LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Here is a short update on a couple different switchgrass plots of ours in different stages of their lifecycle (I've been posting pics of these two quite a bit this spring). This first one is 4 yrs old and is what I would call established. Parts of it have been stunted due to the competition of the brome really holding it back. As I mentioned before we sprayed this area with Oust XP and Gly in late April juuuust as the native grasses were popping up. It took a while for the brome to show signs of the chemical application but they are finally showing...
You can see the small patch in the middle of this top flat where the brome had really started to get thick, choked the switch out pretty well but there's still some in there, it is just a little stunted compared to the rest
This south facing hillside had bad brome issues and it was really holding the switch back, hopefully the switch (and the rest of the remnant prairie grasses) can take off now!
Some weeds popping up in here which is just fine, makes for even better habitat IMO
Close up of a switch plant
While spraying I made one pass down a hillside that I knew had some remnant big blue stem in it... pretty clear where I sprayed. That brome got hit hard and the native grasses are doing better there.
Next is an update on the switchgrass/big blue stem field we are establishing this year. Things are looking fantastic. It is well on its way to being our best established native grass field yet.
Just a little sweet clover popping up. We'll keep on eye on that as it can get invasive. For now the deer are liking to browse on it
Not too much growth
Can you tell where they missed spraying Oust XP and Gly last fall? This shows why it is so important to kill the cool season grass before seeding natives. Other wise it is just about guaranteed you won't get the results you hoped for
A few years ago I did frost seed some switch into this area, before killing the brome. You could see faint signs of it over the years but it was basically so stunted it was non-existent. Well that switch is finally enjoying the freedom from the brome and is growing pretty well.
The tell tale sign of a switchgrass plant... the hairs near the leaf/stem joint and the purple stem
You can see the small patch in the middle of this top flat where the brome had really started to get thick, choked the switch out pretty well but there's still some in there, it is just a little stunted compared to the rest
This south facing hillside had bad brome issues and it was really holding the switch back, hopefully the switch (and the rest of the remnant prairie grasses) can take off now!
Some weeds popping up in here which is just fine, makes for even better habitat IMO
Close up of a switch plant
While spraying I made one pass down a hillside that I knew had some remnant big blue stem in it... pretty clear where I sprayed. That brome got hit hard and the native grasses are doing better there.
Next is an update on the switchgrass/big blue stem field we are establishing this year. Things are looking fantastic. It is well on its way to being our best established native grass field yet.
Just a little sweet clover popping up. We'll keep on eye on that as it can get invasive. For now the deer are liking to browse on it
Not too much growth
Can you tell where they missed spraying Oust XP and Gly last fall? This shows why it is so important to kill the cool season grass before seeding natives. Other wise it is just about guaranteed you won't get the results you hoped for
A few years ago I did frost seed some switch into this area, before killing the brome. You could see faint signs of it over the years but it was basically so stunted it was non-existent. Well that switch is finally enjoying the freedom from the brome and is growing pretty well.
The tell tale sign of a switchgrass plant... the hairs near the leaf/stem joint and the purple stem
It had plenty of time to stratify. Very few weeds growing also. Sprayed with gly and the generic oust last fall.
