Section 1: Overview
Background
The Texas Department of Transportation has received national
recognition for its roadside wildflower program. Since 1929, the
department has maintained the practice of withholding mowing until
wildflowers have set mature seed and expanding the range of wildflower
species.
In addition to beautifying the right of way, wildflowers –
along with native and introduced grasses and legumes – contribute
to the overall health of the plant community by providing specific
soil nutrients. Preservation and propagation of these plants continues
to be an important part of the department’s vegetation management
strategy.
Planting roadsides with mixtures of native and introduced
grasses, legumes and wildflowers adheres to the department’s policy
of:
- providing a safe and comfortable road network for the traveling public
- enhancing environmental protection and developing over 800,000 acres of roadside wildlife habitat
- reducing erosion losses of topsoil and borrow material
- providing cost-efficient maintenance activities.
Benefits
The use of wildflowers with a specific grass mixture for a
localized area (
Standard Specifications for Construction
and Maintenance of Highways, Streets and Bridges, Item
)
will:- help blend highway right of way into adjacent lands
- reduce maintenance costs
- reduce erosion rates
- improve aesthetic beauty
- add to the value of roadsides as wildlife habitat.
General Nature of Information
The information contained in this chapter is very general
and may not apply to all species. Additional research may be necessary
to obtain information on specific species.