Across the Great Plains and Texas rangelands, woody plant encroachment continues to challenge grassland health and productivity. A brand new study from Trejo-Perez et al. (2025) offers important insight into why some rangeland reseeding efforts fall short and what it really takes to keep trees and shrubs from taking over.
Researchers tested whether restoration seed mixtures could slow the establishment of undesirable woody species in recently cleared rights-of-way. The results were surprising! The herbaceous seed mixes did not establish well, and had little impact on reducing woody seedling establishment. Even when a mix contained multiple native grasses and forbs, dry conditions and soil variability limited success. In short, simply reseeding wasn’t enough to limit woody seedling establishment and growth.
The study found that there is no single “silver bullet” that can inhibit all woody invaders. Instead, woody resistance depends on a complex web of interactions among plants, soils, and environmental conditions that change over time. During the first year of the experiment, phylogenetic diversity, the variety of plant traits and evolutionary lineages within the community, played the biggest role in shaping outcomes. Diverse communities were initially better at suppressing woody seedlings. But by the second year, soil properties became the stronger influence, with factors like nutrient availability, temperature, organic matter, and pH determining which species thrived and established first.
These shifting patterns show that reseeding success depends on more than the seed mix itself. Site-specific conditions, weather, and the natural seed and bud bank all interact to determine which plants take hold. Dry spring conditions in the first two growing seasons, for instance, dramatically reduced germination of the reseeded species, allowing opportunistic plants from the soil bud bank to dominate instead.
The practical takeaway: to effectively prevent unwanted tree growth, rangeland managers must use diverse seed mixtures and adapt strategies to site-specific soils and vegetation conditions, monitoring and adjusting management as those conditions evolve.
Rather than relying on uniform seed mixes designed for ideal conditions, the study suggests prioritizing ecological versatility, selecting species capable of surviving a range of soil types, moisture levels, and climates. Species that can handle drought, poor soils, and temperature extremes are more likely to establish successfully and rapidly begin competing with woody seedlings.
In other words, successful reseeding projects require flexibility. What works in one pasture or pipeline corridor may fail in another, depending on rainfall, soil chemistry, and existing vegetation. Continuous monitoring and adaptive management are essential to long-term success.
For Texas landowners and rangeland managers, these results echo what we see across West Texas, native grass reseeding and woody plant control both require patience, diversity, and attention to soil health. Preventing honey mesquite seedling establishment isn’t about finding one perfect mix, it’s about building resilient plant communities that can persist through changing conditions and keep woody invaders at bay.
We’re continuing to explore these questions through on-the-ground demonstrations and outreach with local partners. By connecting science to practice, we aim to equip landowners with strategies that make a lasting impact, protecting soil, restoring native vegetation, and sustaining productive rangelands for generations to come.
For more information and the full study – Undesirable Woody Establishment is driven by Herbaceous Cover Phylogenetics and Abiotic Conditions