Industrial Vegetation Management

Fire Prevention Next Year Starts With Fall Application

Fall Fire Prevention Guide

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Wildfires have become a yearly occurrence for much of the western United States. As the number and costs of wildfires continue to increase, it’s even more crucial we proactively manage industrial sites like roads, power line rights-of-way (ROW) and railroads to reduce the risk of wildfire. There are several nonnative invasive annual grasses dominating western landscapes and leading to a continuous cycle of seed production and germination. Plan ahead and work with your Envu rep to start reducing the seed bank of these annual grass species as well as broadleaf weeds like kochia, Russian thistle and marestail.

What to look for

Invasive annual grasses like cheatgrass, medusahead and ventenata germinate in the fall or winter and mature by late spring, annually replenishing the soil with another crop of seeds. They also provide fine fuel loading, enabling wildfires to carry across vast acres of our western forests and rangelands.

The Most Harmful Weeds


*Cheatgrass*	*Medusahead*	*Ventenata*

Though cheatgrass is known to be the most widespread, medusahead and ventenata also annually produce significant quantities of thatch, creating easily ignited fuels that carry wildfires.

The Importance of Roadside Vegetation

Roadsides are a critical part of the highway infrastructure. They improve safety by providing:

/// Clear sight lines
/// Unobstructed clear zones
/// Proper storm water drainage
/// Emergency parking egress

Vegetation management is also important as it provides:

/// Weed control
/// Reduced wildfire risks
/// Aesthetics
/// Water quality
/// Native species habitat
/// Quality of life and risk management

Best Practices and Solutions

Strands of undesirable roadside vegetation that have been allowed to establish can only be managed reactively, generally through mechanical means or postemergent weed control treatments. Considering a proactive approach with both preemergence and postemergence fall applications can reduce the risk of wildfires spreading from road shoulders to surrounding landscapes.

Application in late summer to early fall will help to prevent germination of annual weeds, reducing additional fine fuel loads and helping to prevent wildfires during fire season the following year.

// Method^® 240SL herbicide

Delivers broad-spectrum control and the flexibility to manage vegetation in roadway, railway, bareground or utility corridor settings.

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// Esplanade^® Sure herbicide

Manages difficult-to-control bareground weeds in sensitive sights with reduced risk to surrounding desirable vegetation.

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// Esplanade^® 200 SC

Applied in combination with other herbicides, this is an effective preemergence herbicide that controls over 75 species of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds, including species that have developed resistance to other herbicides.

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// Plainview^® SC

Provides long residual and broad-spectrum control of annual and perennial broadleaf weeds and grasses. Plainview SC is a single liquid product with three modes of action for resistance management.

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selective weeding roadside highway sunset

Envu brush solutions maintain power and lower risk by clearing brush from utility lines while enabling desirable vegetation and natural habitats along ROW.

Brush control of woody plant species within and along ROW areas is critical to maintain safe, reliable and accessible infrastructure for our nation’s roadsides and electrical, gas and water services.

Work with your Envu rep to assess your needs to develop best practices for fall application timing to help reduce the risk of wildfire the following season.