Managing Invasives & Landscape Restoration

Buffelgrass specifically poses a huge risk as it is drought tolerant and re-sprouts particularly fast after fires. Buffelgrass has altered the natural fire regime of the Sonoran Desert, which would naturally be a more fire-resistant ecosystem. Invasion of this grass has fueled increasingly larger and more devastating fires around Tucson which has caused losses of both native plants and animals.  

Buffelgrass management in your home is a great way to contribute to the wellbeing of not only your neighborhood, but the park and surrounding areas. Keep an eye out for invasive plants around your yard and along roadsides in town, inform your neighbors/friends/family if you recognize these species in their areas as well.  

Stinknet, previously known as globe chamomile, is an invasive annual weed that is steadily spreading to Tucson from Maricopa County. This plant grows in a variety of habitats and poses severe threats to native plants and human health. Stinknet, when dry, is an extreme fire hazard in the summer months, and when it burns, it produces a caustic smoke that can cause respiratory reactions. It is also known to cause allergic reactions when touched with bare skin. Not only is it an issue for human health, it also rapidly takes over Sonoran Desert plant habitat, carpeting the desert and choking out our diverse native wildflowers.  

What to do: Learn to identify the leaves so you can remove it before it flowers.  

If you do find flowering stinknet in your yard, pull it be hand or use a trowel to dig it out. Take care to bag the entire plant after so the seeds do not spread. A single small plant can contain thousands of seeds each and will spread easily once they begin to dry out.  

Clean boots and tools if you have been hiking or working in an area where stinknet is present.  

Fountaingrass is a large bunch grass that has been widely used in landscaping as an ornamental plant since 1940. It has escaped people’s yards and is now spread over the Sonoran Desert, including at Saguaro National Park. In riparian areas, fountaingrass poses a large fire risk as it provides a high fuel load and will readily resprout after burning. The grass will form large patches and outcompete native plants for space and water.  

What to do: The best way to deal with fountaingrass in your yard or neighborhood is to dig the plant out, making sure to include the roots and the seed heads. You may need to revisit the same area for a few years to manage the seedlings that may sprout.  

Find alternatives for ornamental grasses in landscaping. Use native grasses such as Deergrass or find other attractive plants like succulents or cacti.