Step #3 Preparing a Site for Restoration

Situation #2 Old Agricultural Fields and Pastures

Check #2 Determine the site preparation that fits the situation (go back)

Dichotomous Key for Site Preparation on Agricultural Lands

Site is a pasture or an old field with grasses present (fescue, bahia, broomsage, bermuda) (go to A).
Site is an old field without a significant component of grasses (go to B).

A Bermuda grass is present. (go to A1)
Bermuda grass is not present. (go to A2)

A1 Recommended site preparation treatments in the order they should be applied:
#1 Broadcast chemical site prep (more here)
#2 Scalping (more here)
#3 Subsoiling or ripping (optional, strongly recommended if hand-planting, or hardpan is present)

Chemical site preparation is necessary at highest recommended rates of glyphosate (Accord or Roundup) or imazpyr (Arsenal or Chopper) or a tank-mix thereof. Possible chemical site preparation rates are glyphosate at 5 quarts/acre (anytime grass is actively growing), imazapyr at 20 oz/acre (spring or early summer application), or a tank-mix recommended by licensed herbicide applicators. Scalping should follow the chemical site preparation. Subsoiling should follow the scalping. The subsoiling (ripping) furrow should be to the side of the scalped row rather than in the center of the scalped row. This will allow the seedling to be planted to the side of the rip and in the center of the scalped row. Never plant seedlings directly in a subsoil/rip furrow. If bareroot seedlings are utilized, both the scalping and the subsoiling should be done at least 2 months prior to planting to allow some settling of the soil. Container seedling may be planted immediately after scalping and subsoiling provided that seedlings are not planted in the rip and the plug protrudes 1-2” above the soil surface. In all cases, subsoiling, scalping, and machine planting should follow the contour of the land.

A2 Recommended site preparation treatments in the order they should be applied:
#1 Broadcast or banded chemical site prep (optional) more here
#2 Scalping (more here)
#3 Subsoiling or ripping (optional, strongly recommended if hand-planting or hardpan is present)

The greatest benefits in terms of tree seedlings survival will derive from the scalping operation. For grasses other than bermuda, herbicides can be applied at reduced rates as a broadcast or banded chemical site preparation. Possible chemical site preparation rates are glyphosate (Accord or Roundup) at 3 quarts/acre or 16 oz Arsenal & 2 qt. Accord while grasses are actively growing. Scalping should follow the chemical site preparation. Subsoiling should follow the scalping. The subsoiling (ripping) furrow should be to the side of the scalped row rather than in the center of the scalped row. This will allow the seedling to be planted to the side of the rip and in the center of the scalped row. Never plant seedlings directly in a subsoil/rip furrow. If bareroot seedlings are utilized both the scalping and the subsoiling should be done at least 2 months prior to planting to allow some settling of the soil. Container seedling may be planted immediately after scalping and subsoiling provided that seedlings are not planted in the rip and the plug protrudes 1-2” above the soil surface. In all cases, subsoiling, scalping, and machine planting should follow the contour of the land.

B Patches of bermuda grass or crabgrass are present (go to B1).
No bermuda or crabgrass are present (go to B2)

B1 Bermuda grass is present in patches (go to B3)
Only crabgrass (no bermuda) is/was present (go to B4)

B2 Site was in peanuts or soybeans, or ground was fallow for at least one year (go to B4)
Site was in other crop (cotton, corn, wheat, etc.) (go to B5)

B3 Recommended site preparation treatments in the order they should be applied:
#1 Spot treat patches of bermuda grass with herbicide.
#2 Scalping (optional) more here
#3 Subsoiling or Ripping (optional, strongly recommended if hand-planting or hardpan is present)

Patches of bermuda grass may be sprayed with a 2% solution of glyphosate (Roundup or Accord). If bermuda grass patches cover more than 10% of the field, scalping is strongly recommended.

B4 Recommended site preparation treatments in the order they should be applied:
#1 Scalping (more here)
#2 Subsoiling or Ripping (optional, strongly recommended if hand-planting or hardpan is present)

B5 Recommended site preparation treatments in the order they should be applied:
#1 Scalping (optional) more here
#2 Subsoiling or Ripping (optional, strongly recommended if hand-planting or hardpan is present)

If site was in cotton, plant tree seedling between rows of cotton stubble (make special note of residual herbicides)