By Kevin Scheiwiller

Goals of Project:
- Find a technique that can be used to sustainably rebuild streamside marsh, sedge meadow, and seeps in areas formerly dominated by wetland invasives through small trial areas (<1 acre)
- If trial plots appear effective, then use this technique on a larger scale (≥ 3 acres) to reclaim wetlands lost to Reed Canary Grass, Cattails, and Phragmites
Measures of success:
Success is defined as the elimination or heavy reduction (>95%) of wetland invasives, with establishment of a diverse matrix of native sedge meadow species.
Technique:
Areas with heavy infestations are herbicided using a 3% glyphosate mixture in the Fall (September through November) of the year prior to planting. Project area is burned in the dormant season after initial herbicide application to remove thatch and flush seed bank. Area is then sprayed a second time with the same mixture in April.
After site prep, areas are planted during volunteer workdays using the 10 warrior sedges (List Below) based on the perceived moisture gradient of the site. Each plug is planted on 2-3 foot centers, tighter if budget allows.
In the Fall (November) areas are then seeded with custom “Sedge Meadow” and “Marsh” seed mixes. All mixes purposely keep native grass species out. This allows for the follow up of the site with a grass specific herbicide.
Two to Five years after original planting, project areas are spot treated for remerging wetland invasives. Reed Canary Grass is sprayed with a 1% Clethodim Solution during Mid-April through May. As no native grasses are present, this allows for quick application with fairly effective results (see GRN post about Clethodim vs. Glyphosate). Cattail and Phragmites are hand wicked in July and August using a 20% Glyphosate solution.
Project Area:
Plantings over the last 5 years are found on the following map and table. 2017-2020 are considered smaller trial plots. 2021 is considered a larger planting as outline in the Goals section.

Planting | Size of Area (ac) | Approx. plugs installed* | Overseeded in: | Approx. total amount of seed since planting (lbs)** |
2017 | 0.35 | – | 2018, 2019, 2020 | 28.75 |
2018 | 0.18 | 2,166 | 2018, 2019, 2020 | 28.75 |
2019 | 0.38 | 1,900 | 2019, 2020, 2021 | 19.15 |
2020 | 0.43 | 2,166 | 2020, 2021 | 21.41 |
2021 | 3.38 | 11,096 | 2021 | 92.78 |
and volunteer propagated added to areas as well
**seed weights include some amount of chaff, not PLS
Topics to be covered during Grassland Restoration Network Workshop
- Visiting each “stage” of a planting from newly planted to 5+ years establishment
- Successes and challenges presented by each planting area
- Evaluation of the technique and discussion on the practicality of using it on a large scale
- Future uses, Erosion Control, and use on incised creeks


Warrior Sedges
- Wettest
- Carex lacustris
- Carex aquatilis
- Carex utriculate
- Carex stricta
- Intermediate
- Carex sartwellii
- Carex trichocarpa
- Carex atherodes
- Carex emoryi
- Driest of the wet
- Carex buxbaumii
Carex pellita
Seed Mixes Used in 2021, most other years feature a similar mix
Sedge Meadow
Anemone canadensis | Meadow Anemone |
Angelica atropurpurea | Great Angelica |
Arnoglossum plantagineum | Prairie Indian Plantain |
Asclepias incarnata | Swamp Milkweed |
Calamagrostis canadensis | Blue Joint Grass |
Carex “Wetland” | Misc. Wetland Sedges |
Carex hystericina | Porcupine Sedge |
Carex vulpinoidea | Brown Fox Sedge |
Chelone glabara | White Turtlehead |
Eupatorium perfoliatum | Common Boneset |
Euthamia graminifolia | Smooth Grass-Leaved Goldenrod |
Eutrochium maculatum | Spotted Joe Pye Weed |
Hasteola suaveolens | Sweet Indian Plantain |
Helianthus occidentalis | Western Sunflower |
Hypericum ascyron | Great St. John’s Wort |
Liatris spicata | Marsh Blazing Star |
Lobelia cardinalis | Cardinal Flower |
Lobelia siphilitica | Great Blue Lobelia |
Lycopus americanus | Common Water Horehound |
Lysimachia quadriflora | Narrow-Leaved Loosestrife |
Lythrum alatum | Winged Loosestrife |
Oligoneuron riddellii | Riddell’s Goldenrod |
Pedicularis lanceolata | Fen Betony |
Pycnanthemum pilosum | Hairy Mountain Mint |
Pycnanthemum virginianum | Common Mountain Mint |
Rumex orbiculatus | Great Water Dock |
Rumex verticillatus | Riverbank Dock |
Schoenoplectus pungens | Chairmakers Rush |
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Great Bulrush |
Scirpus atrovirens | Dark Green Bulrush |
Scirpus cyperinus | Wool Grass |
Scutellaria lateriflora | Mad-Dog Skullcap |
Spartina pectinata | Prairie Cord Grass |
Symphyotrichum puniceum | Bristly Aster |
Teucrium canadense | Germander |
Thalictrum dasycarpum | Purple Meadow Rue |
Verbena hastata | Blue Vervain |
Vernonia fasciculata | Common Ironweed |
Marsh
Acorus americanus | Sweet Flag |
Alisma subcordatum | Common Water Plantain |
Bidens cernua | Nodding Bur Marigold |
Bidens trichosperma | Tall Swamp Marigold |
Boehmeria cylindrica | Swamp False Nettle |
Juncus effusus | Soft Rush |
Mentha canadensis | Wild Mint |
Persicaria hydropiperoides | Mild Water Pepper |
Sagittaria latifolia | Common Arrowhead |
Scirpus microcarpus | Reddish Bulrush |
Scutellaria galericulata | Marsh Skullcap |
Sium suave | Water Parsnip |
Solidago patula | Swamp Goldenrod |