Problem: Noxious weeds are the predominant species on most of our county's roadsides (large and small), rights-of-way, buffer strips, and set-asides. Not only do these seed factories reproduce offspring in fields, rangeland, and crops, shallow-rooted weeds provide little protection against erosion, and their management is costly - in chemicals, labor, and accidents resulting from working awkward sites. At best, current weed control methods offer expensive, self-fulfilling band aids: the ultimate results of scraping, spraying, disking, and mowing create fertile breeding grounds for new weed growth as the cycle continues.

Solution: Native grasses only need mowing and spot spraying until they become established and can out-compete weeds. Their drought-resistant roots descend up to 10' for extraordinary erosion benefits. Perennial native grasses and shrubs re-seed themselves, but do not invade crop areas as they take two to three years to mature. If any do appear in nearby fields, they are cultivated out as part of the routine crop cycle. Plus, natives invite beneficial insects, providing the biodiverse habitats that sustain them.. Predatory birds who control gophers and squirrels appear, along with game birds and other wildlife. In short, rights-of-way can be beautiful, useful and low maintenance, helping reduce overall chemical use and lowering labor, machine costs, and accidents. 

For additional information about the installation and maintenance of native grasses along roadsides from our Resource Library, select: Roadside Establishment of Native Grasses .