Agronomic Grasses (Various species)

Factsheets

Description

A variety of introduced annual and perennial grasses have become established on Galiano Island. These include:

Habitat

Agronomic grasses become established in exposed, disturbed soil.  They are common in old pastures and agricultural areas, and are quickly become the dominant cover on recently disturbed sites.

Impact

Agronomic grasses on Galiano Island form a dense thatch that smothers low-growing native species and prevents the regeneration of native ecosystems.  They are especially damaging in Garry Oak ecosystems, where they often completely replace native species.

Management

Management will differ by species (see links to individual guides, above).  Some species can be easily removed by hand; others will have dense root systems that will require smothering.  Some species may be impossible to eliminate from a site until dense forest cover is established.  On permanently open sites such as woodlands and Garry Oak meadows, careful management is necessary to favour native species over agronomic grasses.

Our Experience

Agronomic grasses are now widespread in virtually every ecosystem on Galiano Island, and are effectively here to stay.  On cleared sites, they should be managed until a native tree canopy can be established to shade them out; on sensitive sites such as Garry Oak ecosystems and coastal bluffs, they should be managed to mitigate their impacts on native species.

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