For Beautiful Wildflowers in the Spring, Plant Them in the Fall
Even though the leaves are just beginning to fall, now is the time to begin dreaming of spring. Mother Nature needs time to get the beautiful, bright blooms of wildflowers just right. Wildflower beauty can abound on your property when you take advantage of fall planting, which offers the following benefits: Earlier blooms Additional time […]
Illinois Bundleflower: Species Spotlight
If you’re looking to attract a wide range of wildlife from deer and turkey to quail and dove, Illinois Bundleflower is ready to go to work for you. Illinois Bundleflower—Latin name, Desmanthus illinoensis—is part of the “Big Four” perennial forbs. Bundleflower gets its name from the shape of its seedpods, which are easy to spot. […]
Species Spotlight: Bush Sunflower
Within our land management circle, the term “Big Four” is commonly used to refer to the four grasses that are stalwarts of the true Tallgrass Prairie. The Big Four are both prized by stewards because of the benefits they lend to the ecosystem and desired by grazers for sustenance. We recently wrapped up our blog […]
Species Spotlight: Sand Dropseed
We’ve been talking a lot about the “big four” grasses of the Tallgrass Prairie lately. While these are the all-stars of the ecosystem team, they certainly could not shine without other grasses whose roles allow them to take hold and thrive across the prairies. One of these grasses is Sand Dropseed — Latin name Sporobolus […]
The Big Four: Little Bluestem
Reclamation projects rely on little bluestem because it grows easily and takes hold in a variety of soil types. Little Bluestem’s Latin name is Schizachyrium scoparium. It is a member of the “big four” grasses. Recognized as the state grass of both Kansas and Nebraska, it is easy to spot in the pasture throughout the […]
The Big Four: Switchgrass
We’re turning our conversation toward a member of the “big four” grasses of the true Tallgrass Prairie, Switchgrass — Latin name Panicum Virgatum. It is one of the most versatile members of the club. A native, warm-season perennial bunchgrass, it matures to about 3 to 6 feet tall. It has a distinctive bluish to bluish-green […]
Big Bluestem: One of The Big Four Grasses
Big bluestem — a member of the “big four” grasses of the Tallgrass Prairie — is in demand by range managers because it is not seen as much in rangelands as it once was. When Big Bluestem—Latin name Andropogon gerardii—takes hold on rangeland, you can rest assured the ecosystem is effectively managed. Why is this […]
The Big Four: Indiangrass
To the untrained eye, the grasses delicately dancing in the wind across the prairies of the heartland may appear all the same, or a mixture of too many to name. However, there are actually four dominant species in the true tallgrass prairie: Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, and Switchgrass. These four grasses are usually found […]
Hello Nurse Crop
Nurse crops have been used for years, but often are overlooked during the planning process of reclamation seeding. Perennial grasses and forbs are aided by nurse crops because they offer protection as the plants establish. A properly planned nurse crop aids in erosion control, creates a wind break for young seedlings, and can even suppress […]
Where’s My Grass?
There’s nothing more frustrating when checking on ground after planting native grass seed or Texas native plants than to have your gaze met with barren soil. The familiar question is, “Where’s my grass?” As reclamation specialists, Bamert doesn’t just answer the question when a landowner is facing disappointing results. Instead, we strive to educate our […]