How To Frost Seed Switchgrass
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- There are several easy steps that you can follow to successfully frost seed switchgrass. Switchgrass is a perennial whitetail bedding area and deer screening variety that grows as high as 5-6' in it's first growing season, depending on your location and specific switchgrass variety needed in your area. Frost seeding is a highly effective method of establishing switchgrass and other perennials like clover. Whether your plan is to eventually mow and burn your switchgrass to establish over several years, or to frost seed your switchgrass and produce a great stand within 2 years, frost seeding switchgrass can be an even better option than using large planting equipment or expensive drills. Here is your complete guide for not only frost seeding switchgrass, but for several other important switchgrass bedding and screening strategies.
Getting myself educated to get my switch grass started this winter!
Amen Tony, you can easily do it!
Very helpful. Thank you very much.
What is your recipe for simazine in 100 gal of water . Thanks in advance
Can anyone post a ratio of mix? Water to chemical. Thanks
Is there a benefit to frost seeding in October vs. March? Tha ks
Are you Frost seating in October and Spring Simmons in the same year in March
I've watched almost all of your videos and I would say this is one of the most helpful videos I've seen. I was thinking about mixing in Egyptian Wheat with C&R switch this year for that 1-2 punch of cover, thanks for the warning. I've learned more from watching these videos than from anywhere else when it comes to whitetail and wildlife management. Hands down.
Man Kevin that is great to hear...real happy the warning helped you...a shame to plan on that and then it doesn't work out. I really appreciate the kind words too...really trying to help as many hunters out as I can!
I prepped an area last fall with gly but now there's leaf litter in it. Can I still frost seed over that and have good success or should I take that crap out first?
Awesome, awesome, awesome. You just saved me a bunch of money. I had been thinking of planting Switch grass along a long line of timber edge, but after watch your video. I'm thinking it will not get the sunlight need to grow well and create the additional border edge and bedding I am hope to create. May have to do some hinge cutting first to allow more sunlight along the timber edges. Awesome information and as always Jeff, your the man keep it coming and we will keep soaking it up.
Man that is great to hear Doug...very happy I could help! Hinge cutting along th edge would help a lot and keep in mind it doesn't have to be a total cut. Just pockets of sunlight here and there works extremely well...and angle here and an angle there can add up to full sun throughout a Summer day.
And thanks a lot too...I really appreciate all of your feedback you give...again, it adds fuel to the fire!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Hay Jeff doing a little more research on grass types. Any thought on native Indian Grass ?
@@dougbarber3400 Doug really the only grass for wildlife is switchgrass...simply because it is the only grass that had the chance of standing tall during a northern winter. I do not recommend any Indian, big or little blue stem. Just plain ole switch...and the best switch variety for your area. Check out my bedding area playlist, I go into a lot of detail about how to use switch and why not to use anything else. One of the greatest mistakes I see on client lands are non switch CRP fields...most of them include Indian grass in the mix. If it is laying down in December...it fails to create sustainable wildlife populations
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Awesome information. I knew you where the man to ask. Keep it coming Jeff and I will keep socking it up :)
I was thinking leave a few piles on my edge between neighbors and thicken edge up.
Hi...really bad idea to leave piles around your plots. I talked about that in a recent video, but I have had countless feedback about mature bucks avoiding piles...something I found back in the early 2000s. A real risk. I've had a lot of clients remove piles around their plots.
Piles also create pinch points for your neighbors to hunt. Sometimes you have to use them...along housing areas, roads for that needed hard visual. Maybe that's how you are looking at them? I discuss piles quite a bit in this video...
th-cam.com/video/BnCJZO-VXr0/w-d-xo.html
Love the videos. How would you go about doing this down south? We don’t really have snow. Would you plant any time of year?
fixed that little problem.
Ha, yes...that is for the heads up! Some reason in editing nearly the last 4 minutes was nocked off. Never happ need before, oh well...really appreciate it Yogi!
Would it be beneficial for pheasants to have say 1 acre blocks of switchgrass? In areas of the U.P. Of michigan
Hi Jacob! I like the idea of overall smaller sg fields within a larger area...say 4-5 quarter acre areas within a couple of acres, so that they have enough edge. Better yet...1 acre of switch surrounding smaller pockets of regen and early successional growth. Then they have the edge and food pockets they need along with the extreme cover of the switch that they can dive into...
