Conversion of brome grass ditch/right-of-way to Big Bluestem - Ask Extension
I am in need of a resource that has extensive experience in transitioning areas from brome grass to full Big Bluestem native prairie. Specifically, I...
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Conversion of brome grass ditch/right-of-way to Big Bluestem #925128
Asked February 26, 2026, 10:51 PM EST
I am in need of a resource that has extensive experience in transitioning areas from brome grass to full Big Bluestem native prairie. Specifically, I need to get more information on site preparation: I know everything needs to be killed before seeding; for bromegrass, I need to know if one pass of glyphosate in the spring is effective, two in the spring, or if I need to do one late summer and the second the following spring. Please--no theoretical speculation, I have received plenty of those, I need someone that has done this several times with solid experience. Thank you!
Scott County Minnesota
Expert Response
Sorry, I doubt that you will find anyone with several times experience converting brome grass to native prairie.
For removing brome grass, these web pages should be helpful.
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/turfgrass/blog/smooth-and-downy-brome-identification-and-control
https://eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu/article/annual-weedy-brome-control-in-hayfields-and-pastures-661-4
https://conservationtoolbox.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Smooth-Brome-Management.pdf
For Big Bluestem culture.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/andropogon_gerardii.shtml
https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_ange.pdf
https://www.bluestemecotype.k-state.edu/bluestemecotype/Big_Bluestem_Ecotype_Project.html
For removing brome grass, these web pages should be helpful.
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/turfgrass/blog/smooth-and-downy-brome-identification-and-control
https://eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu/article/annual-weedy-brome-control-in-hayfields-and-pastures-661-4
https://conservationtoolbox.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Smooth-Brome-Management.pdf
For Big Bluestem culture.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/andropogon_gerardii.shtml
https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_ange.pdf
https://www.bluestemecotype.k-state.edu/bluestemecotype/Big_Bluestem_Ecotype_Project.html
