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

Switchgrass help/recommendation

Austin

Austin

Member
I just bought a property ( actually don't even close until more like the end of november), so it will be too late to do much this year. It has about a 4.5 acre field thats hay/pasture now, with rd frontage that I plan to screen with cedars and any other trees/shrubs you might recommend. The real question is, do I have enough time in the spring to get the field ready for a spring/summer switchgrass planting? I would have to rent a no till drill from the county or find someone with one to help me out. Or do I spray next yr to get it cleaned up and frost seed next winter, as I have had good success with this method in the past? Obviously, I like the idea of not waiting an entire yr to even start to get something growing if it's a good option. Also anyone planted or have results with RC bigrock? Thanks, Austin

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
 
Congrats on the purchase! Many on this site are huge fans of RC Bigrock. iowabowhunter is a good source for it. Would have been better to spray this fall and once more in the spring, but I think you could spray it spring and early summer and drill switch mid summer. I would personally burn it once your first spray turns brown. That will promote new growth that the second spraying will take care of.
 
100% plant next year. RC Big Rock does not need to sratify like older varieties.

Fall spray is ideal. I'd ask if they'd give you early access to do so. If need be sweeten the earnest money deposit pot.

If that doesn't work, spring spray heavy gly (add 24d if needed). You may need to fall spray next year if cool season grasses make a come back.

We'll have ample inventory of RC Big Rock. Happy to help.
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
100% plant next year. RC Big Rock does not need to sratify like older varieties.

Fall spray is ideal. I'd ask if they'd give you early access to do so. If need be sweeten the earnest money deposit pot.

If that doesn't work, spring spray heavy gly (add 24d if needed). You may need to fall spray next year if cool season grasses make a come back.

We'll have ample inventory of RC Big Rock. Happy to help.
Click to expand...
What time frame would you shoot for planting?

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
 
Austin said:
What time frame would you shoot for planting?

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Based on my limited experience this past year, I'd wait till at least the middle of May. My early plantings took too long to get going and I ended up with a lot of competition. I think I'd of been better off with a later kill and planting into warmer soils so the rc would take right off.
 
hillrunner said:
Based on my limited experience this past year, I'd wait till at least the middle of May. My early plantings took too long to get going and I ended up with a lot of competition. I think I'd of been better off with a later kill and planting into warmer soils so the rc would take right off.
Click to expand...

+1. If you wait until soil temps hit 60 F, will able to compete with weeds better. RC BR will shoot out of ground quickly..
 
I stopped by the nrcs office and got a "contractor list" of people that either have their own drill or use the county drill for hire. Anyone here ever used someone off of said list to drill switch? Just curious or hopeful to get a good recommendation for someone in sw iowa, pottawattamie county specifically.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom