CRAWFORD COUNTY, KS
  • Home
    • American Rescue Plan Act
  • Gov
    • County Commissioners >
      • livestream
      • Video Recordings >
        • Video Archive
      • Agenda & Minutes
      • Motions of the Board
      • District 1
      • District 2
      • District 3
      • District Map
    • 11th Judicial District >
      • Judges >
        • Dockets >
          • Brunetti - Dockets
        • YouTube - Judges
      • County Courthouse
      • Judicial Center
      • Apply for Marriage License
      • Self-Help Resources
      • Court Case Info
      • Community Corrections
      • Court Online Payments
    • Cities
    • State of Kansas
    • Federal Government
  • Departments & Agencies
    • County Attorney >
      • About Us
      • Diversion Policies/Links
      • Victim Bill of Rights
      • Victim Impact Statement
      • Victim Restitution Request
    • County Clerk >
      • About Us
      • Election Division >
        • Advanced Ballot
        • District Maps
        • Election Policies
        • Election Results
        • Helpful Links
        • Important Election Forms
        • Register to Vote
        • Upcoming Elections
      • Fiscal Division >
        • Employees >
          • New Employee
        • County Employment
        • County Fiscal Audits
        • Employee Insurance Policies >
          • Advance Insurance Company of KS
          • WageWorks Flexible Spending Account
          • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
          • Certificate of Coverage
          • COBRA
          • Insurance Forms
          • Supplemental Insurance
        • Human Resources >
          • ADEA
          • EEO
          • FMLA, ADA, and Title VII
          • Form I-9
          • Sexual Harassment
          • Tax Withholdings
          • Worker's Compensation
        • Retirement >
          • Voya
          • KPERS
      • General Government Division >
        • Bonded Indebtedness
        • County Budgets
        • Notice of Budget Hearing
        • Genealogy Information >
          • Tombstone Transcriptions
          • Vital Statistics Database
        • Maps Project
        • Mill Levies
        • Open Records
        • Wildlife and Parks
    • County Register of Deeds >
      • Basic Recording Requirements
      • Birth/Death Certificate
      • Fee Schedule
      • Genealogy Resources
      • Mobile Home Title Elimination
      • Online Services
      • Open Records
      • Printable Forms
      • Property Fraud Alert
      • Request for Military Records
      • Honor Rewards
      • UCC Fee Schedule
      • FAQ's
    • County Sheriff's Department >
      • Sheriff's Office Info
    • County Treasurer >
      • Pay Taxes Online
      • Taxes >
        • Delinquent Taxes
        • Mill Levies
        • Mortgage Company Payments
        • Protest Taxes
        • Revenue From Taxes
        • Tax Information
      • Lookup Tax Receipt
      • Drivers's License Dept >
        • Fees
        • Get Drivers License
      • Forms
      • Motor Vehicle
      • FAQ's
    • Appraiser >
      • Appeal Process
      • Parcel Search
      • Personal Property >
        • Manufactured Home Registration
        • Personal Property Details
        • FAQ's on Personal Property
      • Real Estate >
        • Ag Land
        • FAQ's on Real Estate
      • Tax Calculation
      • Tax Calendar
      • Appraiser Terms
      • Appraiser FAQ's
    • Counselor >
      • Tax Foreclosure Sale Guide
      • Tax Foreclosure Sale List
    • District Court
    • Elections
    • Emergency Management >
      • About Us
      • Alerts
      • Emergency Planning
      • Forms
      • Kids Corner
      • LEPC >
        • LEPC BY-LAWS
        • LEPC Minutes / Agendas
      • Mitigation
      • Photo Gallery
      • Reporting Hazardous Materials
      • Storm Damage
      • Storm Shelter
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • FAQ's
      • Links
    • Emergency Medical Services
    • Environmental Health >
      • Contractors
      • Environmental Health Codes
      • Handouts
      • Permits
      • Links
    • GIS / 911 Addressing >
      • Maps
      • Map Website
    • Health Department >
      • Archived Press Releases
      • WIC
      • More... >
        • WestNile
        • Childcare Licensing Information
        • HPV Vaccine
        • Itch Mites
        • Lead Concerns
        • Tobacco Quit Line
        • Tuberculosis (TB)
        • Zika Virus
      • Programs & Services >
        • Prenatal Education Classes
