By Clay Smitson
Private Lands Wildlife Biologist
Have you ever felt an unexplainable, deep-seated need to
“clean up” tall grass, weeds, or brush on your property without
really understanding why? Do you worry that your neighbors will
think you’re lazy if your property doesn’t look just like the nearest
golf course fairway? If so, then you too may be suffering from
RMS or Recreational Mowing Syndrome. RMS can lead folks to
believe that the freshly manicured look of their lawn should be
expanded to take in all of their open fields and woodland edges.
Folks who live in urban or suburban areas and purchase parcels
of land in the country often just don’t know how to properly manage
larger open spaces. They mistakenly think they need to do
something right away, and since they’ve mown their lawns their
entire adult life they think mowing and clearing is automatically
the way to go.
Years ago, farmers didn’t have the modern equipment and
luxury of excess time and money for fuel to keep their farms
mown cleanly to the fences or forests. During that time, many
grassland wildlife species, such as bobwhite quail, rabbit, and
grassland songbirds were thriving. Land cover and wildlife populations
have changed drastically since then. The introduction of
KY 31 tall fescue and the notion that the only good farm is a
clean farm have led to dramatic reductions in the numbers of
these animals across the Kentucky landscape. However, many
folks who want to use their rural properties for home sites, recreation
and even agricultural production often view the enjoyment
of wildlife as an essential goal for country living.
So is there a cure for this widespread disorder? A fresh look
at land management from a new perspective is a highly effective
initial treatment. What may look to us like a weedy or brushy
mess may actually be the only safe haven many smaller critters
have to survive, thrive and reproduce. An overgrown fencerow,
or a tall grass field may look a lot more like home to animals like
quail and rabbit. Aside from letting these field borders thicken
up a bit, larger open fields often also could use some treatment
themselves. While a neatly mown fescue field may have a green
and vibrant appearance, it may actually end up being a nearly
sterile environment—a biological “desert.” Through the careful
use of herbicides, and possibly reseeding, these sites can be
transformed to more natural, healthy habitats of native grasses
and wildflowers that may only need to be maintained every couple
years instead of several times a year. Not only will wildlife
appreciate and enjoy it, so will your bank account. Land clearing
and frequent mowing can result in expensive equipment purchases,
labor expenses, and fuel costs, giving those afflicted with
RMS reason to evaluate their symptoms and consider remedial
measures.
For more information, visit www.fw.ky.gov and search for
your county’s private lands biologist. You can fight RMS, free up
more time and money to spend with the grandkids or other pursuits,
and help restore wildlife on your property, all with the same
cure.
Habitat Improvement Checklist
“Spring Checklist”
by KDFWR
___ Prescribe burn in preparation to eradicate fescue
___ Strip disk to promote bare ground & new forb growth
___ Sow Clover or lespedeza
___ Sow cool season grasses
___ Apply lime & fertilizer per soil test to wildlife food plots
April-May
___ Begin preparation of dove fields
___ Plant tree & shrub seedlings
___ Spray herbicide to eradicate fescue
___ Conduct timber stand improvement & Create brush piles
___ Establish wildlife mineral licks
May-June
___ Plant annual grain food plots/dove fields
(Do not plant in same location as last year)
___ Sow warm season grasses & wildflowers
___ Hinge-cut cedar trees for living brush piles
[For more info, call KDFWR (800) 858-1549]