Exotic Grass Competition in Suppressing Native Shrubland Re-establishment

Disturbance of coastal sage scrub in southern California has led to extensive displacement of native shrubs by exotic annual grasses. The initial conversion from shrubland to exotic grassland is typically associated with disturbance caused by intense grazing, high fire frequency, or mechanical vegetation removal. While native shrubs have been shown to recolonize annual grasslands under some conditions, other annual grasslands are persistent and show no evidence of shrub recolonization. This study examined the mechanisms by which annual grasses may exclude native shrubs and persist after release from disturbance. Grass density was manipulated in experimental plots to achieve a series of prescribed densities. Artemisia californica, a dominant native shrub, was seeded or planted into the plots and responses to the grass density treatments were measured over two growing seasons. A. californica germination, first season growth, and survival were all negatively related to the density of neighboring annual grasses. The most probable mechanism underlying the reduction of first season growth and survival was depletion of soil water by the grasses. The effects of the grasses on A. californica were no longer significant in the second season. The results of this study indicate that Mediterranean annual grasses reduce recruitment and can persist by inhibiting post-disturbance establishment of A. californica from seed. Although succession alone may not return disturbed annual grasslands to their former shrubland composition, the results suggest that restoration can be achieved by using container plantings or grass removal followed by seeding.     

Legacy microsite effect on the survival of bitterbrush outplantings after prescribed fire: capitalizing on spatial variability to improve restoration

Restoration of shrubs in arid and semi‐arid rangelands is hampered by low success rates. Planting shrub seedlings is a method used to improve success in these rangelands; however, it is expensive and labor intensive. The efficiency of shrub restoration could be improved by identifying microsites where shrub survival is greater. Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata Pursh DC) is an important shrub to wildlife that has declined because of conifer encroachment, excessive defoliation, wildfires, and low recruitment. We investigated planting bitterbrush seedlings in western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Hook) encroached shrublands after prescribed fire was used to control trees. Bitterbrush seedlings were planted in under (canopy) and between (interspace) former juniper canopies at five blocks and evaluated for three growing seasons. Bitterbrush survival was greater than 50% in the former canopy, but only 5% in the interspace microsite by the third growing season. Growth of bitterbrush was also greater in the former canopy compared with the interspace, potentially due to markedly less perennial vegetation in this microsite. Exotic annual grasses and annual forbs became prevalent in the former canopy in the second and third growing season, suggesting that soil resource availability was greater in this microsite. These results suggest that restoration success will vary by specific locations within a burned landscape and that this variability can be used to improve restoration efficiency. In this situation, bitterbrush restoration can be improved by planting seedlings in former canopy compared with interspace microsites.     

Restoration of a Native Shrubland Impacted by Exotic Grasses, Frequent Fire, and Nitrogen Deposition in Southern California

Natural ecosystems globally are often subject to multiple human disturbances that are difficult to restore. A restoration experiment was done in an urban fragment of native coastal sage scrub vegetation in Riverside, California that has been subject to frequent fire, high anthropogenic nitrogen deposition, and invasion by Mediterranean annual weeds. Hand cultivation and grass‐specific herbicide were both successful in controlling exotic annual grasses and promoting establishment of seeded coastal sage scrub vegetation. There was no native seedbank left at this site after some 30 years of conversion to annual grassland, and the only native plants that germinated were the seeded shrubs, with the exception of one native summer annual. The city green‐waste mulch used in this study (C:N of 39:1) caused short‐term N immobilization but did not result in decreased grass density or increased native shrub establishment. Seeding native shrubs was successful in a wet year in this Mediterranean‐type climate but was unsuccessful in a dry year. An accidental spring fire did not burn first‐year shrubs, although adjacent plots dominated by annual grass did burn. The shrubs continued to exclude exotic grasses into the second growing season, suggesting that successful shrub establishment may reduce the frequency of the fire return interval.     

