Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

New switchgrass

Austin

Austin

Member
I will be drilling a new field of rc big rock the first weekend in June. First time drilling switch and first time using rc bigrock. Other fields have always been frost seeded. I have sprayed twice already, once in April and once in may. And plan to spray again at the time of planting. I have atrazine I plan to add in on the last spraying at planting. Also have duracor on hand if needed for post emergent. Never used duracor, but is there anything else you guys would recommend for this first year? Obviously wanting to get the most out of it this first year to get an established clean field.
Thanks, Austin

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk
 
I frost-seeded RC Sundance back in March into a field of winter rye that was mostly killed off here in SE Minnesota. So far, I haven’t seen anything come up. I’m thinking about drilling it again myself—just need to track down a drill.


I was hoping the seed was just slow to germinate, but I also frost-seeded some clover in a corner of the field, and that didn’t come up either. The only chemical I used was Simazine, applied a few weeks after frost seeding. Kind of a mystery.


One thing I’m wondering about is the wind. It was really windy right after I seeded—maybe the seed blew away? That could explain it. Just trying to figure out what went wrong.
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
Youve nailed it. Plant and don't stress. Plant shallow. 1/4" max.
Click to expand...
Hmmm...I was planning on drilling some new switch here soon with my PH drill. The shallowest depth setting is 1/2", how do you achieve 1/4", max, depth? I could monkey around with the draft, but feel like that would be highly variable in "real field" planting conditions.
 
June is 100% the way to go with switchgrass. 100x better results than frost seeding IMO. These new RC varieties will keep pace with most weeds.

I'm not big on monoculture stands unless purpose is for screening. Only caveat to herbicide use would be areas with heavy foxtail pressure. Foxtail tends to be hard on switch - competition wise.

Also, make sure you have a good kill on all your CSGs.
 
Last edited:
Would broadcast & cultipack yield results as good as drilling right now. Spray roundup before seeding?
 
Stoney said:
Would broadcast & cultipack yield results as good as drilling right now. Spray roundup before seeding?
Click to expand...

Definitely, as long as you have a good seed bed (bare soil). Would help to lightly scratch up the surface before you pack in.

Yes, to spray ahead of time if you can.
 
Last edited:
What seed box should I be using for rc bigrock? Again first time using a drill. It's a great plains 706nt. Also is calibrating it fairly straight foward? Going to be shooting for 7-8 lbs an acre Thanks

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk
 
How important is getting the seed packed done after broadcasting? This past weekend I broadcasted about a 1/2 acres worth, about 5-10 yard wide screens. About half of it was in an area I can't get anything to it to try and pack down, it was walked on to try and pack it I had a couple of helpers with me and we did walk a back and forth along the area a bit after broadcasting, but definitly did not get it all walked on uniformily etc. Wondering if non packed down seed while still get some decent germination.
 
sep0667 said:
How important is getting the seed packed done after broadcasting? This past weekend I broadcasted about a 1/2 acres worth, about 5-10 yard wide screens. About half of it was in an area I can't get anything to it to try and pack down, it was walked on to try and pack it I had a couple of helpers with me and we did walk a back and forth along the area a bit after broadcasting, but definitly did not get it all walked on uniformily etc. Wondering if non packed down seed while still get some decent germination.
Click to expand...
Hope for a pounding rain today, that should do it as long as it doesn't wash it away.
 
sep0667 said:
How important is getting the seed packed done after broadcasting? This past weekend I broadcasted about a 1/2 acres worth, about 5-10 yard wide screens. About half of it was in an area I can't get anything to it to try and pack down, it was walked on to try and pack it I had a couple of helpers with me and we did walk a back and forth along the area a bit after broadcasting, but definitly did not get it all walked on uniformily etc. Wondering if non packed down seed while still get some decent germination.
Click to expand...

It's always a night and day difference in the areas that I pack.

That being said, anything to help incorporate will help. Drag a cedar tree with a 4 wheeler if you have to..
 
Speaking of packing, when the ground is dry my ATV pull behind cultipacker does compress fully into the soil, it rides on the ribs. Do the CAT 1 & 3 pt hitch style fully compress to the flats easily? If so, I’m interested.
 
Stoney said:
Speaking of packing, when the ground is dry my ATV pull behind cultipacker does compress fully into the soil, it rides on the ribs. Do the CAT 1 & 3 pt hitch style fully compress to the flats easily? If so, I’m interested.
Click to expand...

Yes.. IF:

- Your 3 point has a draft / float setting

- Your packer is heavy, not a (cheap) lightweight one.

IMG_1158.jpeg


IMG_2950.jpeg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom