BURNING!
Burning is a way of maintaining your prairie.  The benefits of controlled burning include:
  • weed and tree sapling control
  • clean up of dead vegetation from previous year's growth
  • Fire is necessary for some of the annual wildflowers to bloom.
  • Warms ground soil and may increase growth.

Warning!!!
The term controlled burn  means exactly what it sounds like.  Controlled burns can be very dangerous to people and property if you do not know what you are doing.  Also keep in mind that it is also not recommended to burn near evergreen  trees or other plants in the landscape that are extremely flammable.  However there are some Oaks and other native trees that can resist fire.  If controlled burning is not an option, There is an alternative for burning.

Tips to Remember When Burning
  • Contact your local fire department and find out about any regulations or burn permits you may need.
  • Always conduct controlled burns during mid evening.  There are 3 reasons for this: Lower air temperature, less wind, and higher humidity (Diboll, 17). 
  • Never burn an area that is too big for you to handle.
  • Always back burn  and make sure to implement fire lines.
The following are some links that will advise you further on the art of Controlled Burns.  It is recommended that you read over these web sites and take notes.

Theory Behind Controlled Burns
As stated above, controlled burns are important for weed control and flowering of some annuals.  Burning back the weeds at this stage sets them  back and allows the grasses and wild flowers to grow.  It has been recommended that the best time to burn  is in mid spring when the buds of Acer saccharum (sugar maple) first break (Diboll 17).  The timing is vital because the the burn has to take place before the wildflowers and grasses grow over 12 inches.  If the burn takes place after this, some of the plants may be harmed.  For more explanation go to Prairie Nursery "Long Term Management"

Fire Breaks
The use of fire breaks (fire lines) when conducting controlled burns is necessary when burning near residential/commercial zones.  Fire breaks can be a strip of turf grass, paved roads, a tilled strip of field, or a water filled ditch. 

Back Burning
This is the technique of controlled burning that should be used when  maintaining your prairie.  Back burning means burning against the wind.  Wind gives fire more oxygen which enables it to burn much more rapidly, wind almost always dictates the fire's direction of movement.  Back burning keeps the wind from accelerating the flames to uncontrollable levels.  At the same time all potential fuel behind the flame front has been spent, so there isn't any potential for the fire to  spread in the direction of the prevailing wind.   Note: If you want the fire to burn more slowly, mow the area first.
 

Mowing
An alternative to burning is to mow the grass close to the ground and then rake off the material. You should mow at about the same time you would burn.  Make sure not to mow after your prairie reaches a height of one foot.

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