        • National Diabetes Prevention Program
      • Facebook
      • Health Dept Forms
      • Health Dept FAQ's
    • Mental Health >
      • Addiction Treatment Center
      • Mental Health Info
    • Motor Vehicle >
      • License Plates
      • Vehicle Inspections
      • Forms
      • FAQ's
      • Driver's License Department
      • Treasurers Main Page
    • Noxious Weed >
      • Noxious Weeds >
        • More... >
          • Leafy Spurge
          • Musk Thistle
          • Pignut
          • Quackgrass
          • Russian Knapweed
          • Sericea Lespedeza
          • WIC
        • Bull Thistle
        • Bur Ragweed
        • Canada Thistle
        • Field Bindweed
        • Hoary Cress
        • Johnson Grass
        • Kudzu
      • General Notice
      • Rental Equipment
      • Contact
    • Planning & Zoning >
      • More... >
        • About Us
        • Additional Resources
        • Agenda & Minutes
        • Helpful Links
        • Planning & Zoning Board
      • Floodplain
      • Permits & Applications
      • Public Nuisances Regulations
      • Subdivision Regulation
      • Zoning Regulations
    • Public Inquiry
    • RJA - Restorative Justice Authority
    • Road & Bridge >
      • More... >
        • District / Street Maps
        • Dust Control Program
      • County Garage
      • Culvert Installation
      • Sign Department
    • Announcements
  • Residents
    • Address Change Form
    • County Taxes
    • Education >
      • CTEC - Career and Technical Education
      • Labette Community College - Pittsburg, KS
      • Fort Scott Community College - Pittsburg, KS
      • Pittsburg State University
      • School Districts
    • Job Center
    • Licenses & Permits
    • Local Post Offices
    • Maps / Property Search
    • Neighborhood Revitalization
    • Public Transportation
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Fire Departments >
      • List of Fire Departments
      • Girard Fire Department
      • Pittsburg Fire Department
      • Rural Fire Protection >
        • Baker Fire District #1
        • Arma Fire District #2
    • Rural Water Districts
    • Landfill
  • Business
    • Chamber of Commerce >
      • Chamber of Girard
      • Chamber of Pittsburg
    • Business Resources
    • City of Pittsburg Business
    • Economic Development
    • Extension Office
    • Incentives
    • Starting a Business >
      • Food Business
  • Visitors
    • Explore Crawford County
    • Crawford County History >
      • Courthouse History
      • Videos
      • Explore Crawford County
    • Things To Do >
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Local Lakes
    • Tourism Attractions & Events
    • Weather
  • How Do I
    • How Do I Get >
      • Divorce
      • How do I find out how much my tags are going to be on a new car
      • Legal Forms
      • Marriage License
      • Marriage Records
    • Apply For >
      • Apply for Employment
      • Apply for Diversion
      • Apply for Permits
    • Bid On >
      • Bid On County Projects
      • Bid On Tax Foreclosures
    • Contact >
      • Contact Commissioners
      • Contact County Attorney
      • Contact Directory
      • Contact District Court
      • Contact Webmaster
    • Connect >
      • Like Us on Facebook
    • Pay For >
      • Pay Court Payments
      • How Do I Pay Traffic Ticket Online?
      • Pay Property Tax
      • Pay Vehicle Tax/Registration
      • Lost Your Pin?
    • Register >
      • Register My Vehicle
      • Register to Vote
    • Request >
      • Let us know...
      • Request Open Records
    • Report >
      • Food Safety and Lodging Complaint
      • Food Saftey
      • Report a Concern Form
      • Report Traffic Safety Issues
    • Search >
      • County Map
      • Arrest
      • Divorce Cases
      • Docket Calendar
      • Election Results
      • Inmate Roster
      • How do I Search Property?
      • Offender Search
      • Recorded Documents
      • Recycling Options
      • Registered Offenders
      • Property tax on cars
      • Property Search
      • Website
    • Start a Business
    • View >
      • View Commission Agenda & Minutes
      • View County Budget
      • View County Calendar
      • View County Maps
      • Test
  • Online Payments
  • FAQs
  • Coronavirus
    • Quarantine Release Request
    • Testing Sites
    • Downloadable Materials
    • Covid-19-Press
  • Employment
< Back to Noxious Weeds
Sericea LespedezaSericea Lespedeza
Noxious Weeds: Most Common: Sericea Lespedeza and Specific Controls
 

