G RASSLANDS
AND
H AYFIELD
In terms of acreage the combined hayfields and grasslands total 199 acres – nearly half of Rokeby’s 440 acres. Each totals about 100 acres. Some of this acreage could/does include scattered trees and/or clusters so as to break up the visual landscape and add structure. The hayfields will likely need no modification as they are production hayfields currently. The grasslands can be converted unit by unit to native warm season grasses and flowers (NWSG). Converting 100 acres will take time. The priority areas would likely be the areas close to Rokeby infrastructure, with the more distant areas occurring later. Although grasslands and savanna occurred in the Piedmont in presettlement times, there is no agreement regarding their composition. The lack of a clear community analog is both challenging and freeing. There are no clear answers and the best approach is to learn from others locally and proceed in small steps. Oak Spring is free to experiment. The Oak Spring volume details widely recognized steps needed to transform a fescue grassland into a native warm season grassland. Those details will not be covered here. In general, conversion involves killing existing vegetation, extinguishing the seed bank, then planting appropriately, being patient, mowing weeds, and being patient.
Generally, the areas at Rokeby proposed for grassland and hayfield are considered prime cropland, prime pasture, or secondary cropland. Depth to water is generally over 40 inches, however, a few drainages are 20 to 40 inches. (Bear in mind the soil survey was done during one of the wettest years on record in 2018.) Soils in these areas are rated as nonhydric, however, a few low drainages contain hydric inclusions. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches in almost all locations, except is 40 – 60 inches in portions of zone 2. The map that follows divides the proposed grassland areas into five zones. Each zone could be done entirely in one season, or the larger zones could be further divided. The priorities are in numeric order; zone one is first priority, zone five is last. These are based on the zone’s size and visibility to people at Rokeby (i.e. proximity to infrastructure). The species mix should be modified for each zone (or subzone if they are further divided). Areas closer to the human interface may tend more heavily toward flowers (zone 3 and 4) while areas father from people may be more grass dominated (zone 5). This also allows Oak Spring to observe what species are most successful such that management can adapt as additional areas are planted.
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