Prescribed Burning
In the prairie, prescribed burning is being done on a rotating basis. About a third of the prairie has been burned each year for several years. The burning has stimulated the growth of native plant species and weakened the non-native grasses.
We start the burning in the southeast sector of the prairie (April 2013).
The burn advances (April 2013).
We burn the grass hill north of the main prairie (April 2013).
The savanna has important trees such as oaks, prairie crabapple, and hawthorn. Over time, additional species such as boxelder, cottonwood, and buckthorn have invaded the area. In order to control brush and stimulate native plant species, repeat mowing and burning is necessary. Burns have been conducted regularly on the Koester Prairie site in order to promote the growth of native grasses and to hinder any resprouting of nonnative trees, shrubs and other plants.
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We start the burn on the south end of the savanna (April 2013).
We protect a Hawthorn from heat (April 2013).
The aftermath of the burn on the south end of the savanna (April 2013).