Sericea Lespedeza·

Description

Sericea Lespedeza · Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don · is a very aggressive, drought-hardy perennial. It was introduced as a forage crop in the Southeastern United States. As early as the 1930s, Sericea was also used for erosion control and wildlife habitats in Kansas. It is now found primarily in native rangeland, CRP, and roadsides in the eastern 1/3 of Kansas. Plants have a dark green foliage that contrasts the native grass color in the early fall . Lespedeza has small, white, purple tinged flowers that bloom in late summer and produce large amounts of seed. It also has a semi-woody stem and can reach five feet in height.
 

Sericea is a problem because of its ability to compete with native bunch type grasses. It's aggressive behavior allows it to choke out existing vegetation. Sericea also contains a tannin that makes it unpalatable to livestock for most of the grazing season. It can also tolerate and survive most common weed control practices used by farmers and ranchers.
 

Sericea Lespedeza is spread and proliferates mainly by using rangeland for double stocking cattle or winter pasture, late native hay harvesting wildlife habitat. Some CRP areas were planted with sericea-contaminated seed.
 

During the 1998 Kansas Legislative session, lawmakers amended the Kansas Noxious Weed Law to include Sericea Lespedeza as a noxious weed. The statue was written to allow time for further research and sericea did not officially become a "noxious weed" until July 1, 2000. Counties had the option to make it a noxious weed within their borders early, by resolution and publication. This allowed for enforcement and cost-share chemical availability, but did not address the movement of sericea seed in grass forage seed.
 

Sericea Lespedeza is often confused with its palatable cousin, Korean Lespedeza. Other similar species are Heath Aster, Japanese Lespedeza, Slough Grass, and White Snakefoot.
 

Vegetative Characteristics

Sericea lespedeza is a perennial with erect stems up to 5 ft. tall and small hairs laying flat along the ridges on the stem. The leaves, with 3 leaflets, are less than 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide with the larger leaflets on the lower portion of the stem. The leaves are flattened on the outer end with small flat hairs on the lower surface. Flowering occurs from mid or late July to October and may be tinged with purple but always dry to yellow. The tannin content of sericea lespedeza increases during the growing season, making it unpalatable to livestock during mid to late season grazing.
 

Reproductive Characteristics

Sericea lespedeza reproduces primarily by seed. Seeds move with water, infested hay, birds, livestock and wildlife. The hard seed passes through the digestive tract of animals.

 
Specific Controls·

Sericea Lespedeza can be treated with a variety of cultural, mechanical, and chemical means. Preventing seed production and its spread is of primary importance for control. The Crawford County Weed Department is promoting a holistic farm management approach as the most effective control for sericea. This method involves using many different strategies to eradicate the problem. The Crawford County Weed Department encourage farmers to develop a management plan to coordinate and facilitate these holistic practices. Examples would include the use of pasture burning, mowing, fertilization, selective grazing, and tillage in conjunction with approved herbicide use.
 

Management Options
  • Inspect all pastures and rangeland in July, August and September. Early detection of the presence of sericea lespedeza is essential to economical control.
         

Mechanical/Cultural Control
  • Sericea Lespedeza cannot withstand normal tillage practices
  • repeated mowing will reduce seed production and plant vigor
  • burning can be a valuable tool in controlling Sericea Lespedeza
  • avoid double stocking or fall pasturing livestock in infested areas
  • fertilization in cool season grasses will discourage Sericea from spreading
  • mechanical and cultural practices should be used in conjunction with other control methods
         

Herbicide Recommendations
  • PastureGard or Remidy
    • pastures and CRP
    • cool and warm season hay fields
    • feedlots and waste areas
    • spot application
    • only apply under good soil moisture conditions
    • controls Sericea Lespedeza and other broadleaves, but does not kill grass
  • MSM -  8 ounce containers
    • pastures and CRP
    • cool and warm season hay fields
    • in areas where Musk Thistle is also a concern
    • only apply under good soil moisture conditions
    •  scontrols Sericea Lespedeza and other broadleaves, but does not kill grass
             

Factors for Best Control
    Helpful Information in Controlling Sericea Lespedeza
  • Only apply herbicides when adequate soil moisture conditions exist.
  • Use large amounts of carrier water when applying 5 gallons or more Aerial, 15 gallons or more Ground.
  • Commercial application will save money in the long run.
  • Spraying Sericea Lespedeza with 2,4-D is a waste of time and money.
  • Avoid double stocking or fall pasturing infested areas and dry lot cattle coming from sericea infested areas.
  • Burning activates sericea seed germination.
  • Fertilization in cool season grasses will discourage infestation from spreading.
  • Mowing will reduce sericea seed production. Haying is permitted if done before seed production.
  • Do not allow infestation to spread to timber areas.

Prevention of Spread: Do not move hay that may contain viable seed from infested areas. Feed noxious-weed-free hay and forage. Check the labels of grass seed and grass seed mixtures for the presence of sericea lespedeza prior to purchase. Do not move mature cattle in late summer through October from an infested pasture to a clean pasture.

