Buffelgrass Threatens Native Vegetation At Saguaro National Park

Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 - 1:45pm

Saguaro National Park officials said they’ll take advantage of the increased moisture in southern Arizona from recent monsoon storms to resume work to restore native vegetation.

Crews plan to apply herbicide on non-native buffelgrass, which competes with saguaro, palo verde trees and other plants that are native to the Sonoran Desert.

Officials said buffelgrass continues to spread in the park and poses a serious threat to biological conservation efforts. The state lists it as a noxious weed.

Park officials say the increased moisture makes this a good time to apply herbicide. The plan is to dye it blue and apply it along roads and in other areas during the next several months.

Ground crews will do most of the spraying, but helicopters will be used to treat buffelgrass in steep, remote areas.