- Author: Luca Carmignani
- Editor: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
- Editor: Belinda Messenger-Sikes
- Post: Gale Perez
How can weed control help with wildfire preparedness?
Wildfires are part of California's ecosystems, and they do not have to lead to the destruction of structures and livelihoods. Each of us can contribute to improving wildfire resilience, from individual homeowners and businesses to entire communities. Managing the vegetation and landscape around our homes can play a crucial role in preventing the spread of fires and sources of ignition.
Given the large amount of rain in the winter of 2022-2023, you might have experienced a surge in annual grasses and fast-growing plants that cover most of the ground around your home and community. In my area, I observed invasive species like wild oats and mustard...
/h2>If you missed the Managing Weeds in Grasslands and Rangelands in the Context of Fire in California webinar on Nov. 18, 2020 (9 AM-12 noon PST), you're in luck. We have the recordings of each presentation here.
Managing Weeds in Grasslands and Rangelands
in the Context of Fire in California
Click for FULL WEBINAR recording
Moderator ▪ Whitney Brim-DeForest, Sutter-Yuba County...
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Mark your calendar...
Managing Weeds in Grasslands and Rangelands in the Context of Fire in California
The latest information on weed control and fire will be presented at the Managing Weeds in Grasslands and Rangelands in the Context of Fire in California webinar on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. The lineup of UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and UC Davis experts will discuss how fire interacts with plant communities in rangeland ecosystems, how grassland management influences fire severity and how management practices impact post-fire vegetation recovery.
“We...
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
- Re-posted by: Gale Perez
When wildfires burn in California, people often call them forest fires or brushfires, but the odds are high that an invasive weed is an unrecognized fuels component, says a UC Agriculture and Natural Resources scientist.
“We have all of the nasty non-native Bromus species here in California, and these weeds are key drivers of increasing fire frequency,” said Travis Bean, UC Cooperative Extension weed science specialist based at UC Riverside.
The invasive, non-native Bromus species aggressively outcompete native plants, forming dense stands that grow fast and dry out quickly, becoming highly flammable. Fire can move...
- Author: Devii R. Rao
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Saharan mustard is originally from the Mediterranean. It was introduced to California where it became a weed, particularly in the dryer parts of the state. Livestock can be poisoned by Saharan mustard if they are kept in fields that have little else to eat but Saharan mustard. Signs of toxicity include “colic, diarrhea, excessive salivation, and thyroid enlargement” (DiTomaso, J.M., G.B. Kyser et al. 2013). Saharan mustard can also increase fire hazard.
Saharan mustard has been documented in eastern San Benito County on Panoche Road; in western Fresno County; in Monterey County at Fort Hunter Liggett; and in San Luis Obispo County it is concentrated near Morrow Bay and north of Santa Maria, but has been...