Florida Native Landscaping 3815/5815Cirrecenvhort.ifas.ufl.edu/FNL/lectures/meadows/meadows.pdf ·...
Transcript of Florida Native Landscaping 3815/5815Cirrecenvhort.ifas.ufl.edu/FNL/lectures/meadows/meadows.pdf ·...
Florida Native Landscaping 3815/5815C
Jeff Norcini
Establishment and Management of Meadow Plantings
Establishment / Management
• Meadows • Applicable to greenways, roadsides • Mini-‐meadows
Native Wildflower Meadow – Why?
• Aesthe<cs • Ecological benefits • Preference for na<ve species • Reduce management costs
Weed interference is usually the cause of wildflower stand failure
in Florida
Use Practices That:
è Favor na<ve wildflowers è Minimize weed interference
Mother Nature is
Obsessed with Coloniza<on
Disturbed Sites , Bare Soil
Disturbed Sites , Bare Soil
Establishment / Management
gFavors wildflowers gMinimizes weed interference
• Site selec<on • Species, seed origin • Site prepara<on • Sowing prac<ces • Management prac<ces
Site Selection
Select site where weed comp. unlikely* • Sparse to moderate bahiagrass • Sparse undesirable broadleaves
* seed bank
Seed Bank
Anne Frances. 2008. PhD Diss. Univ. of Florida
ASer bahiagrass compe<<on reduced, note increase in seedlings from seed bank
Site Selection
Avoid sites (or por<ons of sites) where: • Wildflowers will be outcompeted • Reducing compe<<on is too costly Exis<ng vegeta<on: • Category I invasive spp. / noxious spp. • Cyperus esculentus and Cyperus rotundus • Rubus spp.; Smilax spp.
Determine Species
• Soil type • Soil moisture • Ecoregion
Determine Amount of Seed Needed
• Seeding rate should be based on pure live seeds (PLS) • Rarely prac<ced however
• Sowing rate – usually bulk seed • Bulk = viable seed + nonviable seed + weed seed + leaves, etc.
Determine Amount of Seed Needed
• 50 lb bag; 90% pure by wt; 60% viable seed; PLS in bag = 27 lb
• PLS sowing rate = 6 lb/acre 6 lb PLS x 50 lb bulk
27 lb viable = 11.1 lb bulk seed
• To sow 6 lb PLS, need 11.1 bulk seed
Bulk Seed Rate
Can increase cost of seed (regionally-‐adapted, pre-‐variety germplasm is expensive) • Example – bulk rate spec. is 10 lb/A • PLS: Lot A – 60%; Lot B – 90% • Amount of PLS sown • May be excessive Lot A – 6 lb/A; Lot B – 9 lb/A
Coreopsis lanceolata
Frances et al. 2010. Restora<on Ecology 18:945-‐963.
Increasing PLS sowing rate increases number of seedlings/m2
but…..
Coreopsis lanceolata
Frances et al. 2010. Restora<on Ecology 18:945-‐963.
….no benefit in terms of biomass when increasing rate from 600 to 1100 seed/m2
Optimal Seeding Rate Coreopsis lanceolata
Frances et al. 2010. Restora<on Ecology 18:945-‐963.
No. of seedlings Seedling biomass
Optimal Seeding Rate
Microsites – Coreopsis lanceolata
Purchase Seed
Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Assoc. (“Florida Wildflower Growers Co-‐op”)
FloridaWildflowers.com
Purchasing Seed
• Purchase by scien<fic name • Inquire about germplasm origin
Important Seed Issues
• Germplasm origin • Gene<c diversity
These issues are discussed in detail in germplasm origin PowerPoint lecture.
Determine Sowing Date
Opinions vary widely; consensus is: • N Fla. Mid. Sep. to late Oct. (mid Nov.) • NC Fla. Mid-‐Oct. to mid-‐Dec. • C Fla. Mid-‐Oct. to Dec. (early Jan.) • S Fla. Nov. to Mid. Jan.
Spring generally not recommended (*Early bener than later; rain, soil temp.)
Seed sown 1st week of each month from July-‐Dec. 2002 Site prep: glyphosate 2X; mow
