Joe's Burn

Kress Farm Garden Preserve

On Thursday, March 27th, 2025 we conducted a burn on the restored prairie at Kress Farm Garden Preserve. Prescribed burning is a management tool used on prairie sites. Fire was used here for three primary purposes:

  1. To suppress or kill those species that are not native to the prairie;
  2. To reduce accumulated plant litter.
  3. To improve soil health by recycling nutrients from charred plants.

In addition to SFM-PBA, we had plenty of help to conduct the burn. Several other groups also helped including the Hillsboro Lions Club, Missouri Master Naturalists, a few members of the Middle Mississippi Prescribed Burn Association and many Kress Farm Members.

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Disced Fire Line

The weather cooperated and was in prescription. A fire line was established around the field - a 6-foot-wide disced area between the field and tree line. Water and blowers were positioned at six stations around the perimeter. The fires were started on the north end of the field with Buddy, Jeff, Byron and Russell manning the torches. Everyone else managed the fire line with rakes, shovels, and tampers. There were no spill overs and no spot fires. All six acres were burned as planned.

What we would do differently:

  • Clearly identify crews and responsibilities
  • Have paper maps available for crews
  • Pay closer attention to humidity levels and adjust burn accordingly
  • Have field markers to identify start/hold/stop points
  • Winds were a little too light at times
  • Schedule next burn earlier in season (late fall/early winter)

What we discovered:

Unwanted patches of Johnson Grass, Sericea Lespedeza, and Fescue on the north fringes of the prairie were starting to infiltrate. We’ll need to spot treat those areas to keep them under control.

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After the burn

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July flower bloom after the burn

Location: Kress Farm Garden Preserve, 5137 Glade Chapel Rd, Hillsboro, MO 63050, USA

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