Sand Barrens

RESTORATION TOOLS Invasive Plants to Control Additional Resources This is not a comprehensive list of the inva- HOMEOWNER’S The best management is integrated management. sive plants found in sand barrens. These six Native Seed, Plants, and Seed Collection: No one of these tools on its own is a cure-all. species are the most widespread. For more Think about how each could address the needs of Wild Ones—Oak Openings Chapter NATIVE HABITAT information about how to ID and control oakopenings.wildones.org your property. these and other invasive species you might find in the Oak Openings Region, visit the Metroparks Toledo Native Seed Nursery GUIDE Midwest Invasive Species Information Net- metroparkstoledo.com/features-and-rentals/ Hand-Weeding—can be used to control work at www.misin.msu.edu. native-seed-nursery/ many non-woody invasive species in areas where herbicide use is undesirable. Be vigilant Wood County Park District Stewardship De- partment when disturbing large areas of soil as the dis- (419) 661-5113 ruption will promote the germination of weed seeds lying dormant in the ground. Toledo Zoo Conservation Department www.toledozoo.org/prairie/ Herbicide—can be used with caution to con- Possible Restoration Assistance: trol invasive species. The two most common The Nature Conservancy methods of application are spraying herbicide SPOTTED KNAPWEED CANADA THISTLE 419-867-1521 on the leaves of the plant, or, for woody species, cutting the trunk/stem close to the ground and Natural Resources Conservation Service applying herbicide to the stump. Herbicides www.nrcs.usda.gov must always be used in accordance with their labels and with the appropriate safety equip- ment. Mowing—can be used to set back invasives or more vigorous native species to give others a SMOOTH BROME AUTUMN OLIVE chance. Make sure that any invasive species you MIDWEST SAND might be mowing are unable to re-sprout from stem fragments. BARRENS The Green Ribbon Initiative is a partnership of public and Burning—can be used to reinvigorate natives private organizations, landowners, and individuals working A resource for landowners interested together to preserve, enhance, and restore critical natural and set back invasives. Fire is essential for many areas in the Oak Openings Region of Northwest Ohio and in restoring their Oak Openings Oak Openings ecosystems, but should be Southeast Michigan. Region property. planned and implemented carefully. BOUNCING BET COMMON MULLEIN www.oakopenings.org [email protected] Sand Barrens Native Plants INTERMEDIATE: These plants indicate that the habitat is Reading Your Landscape maturing. Consider interseeding with species from this WHY IT MATTERS Grasses/Sedges Flowers Trees/Shrubs list. If you have very sandy, well-drained soil, and The well-drained, sandy soils and open American Panic Grass Dichanthelium columbi- have a hard time getting grass to grow ,you BASIC: This list indicates plants that are most common to □ conditions make it very difficult for this plant community. Seeds are available through the GRI. Southern Hairy Panic Dichanthelium implica- may have the right conditions for the Midwest □ most plants to survive. However, many Sand Barren. Many of the species growing in Grass tum Oak Openings native species have this habitat have adapted to the harsh condi- □ Common Broom-sedge Andropogon virginicus □ Thin Paspalum Paspalum setaceum Purple Three-awned adapted to the harsh conditions . You tions by covering leaves and stems with hairs □ Aristida purpurascens □ Dwarf Dandelion Krigia virginica to hold moisture and shade their surfaces. Grass can work with nature by planting na- Scaly Blazing-star Liatris squarrosa □ June Grass Koeleria macrantha □ tive plants that can tolerate these con- Plains Frostweed Crocanthemum bicknellii □ Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium □ ditions without special treatment or □ Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans □ Canada Frostweed Crocanthemum cana- □ Muhlenberg’s Sedge Carex muhlenbergii □ Leggett’s Pinweed Lechea pulchella □ Slender Umbrella Sedge Cyperus lupulinus □ Flowering Spurge Euphorbia corollata □ Butterfly-weed Asclepias tuberosa □ Sessile-leaved Tick-trefoil Desmodium sessilifolium □ Grass-leaved Goldenrod Euthamia graminifolia □ Dotted Horsemint Monarda punctata □ Western Sunflower Helianthus occidentalis □ Prairie Thimbleweed Anemone cylindrica □ Rough Blazing-star Liatris aspera □ Woodland Thimbleweed Anemone virginiana Pasture Rose Rosa carolina □ Sweet Everlasting Pseudognaphalium obtusifo- □ □ New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus □ Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta □ Early Goldenrod Solidago juncea Gray Goldenrod Solidago nemoralis □ HIGH BIODIVERSITY: These plants indicate that the habi- □ Sky Blue Aster Symphyotrichum oolaen- tat is mature. Plants on this list may be difficult to acquire. □ Smooth Aster Symphyotrichum laeve □ Poverty Oat Grass Danthonia spicata Visit Midwest Sand Barrens STEPS TO BACKYARD □ Hairy Pinweed Lechea mucronata □ Porcupine Grass Hesperostipa spartea Sand Dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus HABITAT RESTORATION □ Little-leaved Tick- Desmodium ciliare □ □ Purple Sand Grass Triplasis purpurea Kitty Todd Nature Preserve 1. Inventory what you already have 10420 Old State Line Rd, Swanton, OH 43558 □ Small-leaved Tick- Desmodium marilandicum □ Clasping Milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis 2. Watch water behavior □ Roundhead Bushclover Lespedeza capitata Oak Openings Preserve Metropark □ Plains Puccoon Lithospermum car- 3. Remove invasive species 4139 Girdham Rd, Swanton, OH 43558 □ Hairy Bushclover Lespedeza hirta □ Prickly Pear Opuntia humifusa 4. See what returns naturally Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis □ □ Orange-grass Hypericum gentianoide 5. Enhance with native species Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa □ □ Bastard-toadflax Comandra umbellata 6. Maintain with mowing □ Hairy Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum pilosum □ Birdfoot Violet Viola pedata .

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