many visitors
throughout the season. As a high-traffic area with
relatively moderate non-native vegetative cover,
the wildflower prairie habitat is an ideal area
to begin the process of managing undesirable
vegetation. Some of the undesirable species
noted in this area during the vegetation survey
included Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort), Cirsium
arvense (Canada thistle), Daucus carota (Queen
Anne's lace), Dipsacus fullonum (common teasel),
Melilotus albus (white sweet clover), Phalaris
arundinacea (reed canary grass), and Phragmites
australis (common reed).
As part of a healthy maintenance regime, the
wildflower meadow should be mowed annually
each spring or burned once every two to three
years in the spring to help control undesirable
vegetation. This process helps to remove thatch
and other vegetation, which opens up and warms
the soils. Warmer soils in early spring encourage
growth of native warm-season species, allowing
them to achieve significant growth before the
weedy species begin to emerge. When mowed
at the correct time of year, this process also
helps to slow the growth of undesirable species,
as they tend to emerge first in the spring and
can be set back by mowing or burning activities.
Mowing or burning in the spring will encourage
growth of warm-season grasses, while mowing or
burning in the summer or early fall will encourage
more forbs.
Davey Resource Group recommends that any
existing undesirable vegetation should first be
controlled with a selective herbicide application
at the appropriate time of year for each species
(Table 5). Areas with a moderate density (35-65%
cover) of non-native vegetation should be treated
using low-volume backpack sprayers and a 2%
solution of glyphosate with a surfactant. Because
the preserve is on the Lake Erie shore, an aquatic-
use approved formulation of glyphosate should
be used in the treatments. This product is non-
selective and can impact native growth. However,
using targeted application methods to preserve
surrounding native vegetation, glyphosate is the
most effective treatment.
Areas with sensitive vegetation or very few weedy
species should be treated using hand-wicking
equipment and a 2% glyphosate solution. This
method keeps desirable species intact and allows
for an extremely targeted herbicide application
to only the plants that are to be removed.
In addition to treatments, the wildflower area
should be assessed for native species diversity.
This will help determine what species from the
original seed mix have more readily established,
and if the species are in a healthy balance.
SPECIES COMMON NAME TREATMENT MONTHS
Artemisia vulgaris mugwort April-September
Conium maculatum poison hemlock April-July
Daucus carota Queen Anne's lace April-September
Phalaris arundinacea reed canarygrass April-May
Phragmites australis common reed August-September
TABLE 5
Non-Native, Invasive Vegetation
Treatment Windows
