Switchgrass

[Sligh1]

Ive got 2 stands total of 17 acres going into 2nd growing season. Most of it was pretty clean as I planted later in summer and had put atrazine down. Some of it had foxtail come on pretty strong late though I let it go.

What should I be looking for going into spring to make sure I get a good clean start for the switch stands? Obviously broadleaf control as needed but anything beyond that I should be doing?
RC big rock from @IowaBowHunter1983
Main reason I as is IU am considering doing an additional 10 acre but dont want to take that on (time and $) if I need to take care of this baby first.

Thanks

2nd year switch really doesn’t need much in most cases. Foxtail “peters out” & USUALLY by a significant amount the 2nd year. I usually do 0 second year if it’s a thick stand. Ignore some weeds. If they are bad… I’ll spray probably duracor for broadleaves now & id hit foxtail with quinclorac & meth seed oil. Bet u don’t need to do anything though.

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

2nd year stand if smothered by foxtail id burn it late and walk away. If not smothered, fine to do nothing.

 

[deep woods goat hunter]

2nd year stand if smothered by foxtail id burn it late and walk away. If not smothered, fine to do nothing.

Late burn like june/july?

 

[Snail3496]

2nd year stand if smothered by foxtail id burn it late and walk away. If not smothered, fine to do nothing.

this ^^ works like a charm

 

[Tmayer13]

Late burn like june/july?

No...late burn as in late spring right before the switch germinates.

 

[deep woods goat hunter]

No...late burn as in late spring right before the switch germinates.

10-4 Im in north central mo. I would assume middle of May would be right?

 

[Daver]

10-4 Im in north central mo. I would assume middle of May would be right?

In Southern Iowa, the "safe" date for switchgrass germination was told to me to be May 10th. Early, or late, Springtime conditions could influence that date. But I always found it to be "right in there" in terms of accuracy/validity.

 

[Tmayer13]

In Southern Iowa, the "safe" date for switchgrass germination was told to me to be May 10th. Early, or late, Springtime conditions could influence that date. But I always found it to be "right in there" in terms of accuracy/validity.

The issue with this is with the "new" switch varieties like Big Rock. Its quite a bit more vigorous and seems to "wake up" a bit earlier than other varieties previously did. I would say burning No later than the 1st in Iowa.

 

[deep woods goat hunter]

Ill try to get this going last couple weeks of april.
Thanks fellers.

 

[Bassattackr]

10-4 Im in north central mo. I would assume middle of May would be right?

By April 15th I have new sprouts already coming up. Personally I wouldn't go past April 1 for middle MO. These new varieties pop up quicker.

 

[sep0667]

I might try and establish some switch grass strips to border my timber/ag field lines. I've watched lots of videos and read through here a good bit. Honestly feeling overwhelmed having no experience with this and so many do's and don'ts. I've spent hours watch youtube videos and reading on this.

Trying to understand the amount of herbicide per acre etc is confusing to me as well.

f I do this this first year this spring I think I will only need about 2 acres worth of seed. Step one would be to spray simazine where I want to establish these strips before spring greenup. Im a total newb to this. Will my 4 gallon huscqvarna backpack sprayer work to spray simazine? I saw in a video that it is thick?

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

I might try and establish some switch grass strips to border my timber/ag field lines. I've watched lots of videos and read through here a good bit. Honestly feeling overwhelmed having no experience with this and so many do's and don'ts. I've spent hours watch youtube videos and reading on this.

Trying to understand the amount of herbicide per acre etc is confusing to me as well.

f I do this this first year this spring I think I will only need about 2 acres worth of seed. Step one would be to spray simazine where I want to establish these strips before spring greenup. Im a total newb to this. Will my 4 gallon huscqvarna backpack sprayer work to spray simazine? I saw in a video that it is thick?

Available equipment and current condition of where you want to plant and ill spell it out real simple.

 

[sep0667]

Available equipment and current condition of where you want to plant and ill spell it out real simple.

Just hand tools.

-4 gallon backpack sprayer
-weedeater
-heavy duty brush cutter. Like a big weed eater with saw blade, harness etc. (not sure what you would call it)
-rakes

I can try and get some pictures this weekend if its not a big time rain of the areas I want to establish this.

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

Just hand tools.

-4 gallon backpack sprayer
-weedeater
-heavy duty brush cutter. Like a big weed eater with saw blade, harness etc. (not sure what you would call it)
-rakes

I can try and get some pictures this weekend if its not a big time rain of the areas I want to establish this.

Spray:
Gly: 2 quarts per acre
24d: 1.5 pint per acre
Simazine: 2 quarts per acre (do NOT over spray simazine)

When dead use you brush cutter to expose some soil.

Broadcast switchgrass. 10 lbs per acre (higher rate than drilling) no sooner than 10 days after spray if used 24d.

Run it over with anything you have to compact. Truck, atv, tractor, wife's minivan.

Walk away.

Mow if gets weedy or spray duracor 16 oz per acre.

Quinclorac and MSO if you get foxtail.

 

[DMarley83]

I prefer wife's mini van method.

Matter of fact I converted my wife's ride to better suit our needs.

 

[chadw]

What rates do you recommend if drilling RC?


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[northcedar]

Good point about not overspraying simazine. Last year I had leftover atrazine in the tank so tried to empty it out by make a few extra passes. Those are the spots where my newly seeded RC Big didn't grow.

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

What rates do you recommend if drilling RC?


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7

 

[Bassattackr]

Look forward to see how it did this year.

Update to my "disc, pack, seed, pack then walk away" dirty switchgrass edge. Real World (Alamo?) Switch. Planted June 1.

No weed control or herbicides. A few CSG (fescue) patches remain. Came back and felled a few trees into it.

Only maintenance is I mowed in April following the first year. Wanted to give the switch an even start with everything else for the second growing season.

First year never seems to look like much unless you use herbicide to knock out the competition. Quite a bit is there, knee high..

Seems I have some willows in this section trying to take hold.

Picture doesn't do it justice but some sections of second year are shoulder high. Upland habitat, ridge field.

 

[sep0667]

Here's some photos I took this past weekend of the timber/field edge. You can see there is already a pretty good 10 or so yard wide swath of grass/brush between the timber and field edges. Think this is a good idea to try and convert these areas to switchgrass?

My idea would be it would help as a screen getting in/out and also be good edge cover for the deer/turkey?

Worthwhile?

 

[Thinkin Rut]

Spray:
Gly: 2 quarts per acre
24d: 1.5 pint per acre
Simazine: 2 quarts per acre (do NOT over spray simazine)

So Gly and Simazine can be mixed in the same tank?

 

[JBAGS]

100% that would be killer

 

[T_Max]

Looking at about 2 more weeks before I spread my switch seed. I have an opportunity to spray the area with gly tomorrow and may be a while before I get another chance if at all. Is it too early to put down my simazine? Thinking early is better than not at all if I don't get another chance. Thoughts? I do have both Duracor and Quinclorac to use later if I need.