GSMNP Restoration of Native Grass Project

Good gardening lesson learned from National Park

 

Sevier County Master Gardener Leo Lubke

Reflects on benefits of and summarizes a Master Gardener project partnering

with Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

Often I am asked “What is a Master Gardener and what must I do to remain certified year-after-year?”  It is often difficult for me to “believe” that completing the annual requirements to remain with this international Master Gardener movement are so enjoyable and rewarding.

 

Initially, there is an extensive training course with mandatory attendance and a final written exam at the end of the training.  This is only the beginning of the training and additional extended/advanced training must be completed to take the Master Gardener to new levels and keep us up-to-date with new gardening trends, products and other horticultural issues.

 

Because the Extension Service invests in providing the training, facilities and programming, they require that Master Gardeners retain their certification by contributing “volunteer hours” back to the community.  This may take the form of teaching good gardening practices to local groups, serving on the Master Gardener Hotline, assisting with garden design in public areas or many, many other volunteer endeavors that are approved by the Extension staff.

 

Last winter I received a call from the University of Tennessee Extension Director asking if I would have an interest in participating in a native grass restoration project at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  There would be work transplanting native grass seedlings in the National Park greenhouse during the winter months, then the actual planting of the grasses in an area of the Park where they had grown over 100 years ago.  Exotic grasses had been introduced into the Park in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s and now these non-native grasses were out of control and making the continuation of the “natives” nearly impossible.

 

This Master Gardener volunteer opportunity hit on so many of my interest areas – working with greenhouse seedlings and restoring native plants to better the area’s ecosystem were at the top of my list.  Of most interest to me (and Linda) would be to return to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee.  In our early married life, I held the position of Park Naturalist with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  While we often return to the park to enjoy hiking trails in this 500,000 acre preserve, working “elbow-to-elbow” with Park specialists in the grass restoration project would be “the icing on the cake” – AND, I would receive volunteer hour credit in the Master Gardener program!

 

One of the most tranquil (and most visited!) areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cades Cove.  Probably the first humans that walked into this valley surrounded by magnificent mountains saw a savannah-type setting with grasses and a smattering of trees.  Records indicate that Cades Cove was settled in 1818 and as you drive, or bicycle, the 11-mile loop road, the landscape is filled with preserved pioneer log homes, barns, outbuildings, churches and even an operating grist mill.  This cove was very attractive to early settlers as there was an abundance of flat, fertile farmland.  Cattle thrived alongside deer, bear, rabbits, quail, and other wildlife.  Life was good in the cove.

 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was developed in the early 1930’s.  Cades Cove was a part of this new area administered by the Department of Interior.  After some debate, it was decided to strive to have Cades Cove retain the appearance of the historic agricultural area.  Fields were mowed, crops grown and the cattle allowed to graze in this pastoral setting.

 

In the 1950’s through the 1970’s, the Park Service followed Soil Conservation Service guidelines for ditching and draining wetlands AND making new plantings that would increase the amount of available farmland; farm productivity would be improved, as well.  A recommended plant was fescue (Festuca), a grass introduced from the Mediterranean region.

 

The tall fescue grew like “wildfire”, but had two major problems.  This exotic grass harbors a fungus that is harmful to horses, cattle, and some game animals.  Studies show that even the native rabbits reproduced at a much slower rate as they attempted to feed on fescue.  And, if that’s not enough of a problem, fescue has a matting growth habit.  This is not nearly as wildlife-friendly as the native, clump-forming grasses.  Further studies showed that the native animal populations were declining – they were getting “tripped up” as they were unsuccessful in escaping from their predators.

 

The Park has undertaken a very ambitious project to remove much of the fescue and reintroduce some of the area’s native grasses.  To create the needed wetlands conditions drainage ditches have now been filled and water now meanders across the meadows creating a true wetland.  Large plots of fescue have been burned and sprayed with herbicides to bring them under control.

 

Because the native grasses had been crowded out by the exotics, a second emphasis is to assist Mother Nature through seed starting and hand transplanting. 

 

Specific native plants that Master Gardeners have been involved with are Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius).

 

Unfortunately, the native grasses had all but disappeared and finding seeds for these plants was nearly impossible.  National Park staff was elated when they found an old field in the western part of the Cove that hadn’t been mowed for 30 years.  Not only were these “natives” not being threatened by fescue, the natives were producing an abundance of seeds. 

 

Native plant seeds were, and are being, collected and seedlings started in the Park Service greenhouse during the winter months.  In February or March the seedlings are “planted up” into plug-type growing trays.  They continue to bask in the warm Tennessee spring sun until May when they are transplanted back into their original environment in Cades Cove.

 

To date there are several acres that have been restored with Cades Cove native grasses.  Park officials estimate that there are about 600 acres of exotic grasses that need to be replaced with the native tall prairie grasses.  The project is ambitious and I think I’ll have many, many more hours of Master Gardener volunteer time.  Seed collecting in the fall is next!

 

I hope that you’ve found this native grass restoration project interesting.  More importantly I hope that you’ll realize two important lessons.

 

Be sure to consider the use of native plants in your yard and landscape.

 

By growing native plants you are providing a better and more attractive environment for native birds and animals who expect what “natives’ have to offer.

 

Native plants are adapted to our climate and usually use far less water than introduced species.  It’s a sensible choice to even select drought tolerant “natives” to save money (and time) on watering costs.

 

Native plants have often developed a defense mechanism to pests common in our area.  Usually there will be far less need for pesticide application.

 

Generally I find that native plants are more care-free than those introduced species.  I find that I have more time to enjoy my garden because I do not have to spend as much time pruning, fertilizing and/or dividing.

 

The second message that I hope you receive is for you to offer to volunteer in non-profit or public areas or agencies in your area.  You do not have to be a Master Gardener to offer to help make a better community.

 

Leo Lubke is a Sevier County Master Gardener with the University of Tennessee Extension.  He is a Sevier County (TN) resident and a member of the Garden Writers Association.