Texas Resilient Landscapes Initiative: A guide

Prepare the site for planting by shredding or mulching competing vegetation and standing woody debris. Site preparation through shredding or mulching must be completed in conjunction with a tree planting practice (listed below). The following specifications are required to meet the full reimbursement rate.

Timing

Work may be completed up to six months prior to planting.

Mulching, shredding specifications

Work must be completed at a sufficient intensity to remove competing or invasive vegetation, reduce wildfire risk, and enable access for planting. No more than 25% of the project area may be left untreated.

Shredding height

Shredding must be completed at a height of 2-4 inches.

Leave trees

All live native trees greater than four inches DBH must be retained.

BMPs

All work must adhere to Texas Forestry Best Management Practices.

Inspection

All work must be inspected prior to final reimbursement.

Prepare the site for planting by prescribed burning to remove competing vegetation and standing woody debris. Site preparation through prescribed burning must be completed in conjunction with a tree planting practice (listed below). The following specifications are required to meet the full reimbursement rate.

Participants will work with a licensed Texas Department of Agricultural Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager (CIPBM). CIPBMs will notify Texas A&M Forest Service at least 24 hours prior to the prescribed burn ignition.

Contracts should email rxburns@tfs.tamu.edu and water@tfs.tamu.edu with notification. This notification does not represent: an approval by the agency of the safety of the project, any review of environmental conditions, or liability for the burn manager’s decision to conduct the prescribed burn.

All work must adhere to Texas Forestry Best Management Practices.

CIPBMs will notify Texas A&M Forest Service immediately after the prescribed burn and provide the number of acres that were treated. CIPBMs will bill the landowner. Agency personnel will conduct a post-burn inspection to verify the treatment acreage.

Establish native trees adapted to future conditions through direct seeding when planting is not practical or feasible. The following specifications are required to meet the full reimbursement rate.

Timing

Seedlings should be planted between October and April.

Seeds

Seeds must be collected while ripe and appropriately stored to prevent drying or mold formation.

Seeding rate

Seeding must be conducted at a rate that supports a minimum germination of 600 trees per acre.

Ground contact

Seeds must be distributed in away that ensures contact with bare mineral soil.

Special treatment

Any seeds that require special treatment such as scarification prior to germination will be treated.

Inspection

All work must be inspected prior to final reimbursement.

Establish a riparian forest buffer using cuttings of regionally appropriate species such as cottonwoods and willows.

Timing

Cuttings should be planted during dormancy, between October and April.

Trees per acre

Stakes should be planted at a minimum rate of 200 cuttings per acre.

BMPs

All work must adhere to Texas Forestry Best Management Practices.

Inspection

All work must be inspected prior to final reimbursement.

Plant bareroot or containerized seedlings native and well adapted to the planting site. The following specifications are required to meet the full reimbursement rate.

Trees per acre

Seedlings should be planted at a minimum rate of 200 seedlings per acre. Information, including planting rate, for hardwood tree establishement, pine tree establishment, and longleaf tree establishment.

Timing

Seedlings should be planted during dormancy, between the months of October and April.

BMPs

All work must adhere to Texas Forestry Best Management Practices.

Inspection

All work must be inspected prior to final reimbursement.

Protect planted seedlings with temporary browse protection sufficient to provide 3 years of protection from the primary identified animal threat. Installing temporary browse protection must be completed in conjunction with a tree planting practice (listed above). Examples of temporary browse protection includes tree shelters and tree cages that prevent animal damage. The following specifications are required to meet the full reimbursement rate.

Timing

Structures must be installed within 2 weeks of planting.

Type

Type of browse protection must be sufficient to protect the entire seedling or live stake from predominant animal threat for a minimum of three years.

Inspection

All work must be inspected prior to final reimbursement.