Native Plants for Roadside Revegetation: Field Evaluations and Best Practices Identification

Establishing native vegetation communities on roadsides can be a proactive approach to sustainable roadways. Revegetation with native species is the preferred management practice on Idaho roadways. The environmental and economic benefits of increasing desirable vegetation along Idaho roadways include: improving slope stabilization, soil conservation, roadway safety while reducing erosion, roadside maintenance costs and noxious weeds in right-of-ways. Selecting appropriate plant species for revegetation is the foundation for successful roadside revegetation. This report provides practical information for improving roadway revegetation in Idaho. The overall objective was to monitor vegetation and soil attributes to determine effective means for establishing perennial native vegetation, reducing surface erosion, and preventing weed encroachment. The results provide guidance and recommendations on species selection, seeding methods and site preparation techniques. Bluebunch wheatgrass and Idaho fescue were the best performing grasses. Grass species that consistently establish where seeded but have a low canopy cover include sheep fescue, western wheatgrass, and basin wildrye. Forbs and shrub species had low establishment success rates and low percent canopy cover on roadside revegetation projects. If forbs are desired, it is recommended to use species that are known to establish well, are relatively inexpensive, and tolerant of the herbicides being applied to control weeds