Crawford County Kansas

CONTACT:
 MAILING ADDRESSES 

​
111 E. FOREST, GIRARD, KANSAS 66743
Other Mailing Addresses

​
COURTHOUSE HOURS:
​
M-F: 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
​

TELEPHONE: ​
​
COUNTY CLERK 620-724-6115
​
CONTACT DIRECTORY

FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
​

SITE MAP
​Site Map
​

explore crawford county
www.explorecrawfordcounty.com

WEBMASTER EMAIL 
Email Address

SUGGESTIONS
Suggestion Form

Copyright 2021 © 
​
Privacy Policy & Legal Disclaimer
​
Icons used under Creative Commons from ModernUIIcons.com​

Drone Photography provided by AV8 Droneworx 
  • Home
    • American Rescue Plan Act
  • Gov
    • County Commissioners >
      • livestream
      • Video Recordings >
        • Video Archive
      • Agenda & Minutes
      • Motions of the Board
      • District 1
      • District 2
      • District 3
      • District Map
    • 11th Judicial District >
      • Judges >
        • Dockets >
          • Brunetti - Dockets
        • YouTube - Judges
      • County Courthouse
      • Judicial Center
      • Apply for Marriage License
      • Self-Help Resources
      • Court Case Info
      • Community Corrections
      • Court Online Payments
    • Cities
    • State of Kansas
    • Federal Government
  • Departments & Agencies
    • County Attorney >
      • About Us
      • Diversion Policies/Links
      • Victim Bill of Rights
      • Victim Impact Statement
      • Victim Restitution Request
    • County Clerk >
      • About Us
      • Election Division >
        • Advanced Ballot
        • District Maps
        • Election Policies
        • Election Results
        • Helpful Links
        • Important Election Forms
        • Register to Vote
        • Upcoming Elections
      • Fiscal Division >
        • Employees >
          • New Employee
        • County Employment
        • County Fiscal Audits
        • Employee Insurance Policies >
          • Advance Insurance Company of KS
          • WageWorks Flexible Spending Account
          • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
          • Certificate of Coverage
          • COBRA
          • Insurance Forms
          • Supplemental Insurance
        • Human Resources >
          • ADEA
          • EEO
          • FMLA, ADA, and Title VII
          • Form I-9
          • Sexual Harassment
          • Tax Withholdings
          • Worker's Compensation
        • Retirement >
          • Voya
          • KPERS
      • General Government Division >
        • Bonded Indebtedness
        • County Budgets
        • Notice of Budget Hearing
        • Genealogy Information >
          • Tombstone Transcriptions
          • Vital Statistics Database
        • Maps Project
        • Mill Levies
        • Open Records
        • Wildlife and Parks
    • County Register of Deeds >
      • Basic Recording Requirements
      • Birth/Death Certificate
      • Fee Schedule
      • Genealogy Resources
      • Mobile Home Title Elimination
      • Online Services
      • Open Records
      • Printable Forms
      • Property Fraud Alert
      • Request for Military Records
      • Honor Rewards
      • UCC Fee Schedule
      • FAQ's
    • County Sheriff's Department >
      • Sheriff's Office Info
    • County Treasurer >
      • Pay Taxes Online
      • Taxes >
        • Delinquent Taxes
        • Mill Levies
        • Mortgage Company Payments
        • Protest Taxes
        • Revenue From Taxes
        • Tax Information
      • Lookup Tax Receipt
      • Drivers's License Dept >
        • Fees
        • Get Drivers License
      • Forms
      • Motor Vehicle
      • FAQ's
    • Appraiser >
      • Appeal Process
      • Parcel Search
      • Personal Property >
        • Manufactured Home Registration
        • Personal Property Details
        • FAQ's on Personal Property
      • Real Estate >
        • Ag Land
        • FAQ's on Real Estate
      • Tax Calculation
      • Tax Calendar
      • Appraiser Terms
      • Appraiser FAQ's
    • Counselor >
      • Tax Foreclosure Sale Guide
      • Tax Foreclosure Sale List
    • District Court
    • Elections
    • Emergency Management >
      • About Us
      • Alerts
      • Emergency Planning
      • Forms
      • Kids Corner
      • LEPC >
        • LEPC BY-LAWS
        • LEPC Minutes / Agendas
      • Mitigation
      • Photo Gallery
      • Reporting Hazardous Materials
      • Storm Damage
      • Storm Shelter
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • FAQ's
      • Links
    • Emergency Medical Services
    • Environmental Health >
      • Contractors
      • Environmental Health Codes
      • Handouts
      • Permits
      • Links
    • GIS / 911 Addressing >
      • Maps
      • Map Website
    • Health Department >
