Big bluestem

EarthySpirit

5 year old buck +
Hi all,

Ok, I'm thinking about planting Big bluestem as screening for my plots and access routes. I live in central Kentucky. This is my last stop for research to see if you all think this is a good choice for my purposes and my region. Thanks for your feedback!! If you think another product is better, that would be welcomed too. Also if you have recommended places to purchase, I'd love those ideas too!!
 
I may be wrong, but I don't think you will get the thick multi-stemmed screen you are looking for with Bluestem. It is a clump grass but not very dense from what i have seen. I have much thicker cover with Switch grass.
 
Ok, thats interesting. I thought Big Bluestem was a type of switchgrass. I'm learning... So, when you say switchgrass, which type? There seem to be lots of varieties. Thanks!
 
Big Blue will not stand the winter as well as switch. In KY it will provide good cover through most of November but lots of it will topple before spring. This is for the variety Kaw which came from Roundstone in KY. I prefer switchgrass over big blue for deer cover. For small game, big blue might be better because of the lodging effect.

While big blue is standing it is as good as switch, but it just won’t stand like switch late in the year.
 
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One more thing - there are upland and lowland cultivars of switch. Choose a variety that matches your land. Roundstone can help with this.
 
Thanks Native. We've talked before, I changed my name on here. Thanks for the feedback.
 
Good luck.
 
What Tree Spud and Native Hunter said. BB stem not best choice. If cave in rock grows in your area, I'd go with that for a screen or bite the bullet and go with miscanthus giganthus.
 
Yes, SG outperforms all other grasses I have experience with in terms of standing up to snow and even wind. Not sure how much snow you would get in your area.
 
Is everyone in agreement Cave-n-rock is the best choice for this area? I'll also ask the people at Roundstone.
 
I have straight cave-n-rock and cave-n-rock and kanlow mix, I like the mix better but the straight cave-n-rock is good also. I don't think you could go wrong with either but maybe where you are at there is something better.
 
I cave-in-rock also. Ad Native said, look as your site relative to upland & lowland varieties. Also, different SG's will have different heights they will reach so another consideration for screening. My CIR gets to at least 6' on our sandy loam solis.
 
Ok, I talked to Charlie at Roundstone. He also said Cave n Rock is the best for what I'm trying to accomplish. I'll go with that. Thanks all for your help.
 
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