SOIL STABILIZATION & RANGELAND SEEDING
|
ITEM |
COMMENTS |
Zones |
Seeding Ratelbs./acre |
Season |
Type |
Height (inches) |
Forage Use |
Drought Toler-ance |
Alkaline/Salt Tolerance |
Acid Toler-ance |
Soil Type |
Fire Retar-dant |
Calif-ornia Native |
|
GRASSES |
|||||||||||||
| Alkaligrass Puccinella distans |
Variety: Fults, often used for turf. | 1,2,4 |
120 |
Cool |
Bunch |
12-24 |
P |
F |
E |
F |
ALL |
. | . |
| Barley Hordeum vulgare |
Winter annual. Cereal grain. Grows fast. Does not reseed. | 1,2 |
150 |
Cool |
Bunch |
30+ |
P |
F |
G |
F |
S |
. | . |
| Barley, Meadow Hordeum brachyantherum |
Fast Growing. Ideal nurse crop for long-lived native grasses. Short-lived. | 1,2,4,5 |
25 |
Cool |
Bunch |
12-18 |
F |
F |
E |
F |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Blue Gramma Bouteloua gracilis |
Ornamental densely tufted, stoloniferous. Long-lived. | ALL |
30 |
Warm |
Bunch |
6-24 |
F |
E |
G |
F |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Bluegrass, Big Poa ampla |
Variety: Rubens, high elevati.on, low fertility | 1,2,5 |
30 |
Cool |
Bunch |
24 |
G |
G |
P |
F |
S |
. | . |
| Bluegrass, Canada Poa compressa |
Shade tolerant, low growing. Roadsides, recreation areas. | 4,5 |
80 |
Cool |
Sod |
12-24 |
G |
G |
P |
G |
C |
. | . |
| Blue Wildrye Elymus glaucus |
Fast growing, good for site stabilization. Adapted to shady, woodland, forest environments.Short-lived. | 1,2,4,5 |
30 |
Cool |
Bunch |
12-40 |
F |
G |
F |
F |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Buffalo Grass Buchaloe dactyloides |
Best on clay soils, also used for turf. Native to Great Plains. | 1 |
30 |
Warm |
Sod |
1-12 |
P |
G |
G |
F |
C |
. | . |
| Brome, Blando Bromus mollis |
Quick erosion control, annual, reseeds, below 4000’ also called Soft Chess. | 1,2,4 |
50 |
Cool |
Bunch |
1-24 |
E |
VG |
F |
F |
ALL |
. | . |
| Brome, Red Bromus rubens |
Good for soil stabilization. Annual. Reseeds. | 1,2,4 |
20 |
Cool |
Bunch |
2-18 |
P |
E |
VG |
F |
ALL |
. | . |
| Brome, Smooth Bromis inermis |
Variety: Manchar, easy to establish, high elevation, good soil stabilizer. | 1,4,5 |
15 |
Cool |
Sod |
13-24 |
VG |
VG |
G |
F |
ALL |
. | . |
| Fescue, California Festuca californica |
Tall, ornamental. Tolerant of shape and serpintine soils. Long-lived. | 1,2,4,5 |
30 |
Cool |
Bunch |
24-36 |
F |
G |
G |
G |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Fescue, California Red Native Festuca rubra ‘molate’ |
Attractive fine bladed rhizomatous grass. Can be mown. Long-lived, California Native cultivar ‘Molate Blue’. | 1,2,4,5 |
30 |
Cool |
Sod |
12-24 |
F |
VG |
G |
G |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Fescue, Idaho Festuca idahoensis |
Ornamental, fine bladed. Summer dormant. Native to Western U.S. | 1,2,4,5 |
25 |
Cool |
Bunch |
12-18 |
F |
VG |
G |
G |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Fescue, Hard Festuca longifolia |
