Download MOWING

MOWING PRACTICES
Where, When, Why, and How
Grass Type
• Perennial – vegetative reproduction through
rhizomes, stolons, and tillering
• Annual – weedy grasses – cheatgrass, cereal rye
• Introduced species – good germination, and plant
vigor, able to withstand mowing
• Native species – slower germination, not as
competitive, lower growing, does not like mowing
• Cool season – active growth in spring and fall –
e.g. Crested Wheat, Intermediate Wheat, Sheep
Fescue
• Warm season- summer growth period – e.g. Inland
Salt Grass, Sand Dropseed, Alkali Sacaton
WHY MOW
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Safety- Sight Distance
Prevent build up of wind blown debris
Mow around signs and guardrail
Public pressure
IRVM – Integrated Roadside Vegetation
Management –weed control
• Fire suppression
Mowing For Weed Control
• Works best to control annual and biennial weed
• Timing is critical – mow when weeds are
flowering. Mowing to late will just spread seeds
• Mowing perennial weeds - defoliation interferes
with production of stored carbohydrates and
eventually depletes reserves and weakens plant,
reducing competitive ability
When to Mow
• Anytime for safety issues
• Timing for weed control
• Do not mow immediately after herbicide
application
• When grass is taller than 14”
• When desirable grasses are dormant : for cool
season grasses July, August
• After seed head formation-helps to spread seeds
• Do not mow when ground is to wet
Mowing Height Standard
• No shorter than 6 inches
• Scalping grasses is harmful to the grass
plants
• Can cause damage to basal meristem
• Defoliation interferes with the plants ability
to produce its own food
• Decreases foliar shading of soil
How to Mow
• Mowing Height – 6 in.
• Keep blades sharp
• Inspect area to be mowed for debris, and potential
projectiles
• Drive slowly
• When moving mowers clean of deck and tractor so
weed seed is not spread
• Do not tear up grass stands with tires or mower
decks
Where to Mow
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Intersections for sight distance
Shoulders –Safety strips
Medians
Do not mow slopes steeper than 3:1
Do not mow into natural vegetation areas
boarding contour zones
• Behind guardrail
NO MOW / REDUCED MOW
What is Reduced Mowing?
• Allows mowing only in safety sensitive areas- e.g.
strip and median mowing, sight distance concerns,
pavement preservation
• Allows mowing for noxious weed control
• incorporates environmental stewardship into
roadside maintenance
• Allows for a natural growth of roadside vegetation
through a natural succession to a stable ecosystem
Benefits Of Reduced Mowing
• Encourages the return of native grasses and
wildflowers
• Creates a natural ecosystem
• Has a more natural look
• Offers habitat for wildlife
• Improves plant health and plant competition
• Fewer weeds = less herbicides = saved $$$$$
• Reduced mowing = saved $$$$$
Statewide Mowing Budget
$792,460
How a reduced mow program would save
money, for example:
• Reduce mowing by 30 % = $237,738
• Reduce mowing by 50% = $396,230
Statewide Herbicide Budget
$1,021,150
With reduced mowing, if herbicide usage
could be reduced by, for example:
•
20% = $204,230 savings
•
30% = $306,345 savings
KNOW BEFORE YOU MOW!
CHEMICAL MOWING
Plant Growth Regulators(PGR)
Seed Head Suppression
Plateau Herbicide
Herbicides,Rates and Species
• Plateau 10 to 12 oz with MSO on
Intermediate Wheat grass
• Plateau 6 to 8 oz with MSO on Crested
Wheat grass
• Campaign Herbicide
• Oust Herbicide
Advantages of Chemical Mowing
• Costs less than mechanical mowing
• Quicker than mechanical mowing
• Works in hard to mow areas, around
delineators,signs, guardrails.
• Unsafe areas, no shoulder
Disadvantages of Chemical Mowing
• Generally takes out all broadleaf plants
• Can leave brown or dead tops of plants
DO IT WRONG
ROADSIDES FOR WILDLIFE
Roadside Cover