Revegetation

Revegetation of disturbed riparian sites can be used to prevent purple loosestrife establishment and to reduce re-establishment after control procedures are applied. Native perennial plants adapted to site hydrologic conditions should be established to minimize exposed bare soil during periods of moisture availability and to create a shaded environment inhospitable to purple loosestrife seedling survival. Fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata), foxtail sedge (Carex alopecoidea), and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) have achieved dominance and prevented re-invasion in plots where purple loosestrife was experimentally removed. Smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium) is reported to out-compete purple loosestrife during its first year of growth. Seeding Japanese millet (Echinocloa frumentacea, also called billion-dollar grass) at 30 pounds/acre on exposed moist soil after drawdown and before purple loosestrife seedlings began to grow provided control. Japanese millet is considered an exceptional wildlife plant. Guidance on seeding and planting techniques can be found in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG), Section IV, Practice Standards and Specifications for Riparian Forest Buffer (Code 391) and Riparian Herbaceous Cover (Code 390).

State, area and field resource specialists can help determine the most appropriate, site-specific species mix, timing of seeding or planting, and seeding or planting methods. Where herbicides have been applied, chemical carryover should be assessed prior to planting permanent vegetation.

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Last Modified: 08/12/2008