Because seeds embedded in pellets have high soil contact and are protected from seed predation by insects and rodents, they require minimal soil disturbance. Also, these seeds remain on site until heavy rains arrive with the monsoon, which wets up the clay and allow seeds to germinate while the soil is moist. We are grateful for the support of AZ Forest and Fire Management and look forward to working with our nonprofit and private partners to control this invasive grass and restore diverse native species to our local Sky Island grassland.
Contact Tess Wagner, BRN Restoration Program Manager with questions about this project. |
While this species has been found in small, relatively controllable patches for over a decade it has recently begun to spread to new places and can be seen along many roads and within the grasslands. With our partners we will monitor and map the extent of invasive grass species across the 21,000 acres, repeatedly treat invaded areas and facilitate the establishment of native species in treated areas.
Revegetating treated areas with native plants helps keep invasive species from returning and speeds the recovery of the grassland. To improve the success of the reseeding efforts we will use pelletized seeds, seeds added to a mixture of clay, high-nutrient soil or compost and water. Seed pellets are formed mechanically in the cement mixer and by hand and dried. |
Physical Address:
320-B School Street Patagonia, AZ 85624 Mailing Address: PO Box 121 Patagonia, AZ 85624 |
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