Varieties: Reliant, Atilla, Waldina. Hot areas require irrigation; fine texture, shade. | 1,2,4,5 |
150 |
Cool |
Bunch |
12-18 |
F |
G |
F |
G |
ALL |
. | . |
| Fescue, Sheep Festuca ovina |
Variety: Covar, MX-86, shade tolerant. Use as ground cover, or in wildflower mixtures. | 1,4,5 |
150 |
Cool |
Bunch |
12-18 |
G |
G |
FG |
G |
R,S |
. | . |
| Fescue, Zorro (Foxtail) Festuca megalura |
Native, annual, reseeds, adapted to much of arid California. Extensive root system. | 1,2 |
20 |
Cool |
Bunch |
6-24 |
G |
E |
VG |
VG |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Fountain Grass Pennisetum ruppelii |
Popular for non-irrigated highway use. Attractive plants. | 1,2,3 |
3 |
Warm |
Bunch |
12-48 |
P |
VG |
VG |
F |
ALL |
. | . |
| Needlegrass, Purple Nassella pulchra |
Fine bladed, tufted. Good on disturbed slopes. | 1,2,4,5 |
20 |
Cool |
Bunch |
12-24 |
P |
VG |
F |
F |
C |
. |
• |
| Needlegrass, Desert Achnatherum speciosum |
Densely tufted. Occurring in arid mountain slopes of southeast California. Long-lived. | 2,3,5 |
15 |
Cool |
Bunch |
12-24 |
P |
E |
F |
F |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Orchardgrass Dactylis glomerata |
Varieties: Paiute. Long-lived perennial. | 1,2,4,5 |
20 |
Cool |
Bunch |
24-36 |
E |
VG |
G |
F |
C |
. | . |
| Purple Three-Awn Aristida purpurea |
Ornamental, tufted bunchgrass with nodding reddish panicles. Easily established from seed. | ALL |
15 |
Warm |
Bunch |
12-24 |
P |
E |
F |
F |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea |
Best on poor drained soils, cool areas. Forage and erosion control. | 1,4,5 |
20 |
Cool |
Sod |
24-96 |
VG |
P |
F |
VG |
C |
. | . |
| Sudan Grass Sorghum vulgare |
Variety: Piper. Best for hay or pasture. | 2,3 |
20 |
Warm |
Bunch |
48+ |
VG |
VG |
F |
F |
ALL |
. | . |
| Timothy Pheleum pratense |
Cool, moist areas, shade tolerant, higher elevations. Does not tolerate drought or heat. | 4,5 |
80 |
Cool |
Bunch |
24-36 |
E |
P |
P |
P |
C |
. | . |
| Weeping Lovegrass Eragrostis curvula |
Establishes rapidly, short lived, lacks winter hardiness. | 1,2,4 |
25 |
Warm |
Bunch |
24-48 |
G |
G |
F |
G |
S |
. | . |
| Wimmera Ryegrass Lolium rigidum |
Reseeding annual, adapted to heavy soils. Earlier maturing. | 1,2,4 |
50 |
Cool |
Bunch |
25-30 |
F |
F |
F |
F |
C |
. | . |
| Wheatgrass, Crested Agropyron cristatum |
Varieties: Fairway, Nordan, also used for turf. Easily established. | 5 |
30 |
Cool |
Bunch |
13-24 |
G |
E |
F |
F |
ALL |
. | . |
| Wheatgrass, Intermediate Agropyron intermedium |
Variety: Tegmar, lower growing; Oahe, shade tolerant. | 5 |
15 |
Cool |
Sod |
15-30 |
G |
VG |
F |
F |
C |
. | . |
| Wheatgrass, Pubescent Agropyron trichophorum |
Varieties: Luna, Topar, similar to intermediate. Good erosion control. Late maturing. | 5 |
40 |
Cool |
Sod |
13-24 |
E |
VG |
F |
F |
C |
. | . |
| Wheatgrass, Slender Agropyron trachycaulum |
