dbltree
Super Moderator
Since switchgrass is a different "breed" so to speak then the rest of the NWSG, I thought I would make a separate post regarding it's establishment.
Switchgrass is in my opinion the very best cover for both deer and pheasants. The NWSG mixes have their place and if you can plant some of each, as I have, you can provide the best in nesting habitat and winter cover.
Switchgrass is the ultimate in winter cover because it will remain standing. A heavy wet winter snow will bend it over, but after a little sun it will spring back upright...the same cannot be said of other prairie grasses which can end up flat as a pancake by spring.
Switchgrass is best frost seeded because it needs to stratify by means of wet, freezing, thawing action common thru late Jan. to early March. It can be broadcast or drilled in killed sod or crop stubble at 5-6# per acre.
A bag seeder works well for larger acreages
3 pt seeders will also work well but adjust the opening to barely the width of the small seed or you'll end up with "dumped" in a small area.
Drills work well on frozen soils in late winter and see need only be dropped on the surface
Switchgrass is like corn, it loves nitrogen and is atrazine resistant. Atrazine is a RUP (restricted use pesticide) so you either need to have the elevator or a farmer with a RUP applicator license apply it. (or have a farmer friend buy it for you and put it on yourself
Atrazine can be put on at 2-4 qts per acre (more is better)...you can't kill it and if you control weeds and grass it will go like gang busters the first year.
Spray small areas by hand:
or larger areas with a field sprayer:
NOTE: Journey herbicide can kill or injure new seedlings so is not the best bet for straight switch. You can apply Journey to established switch when it is dormant (very early spring)
If you control weeds by mowing, it will take 3 very long years!! If you mow...do not mow more then 8-12" high as you can easily kill new seedlings.
Once established it is best to burn every 3-5 years, or mowing if burning is not an option.
Do not apply nitrogen on a new seeding as it will only encourage weed growth, after that it's optional. If you have good corn ground it will do fine with out any help. On poor ground you can thicken the stand with fertilizer.
I find that deer love my switchgrass year around! Beds abound in it and I have jumped countless bucks that left me agape as I watched them vanish in the tall grass.
The power plant at Ottumwa is currently using baled switchgrass along with coal to fire the plant. It's hoped that switchgrass will become a viable, renewable power source as well as income for producers with HEL.
If you are not signing up a new CRP contract (which will require the NWSG mix) you may prefer to give straight switchgrass a try...for deer cover, you won't be sorry!
Here's a great link to more info on establishing switchgrass.
Seeding Recommendations
Osenbaugh’s Prairie Seed Farms is a great Iowa seed source
While Cave In Rock is my favorite for holding mature whitetails, there are many varieties to choose from. There are two main types of switchgrass: upland types, which usually grow 5 to 6 feet tall and are adapted to well drained soils, and low land types, that grow up to 12 feet tall and which are typically found on heavy soils in bottom-land sites.
I have found that most other varieties other the CIR tend to die out over time and you can see pictures and examples further along in this thread.
Switchgrass varieties:
Planting 5-6#'s per acre in February or March to help stratify dormant seed, broadcast or drill into killed frozen sod. It is important to remember that switchgrass seed is often naturally dormant may not germinate with out being stratified first. Stratification occurs naturally in the wild by being exposed to the cold wet chill of late winter rains and freezing/thawing action. It also can occur by aging seed for 1- 3 years but then the number of viable seeds per pound can begin to drop as well.
Frost or dormant seeding is the natural way that switchgrass perpetuates itself in a wild prairie but common perception is that the soil must be tilled and the tiny seeds "planted" like conventional crops. This is the largest cause of failure or delayed germination as dormant seed lays there until exposed to cold wet chill the following year.
Cave In Rock is one of the most sought after switchgrass varieties because it is such a tall and dominate species but it is also one of the most dormant seeds. Dormancy however is not an issue when seed is broadcast or drilled onto frozen soils in February or March.
Blackwell is one of the least dormant along with NE28 and are better suited for spring drilling but they are more susceptible to rust and disease then Cave In Rock and therefor may not be as long lived.
Tilling the soil is not only unnecessary but only encourages weeds, erosion and increases the expense of establishing switchgrass and does NOTHING to better the odds of establishing a stand. Odds of failure have proven lowest among frost seed switchgrass stands.
Dormant seeding is the least expensive most successful method of sowing all NWSG and forbs and that makes it easy for almost anyone to plant them with little or no equipment.
