According to Seastedt, the judicious use of cattle grazing on prairie lands can help tall grasses to compete with their shorter rivals. Grazing at the wrong time, though, will help the short grasses at the expense of the tallgrass species. If cattle are allowed to graze during the winter and early spring months, they crop down the short grass species and free up resources for the tall grasses as they begin their growth period. Grazing late in the summer, however, disturbs the tallgrass species' growth phase, and prevents them from preparing for winter dormancy. When spring comes again, they will not have the resources necessary to compete with other species.
Fires also helps tallgrass to thrive.
If we keep putting wildfires out, Seastedt notes, these prairies could die out entirely. Without fire, forests gradually grow, eventually taking over grasslands and blocking the sun's light from reaching the ground. Tallgrass species require direct sunlight for photosynthesis. Even if no trees encroach on their territory though, tallgrass prairies can create their own damaging shade. Each winter, dead grasses pile up on the ground and, with no wildfires to clear them away, they accumulate year after year.