Tall, fast growing. Good for site stabilization, short-lived. | 1,2,4,5 |
– |
Cool |
Bunch |
13-24 |
G |
E |
F |
F |
ALL |
. |
• |
| Wheatgrass, Streambank Agropyron riparium |
Shade tolerant, low growing. Roadsides, recreation areas. | 5 |
15 |
Cool |
Sod |
12-20 |
F |
VG |
G |
F |
C |
. | . |
| Wheatgrass, Tall Agropyron elongatum |
Abundant forage, poorly drained soils. | 1,4,5 |
20 |
Cool |
Bunch |
25-30 |
G |
G |
E |
F |
C |
. | . |
|
LEGUMES |
|||||||||||||
| Alfalfa Medicago sativa |
Hay pasture or erosion control, deep rooted. Easily established. | 1,2,4 |
20 |
Cool |
N/A |
13-25 |
E |
G |
G |
P |
ALL |
. | . |
| Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus |
Wet & poorly drained sites, hay, pasture or erosion control. Long-lived, deep rooted, yellow flowers. | 1,2,4 |
10 |
Cool |
N/A |
12-18 |
G |
F |
P |
G |
C |
• |
. |
| Clover, Alsike Trifolium hybridum |
Shade tolerant, cool, moist sites. | 1,4 |
20 |
Cool |
N/A |
12-18 |
G |
F |
F |
P |
C |
. | . |
| Clover, Crimson Trifolium incarnatum |
Best along coast. Annual. Reseeds. | 1,4 |
25 |
Cool |
N/A |
12-30 |
VG |
F |
F |
G |
S,C |
. | . |
| Clover, Ladino Trifolium repens latum |
Variety of white clover with thicker stems and stolons. Large growth form. | 1,2,4,5 |
25 |
Cool |
N/A |
12-18 |
VG |
F |
F |
G |
C |
. | . |
| Clover, Red Trifolium pratense |
Cool, moist sites. | 1,4 |
15 |
Cool |
N/A |
20-25 |
E |
G |
P |
P |
C |
. | . |
| Clover Rose Trifolium hirtum |
Variety: Hykon, will grow on very poor sites. Heavy reseeder, slow establishment. Dryland pasture. | 1,2 |
30 |
Cool |
N/A |
6-18 |
G |
VG |
G |
G |
ALL |
. | . |
| Clover Strawberry Trifolium fragiferum |
Variety: O’Connors, very popular in Southern California for erosion control. Short, creeping, easy to establish. | 1,2,4,5 |
15 |
Cool |
N/A |
6-12 |
G |
F |
VG |
G |
ALL |
• |
. |
| Clover, Subterranean Trifolium subterraneum |
Variety: Mt. Barker | 1,2,4 |
15 |
Cool |
N/A |
10-12 |
G |
VG |
G |
VG |
S |
• |
. |
| Clover, White Dutch Trifolium repens |
Shallow rooted, cool, moist sites. | 1,2,4,5 |
25 |
Cool |
N/A |
6-12 |
G |
F |
F |
G |
C |
. | . |
| Clover, Yellow Sweet Melilotus officinalis |
Aggressive, shade tolerant. | 1,2,4 |
20 |
Cool |
N/A |
20-36 |
F |
G |
G |
F |
ALL |
• |
. |
| Vetch, Lana Woolypod Vicia dasycarpa |
Irrigated or moist sites. Easily established. Self-seeding annual. | 1,2,4 |
60 |
Cool |
N/A |
12-20 |
VG |
VG |
G |
G |
ALL |
. | . |
| Vetch, Purple Vica benghalensis |
Best near coast, hay & pasture. | 1,2,4 |
60 |
Cool |
N/A |
18-24 |
G |
G |
F |
F |
C |
. | . |
| KEY: (E) = Excellent, (VG) = Very Good, (G) = Good, (F) = Fair, (P) = Poor, (C) = Clay, (S) = Sandy, (R) = Rocky |
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|
ZONE #
|
CLIMATE TYPE
|
|
1 2 3 4 5
|
Southern Coastal and Foothills Interior Valley Desert Northern Coast and Foothills Mountains |