Seeding Date Demo
Coreopsis basalis *Good wildflower display *Best wildflower display
Sowing date
Seeding Date Demo
Apr. 30, 2003 ra<ng of wildflower stand appearance: *Good to excellent; **Best
Ave. no. plants per square foot – March 24, 2003
Sowing date -‐ 2002
C. basalis
C. basalis
C. leaven.
C. leaven.
G. pulch.
P. drum. R. hirta
JUL 4 12* 4 5* 8* 4* 1
AUG 2* 7** 4* 7** 4** 3** 6*
SEP 16** 21* 10** 10* 1* 7 27**
OCT 5* 20* 1 8 5* 4 17
NOV 2 6 1 10 5 1 20
DEC 2 2 3 3 2 1 5
Seeding Date Demo
Apr. 30, 2003 ra<ng of wildflower stand appearance: *Good to excellent; **Best
Ave. no. plants per square foot – March 24, 2003
Sowing date -‐ 2002
C. basalis
C. basalis
C. leaven.
C. leaven.
G. pulch.
P. drum. R. hirta
JUL 4 12* 4 5* 8* 4* 1
AUG 2* 7** 4* 7** 4** 3** 6*
SEP 16** 21* 10** 10* 1* 7 27**
OCT 5* 20* 1 8 5* 4 17
NOV 2 6 1 10 5 1 20
DEC 2 2 3 3 2 1 5
Site Preparation
• No <ll methods • Nonselec<ve herbicides
• Bare soil • Minimize thatch/ clippings
Site Preparation
• 1 month before seeding – apply glyphosate 2X, 2 weeks apart Do not use glyphosate products that provide preemergent, residual, or extended weed control
Glyphosate Products
• Prepare herbicide solu<on the day of spraying, not the night before
• Apply to nonstressed vegeta<on • Apply early in morning aSer dew has dried
• “More” is not bener
Site Preparation
Soil-‐to-‐seed contact is cri<cal • 1 day before seeding – mow to leave stubble of ≤1 inch
• Eliminate thatch, clippings, but minimize soil disturbance
Site Preparation
Site Preparation
Site Preparation
Soil-‐to-‐seed contact is cri<cal
• Ensure seed bed is firm, but not overly compact
• May need turf roller on sandy soils
Sowing Seed
1/8 inch deep
Sowing Seed
If seeding manually, ensure soil-‐to-‐seed contact
Seeding and Imazapic
• Where allowed, consider applying imazapic the day of seeding
• Imazapic marketed as: • Plateau, Impose, Panoramic
• Do not exceed 4 oz rate • Increase seeding rate 10-‐20%
Establishment Phase
• Mow in winter to control winter weeds • Use grass herbicides if needed (and if no na<ve grasses in seed mix) • Fluazifop, sethoxydim • Nonionic surfactant
• Do not fer<lize • Nutrients facilitate weed growth • Na<ves more compe<<ve under low fer<lity
Minimizing Weed Interference
Postemergent Grass Control Grass herbicides • Do not use products that provide preemergent, residual, or extended weed control
• Follow same applica<on guidelines as men<oned before for glyphosate
• Do not use if na<ve grasses present • Use nonionic surfactant
Minimizing Weed Interference
Postemergent Grass Control con6nued • Grass herb. for wildflower plan<ngs • Grass herbicides w/open-‐ended labels • Allows use on unlisted ornamental species but only at sites listed on label
• Must test on small por<on first • Applicator assumes all risk
Minimizing Weed Interference
Postemergent Grass Control con6nued Grass herbicides registered in Florida
FDACS hnp://www.flpes<cide.us/ hnp://state.ceris.purdue.edu/doc/fl/statefl.html
Optimal Establishment Protocol
• Select suitable site • Apply glyphosate • 2 applica<ons, 2 weeks apart • 1st applica<on ~4 weeks before seed
• Mow to leave 1” stubble • Ensure bare soil
Optimal Establishment Protocol
• Sow within 1 day of mowing • Use Florida-‐adapted germplasm • Sowing depth • Seed drill – 1/8 to 1/4” • Rotary spread – roll seed in
• Sept. to Dec. depending on region
Long-Term Management
• Mow at least 1X per year but no more then 3X should be necessary • 6 to 8” high • Last mowing aSer Thanksgiving
• Build up wildflowers in seed bank -‐ <me mowing to seed matura<on
• Use grass herbicides only as needed (but not if na<ve grasses in mix)
Seed Bank Sustainability
Anne Frances. 2008. PhD Diss. Univ. of Florida
Build up of wildflower seed in soil seed bank; important for developing a sustainable popula<on
Evidence Supporting Protocol
Anne Frances. 2008. PhD Diss. Univ. of Florida
Anne Frances. 2008. PhD Diss. Univ. of Florida
Anne Frances. 2008. PhD Diss. Univ. of Florida
Glyphosate Protocol
Seeded: October 2005; Image: April 11, 2007
Glyphosate/mow Mow only
Glyphosate Protocol
Glyphosate/mow Mow only
Alternative Establishment #1
• Situa<on: • Using glyphosate not possible or warranted AND
• Bahiagrass/other weeds are sparse • Mow bahiagrass low (w/flail mower if necessary)
• Sow seed with seed drill • Gaillardia, Phlox, some Coreopsis
Alternative Establishment #2
Select a site with an exis<ng popula<on of na<ve wildflowers and/or grasses • Manage for the na<ve species • Enhance by seeding • Time mowing to seed matura<on • Once to twice per year; may be 3X
• Avoid sites with aggressive nonna<ves or, adjacent Cat. I invasive species
Alternative Establishment #2
Select a site with exis<ng popula<on of na<ve wildflowers and/or grasses
Alternative Establishment #2
Anne Frances. 2008. PhD Diss. Univ. of Florida
Site managed to facilitate preserva<on and expansion of Flaveria linearis.(mowers excluded)
Disclaimer
The use of trade names in this document is solely for the purpose of providing specific informa<on. OecoHort, LLC does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this document do not signify OecoHort’s approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composi<on.
Read and follow all label direc?ons
Image Credits
• Dick Bush • Anne Frances • Jeff Norcini
Na?ve Wildflower Library hnp://flawildflowers.org/library.php Founda?on Na?ve Flower Research hnp://flawildflowers.org/research.php
FlaWildflowers.org