Jeff,
Did you actually spray down there last weekend? Think we're still a little too wet further North up past Eau Claire..........maybe next weekend if we get more sun & the rain holds off. Gotta luv the feeling of Spring's arrival!!!
That was on Monday of this week...very good time to spray right now...well simazine, not glyphosate of course....boy it is getting close 😎 can't wait!!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Have you applied your second spraying yet on your new SG, the Gly + 2-4D?
Hi Jeff. Awesome videos. Just brought three of your books as well. Outstanding information and can't wait to get working on my land in south central Wisconsin. What setting to you use on your spreader to throw out the switch grass seed? Thanks. Absolutely love the channel!
Great educational video, jeff!
Thank you very much...I really appreciate that! I truly hope it helps...great switchgrass recipe!
You do a great job educating us with your videos, thank you!
I have a nocturnal heard on my property in eastern Maine and hoping to add switchgrass to a field on one side of my property. Have you heard of folks using Cave-n-Rock in this neck of the woods?
Thanks, very helpful.
Jeff: First, thanks so much for sharing so much information!
I have a 10-acre field that is primarily goldenrod. I plan on following your steps for planting some switchgrass (prepping this year, planting next year), but I'm struggling a bit with how to best prep the areas I want to plant because the goldenrod is so prevalent. Is the combo of mowing and spraying come fall time good enough and will that provide enough soil exposure?
Eric, you are very welcome! What I have found is when you begin spraying now...3 times 4-6 weeks apart after Spring geen up, there will be plenty of soil exposure for switch by the end of Summer...I've established many acres of Fall plots that way. So Spring Switch will be easy. I have never even mowed...check out this article:
www.whitetailhabitatsolutions.com/blog/easy-no-till-food-plot-methods
That details how it works and that has primarily been in golden rod, ragweed and various grasses. I hope that helps! Very easy to do for food plots or future switchgrass. Always remember, the first spraying is the most important...because it eliminates future weed debris.
Morning Jeff
I have studied the formula of seeds that I applied for in CRP. I do agree that it is a formulation of covering soil instead of improving habitat for birds and animals. I have studied your other videos and cannot plant annuals for 7 acres. What would you recommend as a crop(s) on the seven acres with some areas that I could do in annual (peas, beans, and rye)? Will incorporate the switchgrass into the 7 acres in rows or circular plots this fall. Soybeans will be planted soon as the farmer will get one more crop this summer/fall. He is a great manager of the land so there will be little or no weeds to start planting this fall for CRP. If they don't like my ideas I will take the land out of production and set it up correctly for observation and hunting.
Your in southwest Wisconsin, I live on the border of Wisconsin and Illinois. The property i own and hunt is just north of spooner Wisconsin.
Hi KC...I love it up there! In the area a lot...
Hey Jeff, it's my piece of heaven. Family bought the land in 1974.
@@kcavery5936 I love the history of hunting camps like that!
Thanks buddy. It means everything to me, as does getting some good food plots, and good hunting. My dad is getting older now, I'm doing everything I can, to provide him with some fun hunts.
@@kcavery5936 memories to last a lifetime! That's what is the all about...enjoy KC!
we have a lot of turkeys on our property. If we frost seed, will the turkeys and other birds eat a lot of the seed?
When you talk about spraying when weeds are 8 to 12 in., you briefly mention simazine. Do you use the simazine twice? When is it too late to use simazine?
Can you plan switchgrass in like river bottoms it is very grassy areas with Boxelder trees running along the little creek
Looking to make most of that Prairie grass switch grass will give good cover for deer, and utilizing that space and making the most of the property! But don’t want to plant down there of it doesn’t do well in the lower area, thanks- located in Hustler Wisconsin
I live in mid east Tn. I have approximately 1.5-2 acre food plot at the end of the my property. I seeded wheat last fall and it did not take to well but some did(too dry at the time). Where might I place some switch grass? All woods surrounding food plot. Thanks and I look fwd to hearing from you. As always, keep walking with the KING!
A lot of area I have mapped out for frost seeding already has switch grass. In this case, should I frost seed the coming winter then mow the following summer? With no spray involved?
I have a question. How do you honestly feel about trophy rocks?? Do you think I they help the deer??
Just going by the science, i haven't seen any credible reports where any minerals actually help deer. In fact I know big business deer ranchers that do not rely on mineral...
Minerals are great to use for establishing patterns if deer habitat use and for summer trail cams tho! Where legal of course...
