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Switchgrass failure due to foxtail??

Wi transplant

Wi transplant

PMA Member
Looking for the guys opinions on this 3 acre corner of switch I frost seeded last spring . Never had a infestation of foxtail like this before!!! I sprayed atrazine in spring but hard rains must have washed away? Really can't find much switch in here . Thick with foxtail. Do I try and save this stand ? Mow and spray quinaclorac for foxtail? Will the switch pop 2nd year? Or throw in towel and re frost seed next spring?? Looking for suggestions!!!!

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Trying to assess your picture from a distance. Is it distinct switch that is standing in those pics? First one looks like it for sure. Correct me if I’m wrong as that would change the plan & options if I’m mistaken. But -
if so- I think u in better shape than u realize if that’s switch...... u will have some natural reseeding from switch there & u would be wise to seed some now if we are thickening up. (Drill be best but broadcast ok - lil heavier rate)

After that... with the thatch- u maybe be spraying a few times. (Depending on timing, some of things - atrazine, Gly, (maybe ams), quinclorac & methylated seed oil, etc).
U could mow/burn - judgment call when u put eyes to it. - up to u.


*u didn’t lose atrazine to rain. It can either stick to the thatch there & not as much getting to soil. It’s sticky so rain likely not issue. Here’s “more of the issue” IMO.... it’s the fact that foxtail & grabgrass r atrazines weakness. & there was a typical seed bank of it.
THIS NEXT YEAR: plan on spraying quinclorac & meth seed oil on a later spraying & spraying Gly & atrazine a couple times before. U likely gonna have another flush so be ready on more sprayings - can explain more on when & what. Or a later mowing if starts looking like could smother. U will need more tools to fight it. Fire away if u think of others and update how it goes. Good luck!
 
If I frost seed some over top and burn off end of March will if effect the new seeds?

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Otherwise burn off. Till. Replant with mix of switch varieties and spray with atrazine pre emergence then quinclorac and 2 4 d. After 12 to 18 in of weed grass growth . Sound like a good plan?

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I'm in the exact same situation as you...mixed ideas on burning after seeding. Osenbaugh said yes, others no, I'm going to try to avoid it. My plan...hoping it drys out here in the next week to burn, seed then atrazine + dual early May. quinclorac if foxtail persists. If it doesn't dry out enough to burn, seed and chemicals later. Mine looks a little different than yours as I kept mine mowed to around 10 inches. Many say there is still a chance for switch to emerge but i'm really doubtful. Good luck!
 
Wi transplant said:
Otherwise burn off. Till. Replant with mix of switch varieties and spray with atrazine pre emergence then quinclorac and 2 4 d. After 12 to 18 in of weed grass growth . Sound like a good plan?

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If you really don't see any switch at all, I'd probably burn it off ASAP and broadcast more seed as soon as you can to take advantage of cool spring rain and freeze thaw action for seed stratification. Once cool season grass greens up in April or early may you can hit it with gly and atrazine. Personally I'd skip the 24d , I'm a little timid about it harming the new switch with it's residual but it may be a non issue. if the weed regrowth is small enough the gly should smoke it and atrazine is fairly effective on broad leaves.
From here you will need to control the foxtail with quinclorac or regular mowings.
 
Thinkin Rut said:
I'm in the exact same situation as you...mixed ideas on burning after seeding. Osenbaugh said yes, others no, I'm going to try to avoid it. My plan...hoping it drys out here in the next week to burn, seed then atrazine + dual early May. quinclorac if foxtail persists. If it doesn't dry out enough to burn, seed and chemicals later. Mine looks a little different than yours as I kept mine mowed to around 10 inches. Many say there is still a chance for switch to emerge but i'm really doubtful. Good luck!
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If you kept it mowed around 10 inches on a new seeding, I'd say there's a very good chance you have switch growing in there. Control the foxtail this year and you'll probably be surprised what comes up.
 
That would be great. I'm over seeding at the lower rate hoping at least some comes up. Do you think fire in my situation would do more harm than good on a would be 2nd year planting?
 
Agree with above.
Fire.... if seed gets hung up on the junk & thatch - it’ll roast. If it get sucked into soil or firm against soil from frost seeding- probably ok. I personally firmly agree with above- burn 1st- seed after.
 
Don’t worry about foxtail. I was in this scenario 10 years. Asked Paul Knox on his take. He said let it go, don’t worry about it. The first year I had nothing but foxtail. Kept it mowed so it didn’t get too tall. By year 2 i didn’t hardly notice any foxtail. And had a great stand of switch. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t foxtail a warm season grassy weed?
 
MN Hunter said:
Don’t worry about foxtail. I was in this scenario 10 years. Asked Paul Knox on his take. He said let it go, don’t worry about it. The first year I had nothing but foxtail. Kept it mowed so it didn’t get too tall. By year 2 i didn’t hardly notice any foxtail. And had a great stand of switch. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t foxtail a warm season grassy weed?
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If u keep the canopy open. Foxtail can get to point of smothering & choking out switch. It just depends on when it gets going & how tall. If switch plants are 12” & it’s august when foxtail gets going- might be ok. But if switch isn’t showing yet and foxtail gets a head start- big Trouble.
if u start getting thick flushes of foxtail- it’s time to bring out quinclorac & methylated seed oil + even some atrazine. Or keep it clipped. It’s a fast grower so keep the canopy open & clip as needed until growing is done. Bottom line- it can be managed. It’s a pain in the rear but for one year u must not let it smother switch. Once switch established - foxtail will Peter out. First year u need to diligently Battle it.
 
I'm ok with letting and seeing what happens but should I mow and to about 5 in to get rid of some of the smothering buy switch now? Some of it is a thick mat laid down buy the snow?

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burn that sucker now....spread some more seed(may not need but certainly wont "hurt")....spray in april and may and move on.....Im no switch expert like others here but i would bet that you have more switch than you think in there and open that canopy and here it comes....
 
Extremely rare to have a switchgrass failure... I don't care what it looks like the first year. Burn away! Id bet a cold one you will be surprised what is there.
 
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