This publication provides basic technical support for new and existing Iowa county roadside programs. This manual is also intended to provide guidance to policymakers and engineers interested in adopting or expanding integrated roadside vegetation management in county rights-of-way.
Seeding
Establishment of Wildflower Islands to Enhance Roadside Health, Ecological Value, and Aesthetics: Phase II
This report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln determines the seeding and mowing practices that effectively improve the health and variety of roadside plants in Nebraska.
Promoting Native Roadside Plant Communities and Ensuring Successful Vegetation Establishment Practices
This study by the Virginia Transportation Research Council reviews the effectiveness Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)’s roadside vegetation establishment practices and provides recommendations on how to explore opportunities to improve understanding of procedural policy and implement procedural improvements, including revision of VDOT’s Roadside Development Sheets and testing native plants for suitability for placement alongside Virginia’s roads.
Organic Site Preparation for Wildflower Establishment
These guidelines from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation provide step-by-step instructions, helpful suggestions, and regional timelines & checklists for preparing both small and large sites for wildflower establishment.
Organic Site Preparation Methods: A Comparative Overview provides a brief overview of these site preparation methods and is intended to help you quickly assess the suitability of each method for a given site.
Click here to see the full list of region-and state-specific Habitat Installation Guides.
A Series of Guiding Webinars on Habitat Implementation: Seeding Native Habitat on ROW – April 18, 2019
This webinar provides an overview of seeding native habitat on rights-of-way. Key topics include: fundamentals of seed mix design; native seed sourcing and supply; site assessment and preparation; different techniques for field implementation; and considerations for subsequent maintenance and management.
Native Seed Network
This website provides search tools and information on all aspects of native seed. It includes a database for searching the availability of native seeds to purchase from seed vendors. Also includes a vendor search.
Xerces Seed Mix Calculator
Develop a custom region-specific conservation seed mix for pollinator and beneficial insect habitat using this seed rate calculator in combination with the Xerces Pollinator Habitat Installation Guide and the Xerces Pollinator Plant List applicable to your region.
Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) for INDOT Roadsides
This study performed by the Joint Transportation Research Program at Purdue University in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration evaluated three IVM tools: herbicide, mowing, and native species. The effectiveness and costs of each are compared.