Complex Effects of Prescribed Fire on Restoring the Soil Water Content in a High-Elevation Riparian Meadow, Arizona

One of the largest and rarest Bebb willow (Salix bebbiana) communities in the United States occurs at Hart Prairie, Arizona. Low recruitment of the willow over the past several decades has been linked to inadequate soil water content for seed germination and seedling establishment. We tested a hypothesis that a prescribed burn would reduce biomass of and evapotranspiration by herbaceous plants, thereby increasing soil water content. Three treatments (unburned control, early‐growing season burned, late‐growing season burned) were applied in year 2001 to replicated plots in fern‐ and grass‐dominated herbaceous communities. Soil water content (0–30 cm) was measured weekly in plots during the 2001, 2002, and 2003 growing seasons. Both early‐ and late‐season burning reduced herbaceous biomass in the fern‐dominated community in 2002 and 2003 and reduced biomass in the grass‐dominated community in 2002 but not in 2003. Soil water content increased for approximately four weeks in 2001 following the early‐season burn, but the early‐season and late‐season burns reduced soil water content in both communities over much of the 2002 and 2003 growing seasons. Thus, early‐season burning may benefit willow seed germination by increasing soil water content immediately following burning but be detrimental to germination in the second and third growing seasons after burning because of drier soil. Large temporal variation in the effect of prescribed burning on soil water content will complicate the use of fire as a restoration tool to manage soil water available for threatened plants such as Bebb willow and for recharge of groundwater.     

Managing contingency in semiarid grassland restoration through repeated planting

The success of grassland restoration in semiarid regions is contingent on good establishment years. Here it is asked whether success rate can be increased by planting repeatedly among years, or by consistently using high planting densities. I planted seeds of a dominant native perennial grass, Elymus lanceolatus, at five densities (range: 30–3000 seeds/m²) in each of 3 years. Elymus seedling emergence and cover increased significantly with planting density. Cover after three growing seasons was maximized (i.e. not significantly different from the greatest cover) at planting densities of 300–600 seeds/m². On the other hand, low germination in a dry warm year resulted in density having no effect on cover 3 years later. Two favorable planting years showed trajectories to native dominance after three growing seasons. In contrast, one unfavorable planting year showed a trajectory of non‐native dominance. Emergence was increased modestly by both herbivore and interspecific neighbor removal. Overall, the most economical process for ensuring success (assuming that seed costs are high and planting and site‐preparation costs are low) may be to plant at moderate density (300–600 seeds/m²) in repeated years until a favorable year is encountered.     

Restoration of California Native Grasses and Clovers: The Roles of Clipping,Broadleaf Herbicide,and Native Grass Density

One of the major challenges confronting grassland restoration of highly invaded communities is increasing the diversity of native species. There is surprisingly little research investigating how reconstructed native grasslands respond to common management techniques and how these techniques influence the relative establishment of both native grasses and forbs. Despite the diversity and wide distribution of native clovers in California, few practitioners incorporate them into grassland restoration plans. Conversely, non‐native clovers have been seeded extensively onto California rangelands. This study addresses the following questions: (1) Using readily available management tools, is there a strategy that can benefit the growth of both planted native bunchgrasses and seeded clovers? (2) Do native bunchgrasses compete with establishing clovers and non‐native grasses? (3) Do native and non‐native clovers differ in their response to management treatments or in their productivity? Plots were established to test three factors in different combinations over 3 years: (1) early spring clipping, (2) initial broadleaf herbicide, and (3) native bunchgrass planting density. Native and non‐native clovers were seeded in years 2 and 3. Early spring clipping did not have a significant effect on native bunchgrass cover, yet it did result in greater growth of native and non‐native clovers. The direction of the response to broadleaf herbicide changed between years for native bunchgrasses and was consistently negative for native clovers. Plots with higher native grass densities did not adversely affect the seeded clovers, yet non‐native grass cover was reduced. Native and non‐native clovers exhibited similar responses to clipping and established at similar densities.     

Facilitation and herbivory during restoration of California coastal sage scrub

Using nurse plants to facilitate native plant recruitment in degraded habitats is a common restoration practice across various arid and semiarid environments. Living trees or shrubs are typically considered nurse plants, whereas dead shrubs left in the landscape from prolonged drought are understudied prospective facilitators for native plant recruitment. The interaction between nurse plants and biotic pressures, such as herbivory, on native recruitment is also not well understood in semiarid plant communities. We investigated the effects of facilitation and herbivory on native seedling germination, growth, and survival in the restoration of degraded coastal sage scrub (CSS) habitat. Native shrub seedlings (Artemisia californica and Salvia mellifera) were planted, and native annual species (Amsinckia intermedia, Deinandra fasciculata, Phacelia distans, and Pseudognaphalium californicum) were sown in three Shrub Type treatments (live shrub, dead shrub, and exposed areas), with a nested Cage treatment (no cage and cage) in each Shrub Type treatment. Annual species grew equally well in all Shrub Type treatments; shrub seedlings grew largest in exposed areas. While there was little evidence of facilitation for all species tested, there were strong positive effects of caging on growth and establishment of all species. Caging palatable native species or planting species with anti‐herbivory traits around target plants may be more strategic approaches compared to using nurse plants in restoring degraded CSS after extended drought.     

