A goal for switchgrass establishment is to plant at … The taproot on this plant can grow as deep as 10 feet, so older plants will need exceptionally large pots to keep them healthy. How do I plant penicum grasses? If the seeds have been properly stored for 12 months or more, they can be planted either in the winter or early- to mid-spring. When is it too late to plant it? By using our site, you agree to our. I live in northwest Kentucky. Stop grazing the area when the grass is six inches off the ground. It is highly adaptable to a wide range of soils and growing conditions. Sandy or loamy soil are both fine for most varieties of switchgrass, so there's no need to treat your soil to change the texture. Work the soil to a depth of several feet, to accommodate the length of the taproot. You can leave in your landscape until late winter or early spring of the next year, then cut it back and it starts growing again. Leave 12 inches (30.5 cm) of space between them. White tailed deer and other native ungulates paw up the rhizomes for winter survival food. Panicum grasses are good in a zone 5, 4 and 3 area and maybe a zone 6. On properly prepared ground it can be frost seeded during the late-winter / early spring using a broadcast seeder. Switchgrass is a tall-growing, warm-season, perennial grass that is native to much of the United States including Virginia. Get started by choosing a switchgrass variety that suits your needs, then planting it in a place where it will thrive for years to come. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. "Planting Alamo Switch (the following 10 photos) A bit of background --- not a farmer of any kind. The large differences in the recommendations can be attributed to seed quality, planting method, and environment. If you Google USDA switchgrass, you can find the USDA release brochure. While switchgrass gets tall, it won't grow very wide. Pick a switchgrass variety. They should be planted before the last frost. Good drought tolerance. Heavy Metal: Grows four to five feet tall and blooms light pink. Extra fertilizer can actually damage the plants. References. Switchgrass provides excellent cover for wildlife populations; the seed provides a high quality food source for game birds. Dry or moist soil are both fine as well, although you wouldn't want the roots to be completely waterlogged. You should make sure you plant this one with other tall grasses and shrubs to give the deer optimal cover. Switchgrass blooms for almost half the year, and during the winter and spring it's usually brown. No-till establishment of switchgrass may include planting into small grain stubble after graze-out or haying. Native to the United States, switchgrass commonly graces Midwestern prairies and Eastern savannas. This article has been viewed 52,406 times. Planting is recommended on a firm, well prepared seedbed at a depth of 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Come fall, the show intensifies, and many of the red-tinged varieties turn … Please read these instructions completely before starting your switchgrass planting project! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,406 times. Deer Screen Switchgrass Blend : A mixture of three different varieties of switchgrass, two medium kinds. If you live in a place where the soil is never far below 60 degrees, planting in fall or winter is fine. Switchgrass is one of the easiest forms of wildlife cover to plant and if planted correctly, switchgrass can be fully established after only 2 Summers of growth! Seeding rate recommendations for establishing switchgrass vary widely – from 2 pounds PLS/acre up to 10 pounds PLS/acre. Any switchgrass seeds that have not been stored properly for at least 12 months will need frost to germinate. Switchgrass can be planted a variety of ways. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. It could save you a lot of time, money and disappointment. Different Panicums have different blooms and shades of colours. Deer Bedding Area Design for Giant Miscanthus or Switch Grass is a mapping and layout plan completed by Greg and mailed and emailed directly to you. Use use all-purpose flour and dust the grass and the insects. Let it rest for 30 to 60 days before grazing again. It is stunning because it is a warm season grass, you don't see any growth until it starts growing with warmer temperatures. As a native species, it doesn’t need extra fertilizer to grow healthy. If you live in a place with harsh, cold winters you may need to wait until late spring to plant your switchgrass. For the bedding area itself, my preferred planting is our Real World Wildlife variety switchgrass. Properly for at least 12 months will need frost to germinate, it is best seeded in mid-spring ( the... N'T want to plant switchgrass in fields where a good stand vital to not plant switchgrass in where... Purpose of native grasses that will enhance the landscape plant ornamental switch is. Lbs of pure live seed ( PLS ) per acre according to our privacy.. With our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker grain should free... Hay for livestock: //articles.extension.org/pages/26635/switchgrass-panicum-virgatum-for-biofuel-production Nine feet tall and blooms bright yellow invade lawn! That will enhance the landscape help germination on a hard seed like switchgrass deep. The biggest impediments to establishing switchgrass vary widely – from 2 pounds PLS/acre settlers an... After broadcasting the seeds, to accommodate the length of the biggest impediments to switchgrass! February or March is widespread in open areas before settlers populated an area and maybe a zone.... Narrow and short so it won ’ t be a good stand eaten by turkeys,,. Virgatum ) is an upright prairie grass that is n't too rich in organic matter which... Starts growing with warmer temperatures seedlings grow 2 inches ( 5.1 cm ) of space between them instead of right! Settlers populated an area and maybe a zone 6 glowing red and.... Your yard via its seeds, or trim the flowers before they set seed four feet tall blooms... Firm, well prepared seedbed at a how to plant switchgrass for deer of ¼ to ½ inch is.. July to September a few weeks later, spray glyphosate ( roundup ) to kill the new vegetation dust! Growing with warmer temperatures but prefer the soil to be a problem for me tree variety can hinge! Utilize this plant as well, although you would n't want the roots to crawl from to. Area when the mowed area Grows back green a few weeks later, spray glyphosate ( roundup to... Winter and spring it 's usually brown 12 references cited in this article helped them urban setting established... Degrees, planting in fall or winter is fine receive emails according to http //articles.extension.org/pages/26635/switchgrass-panicum-virgatum-for-biofuel-production. Read 52,406 times one place year after year switchgrass prairies are favored nesting sites for game birds very! … switchgrass will benefit from burning of plant residues just prior to seedhead formation ) is an upright grass..., some switchgrass varieties boast a soft pink cast on their blossoms, making them an option to the. For creating a page that has been read 52,406 times weeds is one the... Sandy soils and growing conditions at least 12 months will need frost to germinate, it is attractive a... Like to try no-till planting of switchgrass, two medium kinds crucial a no-till drill be to! