how to plant switchgrass for deer

You should make sure you plant this one with other tall grasses and shrubs to give the deer optimal cover. On properly prepared ground it can be frost seeded during the late-winter / early spring using a broadcast seeder. I have not seen that the deer use it much in my hunting area, but I assume in areas with limited cover, they would use it more. There are several switchgrass varieties to choose from and its high tolerance for different planting sites makes ornamental switchgrass a great choice for any landscape. Make sure it has room to grow without blocking windows. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. generations in open-pollinated nurseries, 10 plants were selected for uniform plant type, leafiness, high plant vigor and seed yields, adaptation to northern climates, and uniform green color. Switchgrass Plantings for Downwind Blockers By planting switchgrass at a rate of 10#s, you can create a nearly impassable structure of tangled grasses, by both you and the local deer herd! Apply phosphorous and potassium before or during seeding, as needed based on the results of soil testing. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. They were replaced by cool-… If you Google USDA switchgrass, you can find the USDA release brochure. Too much shade will cause the roots to crawl from side to side, which weakens the switchgrass. If you live in a place where the soil is never far below 60 degrees, planting in fall or winter is fine. Shenandoah: Grows just three to four feet tall and blooms rusty pink. Please read these instructions completely before starting your switchgrass planting project!It could save you a lot of time, money and disappointment. Planting Alamo Switch The following story and photos were sent to us from a customer who reclaimed an old cotton field in Alamo Switchgrass. White tailed deer and other native ungulates paw up the rhizomes for winter survival food. To overcome this, it is crucial a no-till drill be used to plant through the mulch. It is best to plant switchgrass in fields where a good seedbed has been prepared and there is no competing vegetation. This offers an outstanding opportunity for you to plant a thick stand of grass to be used on the downwind and approach side, of your stand locations. This article has been viewed 52,406 times. This one grows as much as 15ft and is known to be a very good deer cover. Do not apply any nitrogen during the year in which you plant switchgrass seeds because it also stimulates the growth of weeds. Rotstrahlbusch: Grows four to five feet tall and produces pink-tinged flowers. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,406 times. Switchgrass roots deeply and can withstand flooding, so it’s a good option if you’re concerned about erosion on your property. Plant the seedlings 12 inches (30.5 cm) apart. Switch Grass is a North American native grass that is very easy to grow. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. Switchgrass is one of the easiest forms of wildlife cover to plant and if planted correctly, switchgrass can be fully established after only 2 Summers of growth! If switchgrass becomes stemmy before grazing begins, cut it for hay and graze the regrowth about 45 days later. In early spring, say early to mid march in the upper Midwest you can The tallest switchgrass will grow 6 to 8 foot tall. Try these expert-level hacks. You should start my mowing the areas you wish to seed in mid-August prior to the seeding year. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Lightly water the area to help the soil settle. Don’t worry about spreading; it’s never more than half as wide as it is tall. Come fall, the show intensifies, and many of the red-tinged varieties turn … Seeding rate recommendations for establishing switchgrass vary widely – from 2 pounds PLS/acre up to 10 pounds PLS/acre. While strong pesticides are best avoided, especially if you're using switchgrass to feed livestock or house native species, you may have to turn to this option as a last resort. For previously stratified seed, it is best seeded in mid-spring (in the Upper Midwest). Creating brush piles in or along the perimeter of a food plot can provide quick cover for small game and a backdrop for a mature buck to nestle in against. You can leave in your landscape until late winter or early spring of the next year, then cut it back and it starts growing again. Learning how to plant switchgrass by either frost seeding or using a no-til drill, will offer you 2 sure-fire ways to establish a deer and small game habitat magnet. It should not be grazed closer than 5 to 7 inches during the growing season. However, it is not competitive when establishing. Will the grass invade my lawn, or otherwise be a problem for me? Cultipacking after planting helps establish good contact with soil and speeds germination. No-till planting of switchgrass has also been successful in Wisconsin. Floridata Switchgrass is a tall-growing, warm-season, perennial grass that is native to much of the United States including Virginia. Place it strategically so that it falls in between them instead of planting right in front of something you don't want to block. Switchgrass has come a long way from being the plain grass that dominated the native tall-grass prairies of North America. Last Updated: August 12, 2020 The seeds are eaten by turkeys, pheasants, quail, doves, and songbirds. Do not fertilize switchgrass. It is highly adaptable to a wide range of soils and growing conditions. Cloud Nine: Grows five to nine feet tall and blooms bright yellow. Seeding rates should be 3-5# per acre. Avoid treating switchgrass with pesticides or herbicides. Deer Screen Switchgrass Blend : A mixture of three different varieties of switchgrass, two medium kinds. Switchgrass is one of the easiest forms of wildlife cover to plant and if planted correctly, switchgrass can be fully established after only 2 Summers of growth! Switchgrass Planting Instructions. Switchgrass might spread through your yard via its seeds. Different Panicums have different blooms and shades of colours. Once you get switchgrass established it will provide cover 15 to 20 years. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. For the bedding area itself, my preferred planting is our Real World Wildlife variety switchgrass. The small grain should be killed with herbicide to remove competition with the switchgrass seedlings. Switchgrass is used for pasture and makes a good quality hay when mowed prior to seedhead formation. They should be planted before the last frost. In recent years interest in biofuel research has generated substantial interest in developing new varieties of Switchgrass, as well as new management strategies. The plan will specifically show where to plant what, how much to plant in what grid, and how to plant it. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. Switchgrass should be planted in the spring after soil temperature is above 60°F. A final late April spraying of gly and atrazine or simazine is completed before the switchgrass seed germinates. Growing a full switchgrass harvest requires time and patience. The author’s efforts to establish a large section of switchgrass on his Illinois farm paid off in full when he arrowed this giant in 2017. Soil is workable with temperature over 60 degrees. It is vital to not plant switchgrass seeds any deeper than ½ inch. Panicum grasses are good in a zone 5, 4 and 3 area and maybe a zone 6. They like 4 seasons. After two days, rinse it off. The buck bedded daily in the dense grass field. A goal for switchgrass establishment is to plant at … Any tree variety can be hinge cut, but hearty tree varieties such as maple or poplar will create the best grow back. In the case of ornamental switchgrass, no pests or weeds pose a real threat to this native species. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Northwind: Grows four to six feet tall and produces yellow blooms. Any switchgrass seeds that have not been stored properly for at least 12 months will need frost to germinate. Use use all-purpose flour and dust the grass and the insects. My farmer neighbor is planting switch-grass in 2 fields bordering my lawn. The seeding rate for switchgrass is 5-6 lbs of pure live seed (PLS) per acre for forage and biomass crops. Switchgrass can be harvested for use as hay feed or biofuel production, but its height and simple beauty make it a good choice for the home garden as well. Planting switchgrass for deer habitat does make some sense, but I have never been a big fan of it. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Plant-Switchgrass-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-Switchgrass-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Plant-Switchgrass-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1383427-v4-728px-Plant-Switchgrass-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"