|
Post by Freeborn on Jan 8, 2018 7:32:29 GMT -6
I might have to message CrazyEd on the other site. I feel like for some reason he had good luck with sunburst in his sandy soil. He did, Touch base with him. His dad sells seed and can provide guidance on what will work on your soils. I'm traveling so I don't have his contact info.
|
|
|
Post by jbird on Jan 9, 2018 8:38:22 GMT -6
More than likely another case of what works for me won't work for you, but..... I love my switchgrass! Now I don't know the specific variety as it's from Real World (Don Higgins - I know, I know).....but it has worked great for me. Mine gets 5 to 6 feet tall and you can easily hide a deer in it. I have a project in the works where I am planting cedars in a "+" pattern in the switch to help promote bedding. I have NOT seen the "aggressive" nature that I have read some folks comment about. Maybe switch is more aggressive toward other native grasses, but I have not seen it really expand much outside where I planted it thus far either. In my case switch has worked very well as a field edge buffer and for a different habitat type and cover creation. I am also considering planting pockets of MG in the switch to add some "structure" to it as well. I have had far better results in fall/winter cover by using the switch than simply allowing the weeds like ragweed and goldenrod grow. They are fine in the summer, but come fall the natural weeds just turn to sticks and offer little actual cover in my opinion....at least in small acreages.
|
|
|
Post by coop on Feb 1, 2018 7:51:04 GMT -6
2nd year Sunburst - Switchgrass in Trego WI. Super sandy soil. The guy in the pick is 5’10 My buddies planted Big Blue at the same time. The B.B. only thrived in small pockets with the worst soil.
|
|
|
Post by coop on Feb 1, 2018 8:05:06 GMT -6
Does cave in the rock populate on its own? I am doing the same thing this spring taking 3 acres out of food plots and was told to go with sunburst because cave in the rock wouldn't produce seeds At my place in SE MN CIR seems to get enough time to head out & drop seeds. I was told by the guy who sold me the seed that the seeds won’t develop properly. I suspect 4b is on the edge of CIR’s Northern boarder. My 2 cents... Check out the pic above. Hard to tell the difference between Cave-In-Rock & Sunburst. Hedge your bet & plant Sunburst. You could mix a % of CIR in but it will fade over time.
|
|
|
Post by benmnwi on Feb 1, 2018 14:37:45 GMT -6
That's an impressive switchgrass picture. I thought switchgrass didn't do very well in sandy soil, but that looks great. I'm thinking about trying to enroll some of my tillable in Rusk County Wisconsin into CRP, but I assumed switchgrass wouldn't do very well on that soil. My land is about 30 miles SE of Trego, so maybe it would do well after all.
How did that switchgrass hold up over time and what kind of maintenance did you have to do? would it stand up to the snow up there or did it fold down under the snow load? that's a really cool picture.
|
|
|
Post by coop on Feb 1, 2018 18:06:12 GMT -6
That's an impressive switchgrass picture. I thought switchgrass didn't do very well in sandy soil, but that looks great. I'm thinking about trying to enroll some of my tillable in Rusk County Wisconsin into CRP, but I assumed switchgrass wouldn't do very well on that soil. My land is about 30 miles SE of Trego, so maybe it would do well after all. How did that switchgrass hold up over time and what kind of maintenance did you have to do? would it stand up to the snow up there or did it fold down under the snow load? that's a really cool picture. I think the #1 challenge with Switch is getting it established. Once you've got a good stand it's easy to maintain. The stand of Switch pictured above was planted into beans, then Switch. They sprayed Gly 18 days after planting, then 24D 2 months after planting. In year 2 they sprayed Gly on May 15th. I spray Gly to kill Brome most years. I probably don't have to anymore but I'm a little OCD. I try to time it as late in the spring as possible without killing any Switch. May 10th thru the 15th is typically best. Switch stands up to snow better than any NWSG I've ever seen. Wet heavy snow lays it down but its ability to pop back up is kind of amazing. It does not respond real well to fire in my experience. Big Blue loves fire! Switch, not so much.
|
|
|
Post by coop on Feb 1, 2018 18:09:52 GMT -6
SE MN 3rd year Cave-In-Rock My Buddy is 6ft tall. Pic was taken 7-19-17, CIR added a little height after but not a tremendous amount.
|
|
|
Post by benmnwi on Feb 1, 2018 21:13:53 GMT -6
Did you use a drill to plant the switchgrass or was it just broadcast on the stubble?
How did the deer use that switchgrass up there?
|
|
|
Post by coop on Feb 1, 2018 21:31:37 GMT -6
No-till drill. Deer love it! It’s one of my favorite habitat enhancements.
|
|
|
Post by jbird on Feb 2, 2018 15:03:01 GMT -6
Has anyone seen the "aggressive" nature that many proclaim is the case with switchgrass? I have not. I was actually hopping it would be but I have had it in the ground for a couple of years now and I don't see it "spreading". The ONLY possible aggression I could even support is if it will compete better than other native grasses in the same stand, but other than that I haven't seen squat.
|
|
|
Post by coop on Feb 2, 2018 18:14:50 GMT -6
SE MN Cave-In-Rock Switch. Pic taken 2-2-18. Haven’t had a tremendous amount of snow this year. All of the Switch is standing except where the deer have it matted down.
|
|