Switchgrass will grow on most soils from sand to heavy clay but thrives on rich moist soils and can handle some brief flooding along waterways.
Herbicides Atrazine or simazine at no less then 2.5 quarts per acre before weeds emerge and they can be combined for more effective weed control.
Atrazine is a Restricted Use pesticide that requires a license to purchase so that requires having an ag co-op/farm elevator apply it of purchasing thru a farmer or friend who has a license. Although atrazine has received a great deal of attention because it has been applied at up to 34.7 million gallons on our nations corn fields, thus ending up in waterways and drinking water, it is NOT a problem for a one time application to establish switchgrass.
Atrazine 4L herbicide label
Simazine (brand name Princep 4l) is an unrestricted trizine herbicide that can be used alone or in conjunction with atrazine or Oust XP at roughly 2 quarts per acre. Both simazine and Oust XP are commonly used on tree plantings so are useful herbicides in anyone's habitat program.
Simazine 4L herbicide label
Oust XP has proven to also be a highly effective pre-emergent herbicide for weed control in switchgrass plantings. Use 1-2 ounces per acre (it can be fall or spring applied before switchgrass emerges) and runs roughly $5.50 an ounce from Townsend Chemical. The label recommends that one wait 3 months before planting switchgrass if 2 ounces of Oust is applied so applying in late fall or early spring is safest, although I have had no problems with late spring and switchgrass emergence.
Oust XP Label
Townsend Chemical will sell Oust XP by the ounce (minimum 2 ounces ) and it runs under $6 an ounce.
Townsend Chemical
Paramount (Quinclorac) is a post emergent herbicide approved for switchgrass, big and little bluestem and side oats gama and applied at 5.3-8 ounces per acre as is effective at controlling emerged foxtail.
Paramount Label
Drive 75 is another Quinclorac product identical to Paramount but available in smaller more affordable quantities
Drive 75 Herbicide - 1 LB (Quinclorac, Quinstar)
DRIVE 75 DF HERBICIDE WEED CONTROL CRABGRASS Quinclorac
Paramount and Drive 75 can be applied to growing switchgrass and will effectively kill growing foxatil and other annual weeds.
Dual Magnum II (S-metolachlor) works very well and is not a RUP but it can cause problems unless the seed is safened (protected) with a seed safener like Concep, an inexpensive product that is used to safen sorghum seed as well. Dual can be applied at up to 2.5 pints per acre and can be applied in combination with both atrazine and simazine including a combination of all three.
Concep Seed Safener source
Dual MagnumII Label
Cinch ATZ is a pre-mixed combination of atrazine and s-metolachlor.
Accent is approved for corn and switchgrass primarily for controlling annual grasses but it quite expensive.
Accent Label
Accen Source
After switchgrass has 3-4 leaves, use 2-4D at 1-3 quarts per acre to kill broadleaves.
Burning Maintain switchgrass plantings by burning every 3-5 years although more frequent burnings are helpful. It is very important to burn late in the spring, late April through mid May to set back and discourage cool season invasives and encourage the switchgrass (and other natives). The switch will grow quickly on the sun warmed blackened soil allowing it to over power and dominate other invasive species.
Lime and fertilizer
Switchgrass will respond to proper soil nutrition even though it will grow on almost anything. Soil testing is recommended first and applications of lime and P&K the fall before is best. With excellent residual weed control, nitrogen can be applied the establishment year and like corn, switch will grow quickly with higher N levels. Without good weed control however nitrogen will only encourage a flush of weed growth and have the opposite affect on the seedling switchgrass.
Once established urea can be applied in mid to late June just before a minimum of a 1/2" of rain to encourage tall robust growth. Burning however is all that is really needed to turn straw and thatch into nitrates that the plant can use and is the inexpensive and natural way to rejuvenate and encourage switchgrass growth.
Prairie Seed Farms
Switchgrass Seed Dormancy issues
Stratification in Switchgrass Seeds
Planting and Wet-chill to break dormancy
Breeding forReduced Post-Harvest Seed Dormancy in Switchgrass
Other suppliers:
Sharp Brothers Seed
Ernst Seed
Welter seed
Bamert Seed Company
Stock Seed Farms, Inc.
Browning Seed
Turner Seed
Seedland
nannyslayer here on this site carries Cave In Rock switchgrass seed, just send him a PM
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