Grazing and community structure as determinants of invasion success by Scotch broom in a New Zealand montane shrubland

Abstract. Scotch broom ( Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link; Fabaceae) is a problematic invasive plant in many countries, and while attention has been paid to traits that make it a successful invader, there has been less focus on the properties of ecosystems that it invades. We conducted an experiment in a New Zealand montane shrubland with tussock grasses that has been invaded by Scotch broom to determine features that rendered it susceptible to invasion. We planted broom seedlings into the shrubland (control) and into three treatments: (1) resident shrubs removed, (2) tussocks removed and (3) shrubs and tussocks removed. We measured broom seedling mortality and growth over two growing seasons. The site was grazed by sheep in the first season, and scarcely grazed in the second, wetter season. Survivorship across all treatments after 19 months was 42%, and was lowest where shrubs were retained but tussocks removed. Broom seedlings grew taller and had greater leaf areas in treatments that retained shrubs. Neighbouring (within 49 cm) shrubs had no effects on survivorship or growth of broom seedlings. Neighbouring tussocks increased survivorship of broom seedlings but depressed their growth. Grazing by sheep was the most important determinant of survivorship and growth of broom seedlings, and effects were uniform regardless of experimental treatments. Initial high mortality of seedlings (48% in the first 3 months) was due to grazing, and height growth was often negative during periods of grazing. In the second growing season when the site was less grazed and there was greater rainfall, there was a rapid increase in height across all treatments. Continued grazing of the site by sheep is likely to be the chief means of retarding the invasion.     

Native seeds incorporated into activated carbon pods applied concurrently with indaziflam: a new strategy for restoring annual‐invaded communities?

Reestablishing native perennial vegetation in annual grass‐invaded rangelands is critical to restoring ecosystems. Control of exotics, often achieved with preemergent herbicides, is essential for successful restoration of invaded rangelands. Unfortunately, desirable species cannot be seeded simultaneously with preemergent herbicide application due to nontarget damage. To avoid this, seeding is commonly delayed at least 1 year. Delaying seeding increases the likelihood that annual grasses will begin reestablishing and compete with seeded species. Activated carbon (AC) can provide preemergent herbicide protection for seeded species because it adsorbs and deactivates herbicides. Previous studies suggest that a cylindrical herbicide protection pod (HPP), containing AC and seeds, allows desired species to be seeded simultaneously with the application of the preemergent herbicide imazapic. Unfortunately, imazapic is only effective at controlling annual grasses for 1–2 years. Indaziflam is a new preemergent herbicide which exhibits longer soil activity, with which HPPs may be useful. To assess this possibility, we evaluated seeding two native species (Wyoming big sagebrush [Artemisia tridentata Nutt ssp. wyomingensis] and bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve]), both incorporated into HPPs and as bare seed, at four application rates of indaziflam in a grow room study. HPPs protected seeded species at low, mid, and high rates of indaziflam. The abundance and size of plants was greater in HPPs compared to bare seed treatments. These results suggest that HPPs can be used to seed native grasses and shrubs simultaneously with indaziflam application.     

Germination responses of the Rubia fruticosa Ait. seed dispersal system in different experimental seasons

In this paper, we present results on germination patterns of the seed dispersal system of an endemic Macaronesian plant (Rubia fruticosa). Seeds from this plant are mainly dispersed by endemic lizards and native warblers; therefore, we included three different treatments: control seeds, seeds extracted from lizards and seeds found in warbler droppings. Seeds from the same pool of every treatment were germinated in two different seasons, one in autumn, coinciding with the arrival of the first rains, and another in spring, coinciding with the arrival of the dry season. A clear differential pattern of germination success was observed between the two seasons. Seeds planted in autumn achieved a higher percentage of germination than those sown in spring in all treatments. The great robustness of these results seems to indicate that germination timing is strongly selected in R. fruticosa and this evolutionary trend probably extends to other vascular plants growing in xeric coastal environments of the Macaronesian islands.     

Invading Monotypic Stands of Phalaris arundinacea: A Test of Fire, Herbicide, and Woody and Herbaceous Native Plant Groups

Phalaris arundinacea L. is an aggressive species that can dominate wetlands by producing monotypic stands that suppress native vegetation. In this study invasion windows were created for native species in monotypic stands of P. arundinacea with either fire or herbicide. Three native species groups, herbaceous plants, herbaceous seeds, and woody shrubs, were planted into plots burned or treated with herbicide in the early spring. Fire did not create an effective invasion window for native species; there was no difference in P. arundinacea root and shoot biomass or cover between burned and control plots (p≥ 0.998). Herbicide treatment created an invasion window for native species by reducing P. arundinacea root and shoot biomass for two growing seasons, but that invasion window was fast closing by the end of the second growing season because P. arundinacea shoot biomass had nearly reached the shoot biomass levels in the control plots (p= 0.053). Transplant mortality, frost, and animal herbivory prevented the herbaceous species and woody seedlings from becoming fully established in the plots treated with herbicide during the first year of the experiment. Transplanted monocots had a greater survival than dicots. By the second growing season the herbaceous group had the greatest mean areal cover (5%), compared to the woody seedlings (3%) and seed group (0%). Long‐term monitoring of the plots will determine whether the herbaceous transplants will compete effectively with P. arundinacea and whether the woody species will survive, shade the P. arundinacea, and accelerate forest succession.     

Effects of moisture,nitrogen, grass competition and simulated browsing on the survival and growth of Acacia karroo seedlings

The effects of irrigation, nitrogen fertilization, grass competition and clipping were investigated for one growing season at the research farm of the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The aim of the experiment was to assess the short‐term performance of Acacia karroo seedlings under different environmental conditions and the implications of such factors on the long‐term recruitment of plant species in savanna rangelands. There were no significant treatment effects on the survival of A. karroo seedlings. Using stem length and basal diameter as growth parameters, it was observed that irrigation enhanced both variables, while nitrogen fertilization did not have any significant effects. Clipping, grass competition and their interaction greatly suppressed the growth of the seedlings. Clipping increased the mean stem length when they were irrigated and fertilized. Control and fertilized plants had the highest stem length in the absence of grass competition, while grass competition combined with clipping resulted in the lowest stem length in both irrigated and nonirrigated plants. It was concluded that in the presence of grass competition, controlled browsing could be a viable solution to the problem of bush encroachment in savanna rangelands.     

Control of Exotic Annual Grasses to Restore Native Forbs in Abandoned Agricultural Land

Exotic annual grasses are a major challenge to successful restoration in temperate and Mediterranean climates. Experiments to restore abandoned agricultural fields from exotic grassland to coastal sage scrub habitat were conducted over two years in southern California, U.S.A. Grass control methods were tested in 5 m² plots using soil and vegetation treatments seeded with a mix of natives. The treatments compared grass‐specific herbicide, mowing, and black plastic winter solarization with disking and a control. In year two, herbicide and mowing treatments were repeated on the first‐year plots, plus new control and solarization plots were added. Treatments were evaluated using percent cover, richness and biomass of native and exotic plants. Disking alone reduced exotic grasses, but solarization was the most effective control in both years even without soil sterilization, and produced the highest cover of natives. Native richness was greatest in solarization and herbicide plots. Herbicide application reduced exotics and increased natives more than disking or mowing, but produced higher exotic forb biomass than solarization in the second year. Mowing reduced grass biomass and cover in both years, but did not improve native establishment more than disking. Solarization was the most effective restoration method, but grass‐specific herbicide may be a valuable addition or alternative. Solarization using black plastic could improve restoration in regions with cool, wet summers or winter growing seasons by managing exotic seedbanks prior to seeding. While solarization may be impractical at very large scales, it will be useful for rapid establishment of annual assemblages on small scales.     

Clipping and irrigation enhance grass biomass and nutrients: Implications for rangeland management

Increasing frequency of drought and high herbivore pressure significantly affect individual grass functions in semiarid regions. Reseeding of degraded rangelands by native grass species has been recommended as a tool for restoration semiarid rangelands. However, how grass species used for reseeding respond to stressors has not been fully explored. We examined biomass allocation and nutrient contents of Cenchrus ciliaris and Chloris gayana in the semiarid Borana rangelands, Ethiopia. We tested clipped mature tufts of the same species for biomass allocation and nutritive values. Further, shifts in rainfall and herbivory were simulated by three irrigation and four clipping treatments, respectively, for newly established grasses in pot and field plot experiments. Aboveground biomass (AG_B) significantly declined by up to 75% under increased clipping in mature tufts. In contrast, clipping significantly stimulated up to 152% higher AG_B of newly established grasses. Lower irrigation reduced the AG_B by 24 and 42% in C. ciliaris and in C. gayana, respectively. Clipping, further, significantly enhanced grass nutrients in grass tufts by up to 82 and 105% in C. ciliaris and C. gayana, respectively. Hence, management should focus on balancing this trade-off in mature grasses for nutritious rangeland production by clipping and storing for later supplemental feeding when grass nutrients drop. Further, young pastures should be moderately clipped/grazed for better establishment and biomass allocation. Additionally, our experiments established the first interactive effect of clipping and irrigation frequencies on the biomass allocation of native grasses in the semiarid Borana rangelands, Ethiopia. Knowledge of these interacting factors is deemed essential for policy makers to enhance productivity of degraded rangelands such as the Borana rangelands.     

Short‐term vegetation recovery after alien plant clearing along the Rondegat River,South Africa

The outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects should be periodically monitored to inform subsequent adaptive management decisions. In 2012, a project was begun to remove both invasive alien plants and fish from the Rondegat River in South Africa. Although the initial post‐intervention dynamics of aquatic fauna have been documented, the results of the simultaneous clearing of dense riparian stands of alien trees and shrubs have not been reported. We examined native riparian vegetation recovery over 3 years after alien plant clearing. We documented increased cover of native riparian shrubs, but a simultaneous increase of alien and native weedy grass cover. Secondary invasions, especially by grasses, can have strong effects on ecosystem dynamics and achieving the goals of restoration may therefore require additional active management. Our findings provide an initial baseline reference for future monitoring and adaptive management decisions.     

Effects of Native Plant Species,Mycorrhizal Inoculum,and Mulch on Restoration of Reservoir Sediment Following Dam Removal,Elwha River,Olympic Peninsula,Washington

As dams across the country continue to age, successful restoration of dewatered reservoirs remains a critical factor in decisions regarding dam removal. Freshly exposed reservoir sediment may not support rapid reestablishment of native plant species due to poor fertility or absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi propagules. This field study evaluated treatment effects involving combinations of native plants, mycorrhizal inoculum, and mulch on restoration of dewatered reservoir sediment over 20 months. Most plants, even those uninoculated, became mycorrhizal. In all treatments, sediment pH decreased, as did nitrogen and organic matter, compared to original reservoir sediment, while aggregate stability doubled from original anaerobic sediment. Revegetated plots with mulch had significantly greater vegetation cover and more native volunteer species compared to plots without mulch. The planted mulch treatment also decreased plot runoff tenfold, reducing erosion to the same degree. Indicators suggest that the primary benefit of mulch resulted in increased moisture retention making the planted mulch treatment most successful for restoration of reservoir sediment due to extensive native plant growth, improved soil characteristics, and reduced runoff and erosion compared to nonmulched plots. While results from this plot‐scale study suggest commercial mycorrhizal inoculum is unnecessary since natural inoculum sources sufficiently colonized plants, reservoir‐scale restoration may require creation of additional source areas to encourage rapid reestablishment of native plants and mycorrhizal fungi.     

Non‐Native Grass Removal and Shade Increase Soil Moisture and Seedling Performance during Hawaiian Dry Forest Restoration

Invasive non‐native species can create especially problematic restoration barriers in subtropical and tropical dry forests. Native dry forests in Hawaii presently cover less than 10% of their original area. Many sites that historically supported dry forest are now completely dominated by non‐native species, particularly grasses. Within a grass‐dominated site in leeward Hawaii, we explored the mechanisms by which non‐native Pennisetum setaceum, African fountain grass, limits seedlings of native species. We planted 1,800 seedlings of five native trees, three native shrubs, and two native vines into a factorial field experiment to examine the effects of grass removal (bulldozed vs. clipped plus herbicide vs. control), shade (60% shade vs. full sun), and water (supplemental vs. ambient) on seedling survival, growth, and physiology. Both grass removal and shade independently increased survival and growth, as well as soil moisture. Seedling survival and relative growth rate were also significantly dependent on soil moisture. These results suggest that altering soil moisture may be one of the primary mechanisms by which grasses limit native seedlings. Grass removal increased foliar nitrogen content of seedlings, which resulted in an increase in leaf‐level photosynthesis and intrinsic water use efficiency. Thus in the absence of grasses, native species showed increased productivity and resource acquisition. We conclude that the combination of grass removal and shading may be an effective approach to the restoration of degraded tropical dry forests in Hawaii and other ecologically similar ecosystems.     

Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lam.) seedling emergence and establishment in a Colorado grassland

Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.) are damaging invaders of grasslands and other North American rangelands. A field study was conducted to determine conditions that promote diffuse knapweed (C. diffusa) emergence and establishment in a native Colorado grassland (North America). Knapweed was planted in native grassland under treatments with different opening sizes, levels of competition, knapweed seed burial and season of seeding. There was no effect of opening size where competing natives were alive, but knapweed emergence in 5- and 15-cm openings was higher than 0-cm openings where natives were killed. Reducing competition reduced fall diffuse knapweed emergence, but did not affect spring emergence. Seed burial increased knapweed emergence, but the effect varied by season. Although diffuse knapweed emergence reached 35%, only four plants survived from 3,600 seeds. This native grassland did not prevent knapweed emergence or establishment, but both were so low that rapid knapweed invasion is unlikely.     

The effects of heating,rhizosphere, and depth on root litter decomposition are mediated by soil moisture

The breakdown and decomposition of plant inputs are critical for nutrient cycling, soil development, and climate-ecosystem feedbacks, but uncertainties persist in how the rates and products of litter decomposition are affected by soil temperature, rhizosphere, and depth of input. We investigated the effects of soil warming (+ 4 °C), rhizosphere, and depth of litter placement on the decomposition of Avena fatua (wild oat grass) root litter in a Mediterranean grassland ecosystem. Field lysimeters were subjected to three environmental treatments (heating, control, and plant removal) and three ¹³C-labeled root litter addition treatments (to A horizon, to B horizon, and no-addition disturbance control) for each of two harvest time points. We buried root litter in February 2014 and measured loss of ¹³C in CO₂ from the soil surface and in leachate as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) over two growing seasons. At the end of each growing season we recovered the ¹³C remaining in the soil. Loss of root litter C occurred almost entirely via heterotrophic respiration, with an estimated < 2% lost as DOC during the initial decay period. The added roots were broken down and incorporated into bulk soil material very quickly; only ~ 30% of added root was visible after 6 months. In the first growing season, decomposition occurred faster in the B than in the A horizon, the latter having greater moisture limitation. Subsequently, there was almost no further decomposition in the B horizon. After two growing seasons, less than 20% of the added root litter C remained in the A or B horizons of all environmental treatments. Heating did not stimulate decomposition, likely because it exacerbated the moisture limitation. However, while plots without plants dried down more slowly than plots with plants, their decomposition rate was not significantly greater, possibly due to the lack of rhizosphere processes such as priming. We conclude that in this Mediterranean grassland ecosystem, soil moisture, which is affected by season, depth, heating, and rhizosphere, plays a dominant role in mediating the effect of those factors on root litter decomposition, which after two seasons did not differ by depth or by treatment.     

Using phenological niche separation to improve management in a Northern Glaciated Plains grassland

Many of the remaining patches of untilled (native) prairie in the Northern Glaciated Plains of North America are heavily invaded by the cool‐season grasses, Bromus inermis and Poa pratensis. However, the native vegetation in these patches contains many warm‐season species. This difference in phenology can be used to benefit restoration. We conducted an experiment to examine the efficacy of restoration treatments (mowing and prescribed fire) applied early in the growing season for consecutive years to decrease cool‐season invasive plant biomass without impacting the native warm‐season species. Our treatments were successful at significantly decreasing invasive cool‐season plant biomass and increasing native warm‐season plant biomass. No differences between treatments (mowing and prescribed fire) were found. Results suggest that incorporating differences in phenology between target and nontarget species into management may increase restoration success.