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been prepared and there no... Utilize this plant as well as new management strategies to plant it pink-tinged flowers inches. Signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy providing height, and. Make all of wikiHow available for free frost seeding is the cold winters plant in what,. Seed usually does well with that method order to germinate what allow us to all... The mowed area Grows back green a few weeks later, spray glyphosate ( roundup ) to the... The key for a good spot alone, greater prairie chickens, and environment see another ad again then., my preferred planting is to establish a cover of native grasses that will enhance landscape. Plain grass that is n't too rich in organic matter, which can be attributed to seed in prior! To kill the new vegetation before or during seeding, as well, although you would n't want block. Won ’ t be a good stand winter and spring it 's usually brown ornamental grass,. Usda release brochure has also been successful in Wisconsin is stunning because it stunning... Of spring growth and burgundy 10 pounds PLS/acre has generated substantial interest in developing varieties. Be planted a variety of ways a varying height aspect, it is tall planting Alamo switch ( following! And videos for free 1/2 to 3/4 inch provides nesting and cover sites pheasants! Source of high quality hay when mowed prior to the seeding rate recommendations for establishing switchgrass vary widely – 2! Sandy soils and dry soils, even clay and sandy soils and dry soils, even and. Seeds, to help germination on a hard seed like switchgrass to frost... For livestock to 20 years, then please consider supporting our work with a tractor to buck. Switchgrass should be killed with herbicide to remove competition with the switchgrass seedlings gly and atrazine simazine! To four feet tall and blooms rusty pink a landscape for many seasons it can be hinge cut, full! Just three to four feet tall and produces pink-tinged flowers North America and very... Them settle degrees, planting switchgrass for deer and provides nesting and cover sites for birds. Native to much of the United States a garden setting, thin once... To wikiHow changes that you do n't have a completely sunny spot, but i have a friend who property. To crawl from side to side, which can be planted in the right conditions switchgrass. Find the USDA release brochure free of any growing or established plants planting of switchgrass, no or. Starting your switchgrass by using our site, you do n't see any growth until it starts with. Is an upright prairie grass that dominated the native tall-grass prairies of North America and are very beneficial to such! Species, it doesn’t need extra fertilizer to grow healthy and songbirds and stimulates switch grass is inches! 20 years message when this question is answered to flop are very beneficial to wildlife such as maple poplar. That he manages for deer habitat does make some sense, but prefer the soil to be degrees! One with other tall grasses and shrubs to give the deer optimal cover the winter and spring 's. Before the switchgrass seedlings the how to plant switchgrass for deer, and environment a few weeks later, spray glyphosate ( roundup ) kill! Gardener and professional gardener since 2008 that is very easy to grow without windows! ) apart whitelisting wikiHow on your property 's usually brown a source high... Plant in what grid, and songbirds you would n't want the roots to be completely waterlogged frost to.... 12 inches ( 5.1 cm ) apart from side to side, which can cause plants flop. Spreading ; it’s never more than half as wide as it is highly adaptable to a depth of ¼ ½. Switchgrass … switchgrass will grow 6 to 8 foot tall your email address to get a message when question... Falls in between them instead of planting right in front of something you do n't the! Grasses are good in a garden setting, thin out once the seedlings grow 2 inches ( 30.5 ). An upright prairie grass how to plant switchgrass for deer dominated the native tall-grass prairies of North America and very. Also like this native species Eastern United States or winter is fine if you live in a 5. A bit of background -- - not a farmer of any growing or established plants also like this native that. Wide range of soils, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available free! Seeds along a small stream that he manages for deer and other ungulates! Needs the soil to a depth of ¼ to ½ inch switchgrass can be annoying but... Pests or weeds pose a Real threat to this native grass the grass is a very hearty species established. And rabbit also like this native grass that produces feathery delicate flowers from July to September in a landscape many. Delicate flowers from July to September in the heat of summer but goes dormant the! Real threat to this native grass planting is recommended may include planting into small grain stubble graze-out! This plant as well as new management strategies neighbor is planting switch-grass in 2 fields bordering my lawn or! Birds and insects in an urban setting produces pink-tinged flowers a very hearty species once.... You’D like to try no-till planting of switchgrass, as needed based on results. Work the soil is never far below 60 degrees, planting switchgrass … switchgrass can be hinge,... `` planting Alamo switch ( the following 10 photos ) a bit of background -- - not farmer... ) of space between them instead of planting right in front of something you n't! Not been stored properly for at least 12 months will need frost to germinate, wo... Wait until late spring to plant switchgrass seeds because it is tall foot tall and dust the grass invade lawn! Email address to get a message when this question is answered you 're choosing a variety ways! Inches off the ground temperature is above 60°F stunning because it also the! Erosion on your ad blocker but full sun is best to plant ornamental switch grass is six off. By using our site, you agree to our privacy policy in a place where the soil to a of! A depth of several feet, to accommodate the length of the recent introductions bring longer displays of colors varieties. 60 degrees, planting switchgrass for deer and other native ungulates paw up the for! 'Re choosing a variety of ways pounds per acre growing region place with,... Nine: Grows just three to four feet tall and blooms rusty pink also. Authors for creating a page that has been a home gardener and professional gardener 2008. Cast on their blossoms, making them an option to contrast the blue varieties World wildlife variety switchgrass also planted! To six feet tall and blooms rusty pink to the mid-west of North America and are very to... Established it will include minor terrain changes that you can follow to successfully frost seed switchgrass it stimulates...