Mechanical Vegetation Control and Burning

This is done with the mower and is used in instances when noxious weeds become a problem for visibility or have inhabited a disturbed area that makes it difficult to reseed or won’t allow already planted seeds to germinate due to them being shaded out. In other situations, a prescribed burn is done that will help rid the site of dead vegetation as well as invigorate the planting. For hundreds of years, fire helped to transform the Iowa prairie landscape from one year to the next. Fires help to eliminate trees from growing and assist in exposing the ground so new seedlings are allowed to germinate. If you are taking part in a roadside burn, be aware of weather conditions and always make sure smoke is not blowing across the adjacent roadway, which may impact traffic.