Good Evening Jeff,
I purchased my property late last year and I am wanting to convert an open 5 acre field over to switchgrass for some base cover. The previous land owner used the field to grow hay in last year but currently the field is dormant and cut as low as possible. I was wondering if I can broadcast the seed ontop of the dormant grasses because I'm frost seeding or if I needed to work the ground first for better contact with the soil?
Hi Jeff. Northern Shenandoah Valley Va. 10 acre field filled thick with fescue. Can I frost seed now? How about soil contact with all that fescue? Thanks.
Hi jeff thx ... the piles are from cleaning up a wet woods and tall maples cut out ..in my damp woods area that is (separate from plots) .. it was a attempt to leave some to thick it up I’m assuming just burn them off like I usually have. ..in past ? And let natural shoots pop up to thicken ? It’s kinda open damp terrain tall old maples
Frost seeded on a pretty thick sod base last weekend... We'll see what happens haha
As long as you get that seed on the soil it will work...hope for the best! Often with dying and decaying weeds you at least have a chance...make sure to follow up with that guy/2-4D combo in a few weeks too...
Thanks! We are establishing some this year on ground that was previously cow pasture. Why doesn't the atrazine kill the switchgrass?
Good luck Hunter! You know I am not scientifically sure? That's a good question and it doesn't kill corn either...
If I seed during winter months and with snow on the ground, would I not be basically feeding birds? And if I seed in October, would I not be spooking deer for that season?
hey Jeff what is the strongest form of switchgrass to buy for planting in Ohio?
Hi Nick...Cave In Rock will cover most of Ohio...great variety! Single, very strong variety...
How much sunlight does switchgrass need? Will it grown on a walking trail in the woods? Was thinking to block deer from seeing me walking into my stand
Great question KC...it needs full sun. At least 6-8 hours per day? Very hard to grow in the woods...
Spring green-up is upon us in southern WI... we got frost seed switch down and simazine in about 3 weeks back. Do you think it is too early to spray glyphosate or wait a week or two? Looks like 60s next week and soil temps will start climbing. Thanks in advance for the reply and what you do!!
Hi Sam, that is great to hear about the Simazine! I like to gauge the time to spray by when the weeds are roughly 10" high and growing aggressively. I would say we are about a week to 2 weeks out? Right around May 1st may be perfect this year. Of coirs that date can vary by a few weeks each year, but early may is typically a great timing...
Great, thanks for the response!
@@sambilhorn9282 sure thing Sam! Hope that you guys are doing great. This has been a perfect season for frost seeding...seed in the ground with Simazine, rains, snow, frost, freeze, more rain, warming temps...all really good! Mine was all in the ground April 1st...I am planning on spraying gly and 2-4D on my new switch within a week to 10 days.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751... we are very excited to watch that field fill with switchgrass! Thank you for the help!👍
@@sambilhorn9282 I can't wait either Sam...make sure to send pics! And you are very welcome
Hey Jeff I'm looking to add some switchgrass to my property in west central Minnesota. Do you have a recommendation on the best variety for my area? Great informative videos, I appreciate all the valuable content you put out.
Jeff- How late is too late in Ohio to spray Simazine and or get Switch on the ground for frost seeding? I have a field of brassica/winter forage that did have some foxtail and other weed competition in it this past fall. Do you think there would be enough exposed soil there? Or should i do a rotation and clear the slate and prep for a 2020 spring planting?
Boy Matt...lot of unknowns. You are approaching that date...as long as green isn't showing yet, you are OK to frost seed and spray simazine. If there is no green showing though...I bet it is very close. It really depends on quality seed to soil contact. If green is just now showing you can still try frost seeding if good soil contact, and you can spray the gly/2-4D combo at the same time. You can also spray again in 4 weeks if needed if the switch hasn't germinated yet...and then plan on mowing down to the top of the switch if needed in August.
Hi Jeff. Love your videos and thanks for sharing. I have some areas of dormant goldenrod and various weeds from previous years. Can I frost seed over the top of that or should I wait till the following spring after applying roundup the previous fall? Will I get enough soil contact if I follow your recommended application of simazine and the roundup? Thanks. Dave
What did you end up doing?
Thank you for the putting this video out there! Great info! I notice you seem to have switch grasses near your stand, what prevents deer from bedding at or near then stand? Is it the thickness of how the grass is planted or just that it is a thinner screening stand? Thanks!
Switch grass is super expensive. I don't own the land i hunt. Is there anything else that works like this that doesn't take as long to mature? Frost seed when? I live in Georgia
Whitetail Habitat Solutions : Hi Jeff I followed your planting method. It’s June 24th in NW Ohio and I haven’t had any germination yet (had my county biologist out to verify). I do however have an infestation of yellow nutsedge. Which, I’m told can only be handled by a select Herbicide as “Sedgehammer” or something sedge specific. The herbicide technique controlled all but that, any recommendations?
Probably a newbie question but I am wondering when you spray the Glyphosate and 2, 4-D are you doing it in the same batch mixed together or are you spraying the two separately ?
Followed your frost deer switchgrass recipe, have a big brown dead spot here in western NY in the Catskills maybe just one or two sprouts . It’s June 26th . Did I mess something up ? Or is it too soon still ? Kinda a cooler summer so far . Thoughts ??
Hang in there. If it's still brown and you frost seeded, you'll be ok. I remember being on my hands and knees in June the first time I planted looking for new switchgrass!
Jeff Pangborn thank you I am now here in mid July and see a few small sprouts here and there in the brown and about the same mixed into what’s geeen as well
Jeff - changing subjects here but what’s your thoughts on leaving some brush piles. Instead of me burning all of them I’ve heard they make habitat ..
Have you ever frost planted SW grass into a fall brassica plot?
Hey Jeff,
Great video! So I have an a difficult question about the pre-emergent Simazine. I bought it a few weeks ago so I could spray it on the 3 acres of switchgrass that I'm planting this year but after reading the environmental effects it has on aquatic species I opted not to use it because I have a creek and pond on my property and I don't want the run-off to hurt that wildlife. I understand chemicals are not so environmentally friendly but do you know if there is another pre-emergent chemical I can use that will not effect aquatic species as much? Or, what other combination of chemicals could I use to eliminate as much weed competition as possible without using a pre-emergent?
Dylan, you can use Glyphosate/2-4D combo, but that alone will not be enough. So, you can mow down the weeds to top of switch in August, do the same next June, July, August and then the same in 2021. Then burn in 2023 and you should be good!
Tough call...I am not sure how much it would hurt if any at all...in particluar if no run off. It would be good to check online for risks...as opposed to the label.
Still can get it down though ..just plan on mowing and them during in the future
Jeff,
If your first spraying of simazine to treat the spring green up may appear to be a little late would it be appropriate to do a combination of glyphosate with the simazine for that first spray? Then follow up again with another glyphosate/2-4 D?
Thanks!!
Great info Jeff! We got our switch in last week and simazine yesterday, hopefully got it done in time. We also have an area next to the switch slated for regeneration (was open ag land). Is switch all or nothing or can you mix it into regen areas at lower seeding rates while waiting on regen to get going? Thanks!
Good question as I am also very confused about this as well. He talks about this switch grass he planted, but then shows goldenrod. And on the areal views, the stuff that has all the deer trails in it, is not switch grass but is still standing against the years snow.
Jeff. Question this time of year my area has tons of nasty parsnips in the switchgrass and everywhere else for that matter. Since it’s invasive. What do you recommend to limiting that? I know pretty much impossible to get rid of.
Hi Jeff! I'm from Buffalo NY, I frost seed swich grass in February, is that to late to spay now with roundup?
What kind of switch grass do you use?
A few questions: I applied for CRP on 7 acres of my land. If accepted I would like to incorporate switch-grass in strips within this acreage. Is switch-grass invasive because I may need some ammunition when talking with the managers of what seed I'm to plant plus the switch-grass.
Second question: Does switch-grass have a deep root system? I have a waterway that keeps eroding the soil. I have added soil/ reworked the waterway and replanted 2-3 times last year only to have a 6-8"deep (~8" wide) gully forming this spring.
Good morning Richard! Switchgrass is not invasive, and is excellent for stopping soil erosion 👍 It needs to be planted SOLID in most CRP plans to be effective, not mixed. I've seen a lot of clients drop out of CRP programs this year because they are generally poor for wildlife and too restrictive. They do not have smart enough mixes available for most quality wildlife plantings...
Good morning... I recently bought some property watched your video and called to order cave/rock switch grass the company I orderd from recommend Shawnee grass I'm from central N.Y. what are your feeling on Shawnee grass
where did the snow go lol
Crazy, eh? Went so fast! Still 6-10" on the north facing slopes! Perfect time to frost seed...
Where can I buy bulk?
You working for chemical factory. Why can’t you push natural organic instead. Why do you think theirs so much CANCER.