      • Archived Press Releases
      • WIC
      • More... >
        • WestNile
        • Childcare Licensing Information
        • HPV Vaccine
        • Itch Mites
        • Lead Concerns
        • Tobacco Quit Line
        • Tuberculosis (TB)
        • Zika Virus
      • Programs & Services >
        • Prenatal Education Classes
        • National Diabetes Prevention Program
      • Facebook
      • Health Dept Forms
      • Health Dept FAQ's
    • Mental Health >
      • Addiction Treatment Center
      • Mental Health Info
    • Motor Vehicle >
      • License Plates
      • Vehicle Inspections
      • Forms
      • FAQ's
      • Driver's License Department
      • Treasurers Main Page
    • Noxious Weed >
      • Noxious Weeds >
        • More... >
          • Leafy Spurge
          • Musk Thistle
          • Pignut
          • Quackgrass
          • Russian Knapweed
          • Sericea Lespedeza
          • WIC
        • Bull Thistle
        • Bur Ragweed
        • Canada Thistle
        • Field Bindweed
        • Hoary Cress
        • Johnson Grass
        • Kudzu
      • General Notice
      • Rental Equipment
      • Contact
    • Planning & Zoning >
      • More... >
        • About Us
        • Additional Resources
        • Agenda & Minutes
        • Helpful Links
        • Planning & Zoning Board
      • Floodplain
      • Permits & Applications
      • Public Nuisances Regulations
      • Subdivision Regulation
      • Zoning Regulations
    • Public Inquiry
    • RJA - Restorative Justice Authority
    • Road & Bridge >
      • More... >
        • District / Street Maps
        • Dust Control Program
      • County Garage
      • Culvert Installation
      • Sign Department
    • Announcements
  • Residents
    • Address Change Form
    • County Taxes
    • Education >
      • CTEC - Career and Technical Education
      • Labette Community College - Pittsburg, KS
      • Fort Scott Community College - Pittsburg, KS
      • Pittsburg State University
      • School Districts
    • Job Center
    • Licenses & Permits
    • Local Post Offices
    • Maps / Property Search
    • Neighborhood Revitalization
    • Public Transportation
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Fire Departments >
      • List of Fire Departments
      • Girard Fire Department
      • Pittsburg Fire Department
      • Rural Fire Protection >
        • Baker Fire District #1
        • Arma Fire District #2
    • Rural Water Districts
    • Landfill
  • Business
    • Chamber of Commerce >
      • Chamber of Girard
      • Chamber of Pittsburg
    • Business Resources
    • City of Pittsburg Business
    • Economic Development
    • Extension Office
    • Incentives
    • Starting a Business >
      • Food Business
  • Visitors
    • Explore Crawford County
    • Crawford County History >
      • Courthouse History
      • Videos
      • Explore Crawford County
    • Things To Do >
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Local Lakes
    • Tourism Attractions & Events
    • Weather
  • How Do I
    • How Do I Get >
      • Divorce
      • How do I find out how much my tags are going to be on a new car
      • Legal Forms
      • Marriage License
      • Marriage Records
    • Apply For >
      • Apply for Employment
      • Apply for Diversion
      • Apply for Permits
    • Bid On >
      • Bid On County Projects
      • Bid On Tax Foreclosures
    • Contact >
      • Contact Commissioners
      • Contact County Attorney
      • Contact Directory
      • Contact District Court
      • Contact Webmaster
    • Connect >
      • Like Us on Facebook
    • Pay For >
      • Pay Court Payments
      • How Do I Pay Traffic Ticket Online?
      • Pay Property Tax
      • Pay Vehicle Tax/Registration
      • Lost Your Pin?
    • Register >
      • Register My Vehicle
      • Register to Vote
    • Request >
      • Let us know...
      • Request Open Records
    • Report >
      • Food Safety and Lodging Complaint
      • Food Saftey
      • Report a Concern Form
      • Report Traffic Safety Issues
    • Search >
      • County Map
      • Arrest
      • Divorce Cases
      • Docket Calendar
      • Election Results
      • Inmate Roster
      • How do I Search Property?
      • Offender Search
      • Recorded Documents
      • Recycling Options
      • Registered Offenders
      • Property tax on cars
      • Property Search
      • Website
    • Start a Business
    • View >
      • View Commission Agenda & Minutes
      • View County Budget
      • View County Calendar
      • View County Maps
      • Test
  • Online Payments
  • FAQs
  • Coronavirus
    • Quarantine Release Request
    • Testing Sites
    • Downloadable Materials
    • Covid-19-Press
  • Employment