Burning Prairie

We were able to burn our no mow areas where we have prairie grass today.  This is the right side of 4 fairway.  The burning rejuvenates the prairie by removing excess leaf litter and duff allowing more plants to flower, produce seed and grow taller.  It also increases available nutrients through indirect stimulation of microbial activity in the soil and releasing nutrients from the ash.  Burning exposes the darkened soil and allows sunlight to warm the soil quicker and extend the growing season for warm season native plants.  The fire also suppresses many weeds and non native invasive cool season grass.  Below is some pictures of the burn.

 Before

 Before

 Karen lighting it up

 Rob is spreading fire

 Now we are cooking

 It was a perfect day very little wind

 Finishing up. That is some very intense heat.