Switchgrass with diversity pockets

[GMan5465]

I‘ve got some pasture land on my property that I’m thinking I would convert to switchgrass with diversity pockets. Two are roughy 5 acres in size, another is 10 acres. My question is, how do you implement it?

I’m thinking I should build the diversity pockets first by planting/transplanting shrubs and trees, and then let the early successional growth take over in the pockets. Once I have the pockets in place, plant the switchgrass around it.

Am I doing this backwards? Should I plant switchgrass first, and then build diversity pockets?

Another note, I haven’t done any spraying yet so thinking I do that after frost seeding this spring.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BenAllgood]

What grass species is in the pasture now? And, how do you want the deer to use it, and do you need to use it for anything like access?

 

[PrairieShadow]

I‘ve got some pasture land on my property that I’m thinking I would convert to switchgrass with diversity pockets. Two are roughy 5 acres in size, another is 10 acres. My question is, how do you implement it?

I’m thinking I should build the diversity pockets first by planting/transplanting shrubs and trees, and then let the early successional growth take over in the pockets. Once I have the pockets in place, plant the switchgrass around it.

Am I doing this backwards? Should I plant switchgrass first, and then build diversity pockets?

Another note, I haven’t done any spraying yet so thinking I do that after frost seeding this spring.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Can you explain diversity pockets? Just different varieties of grass?

 

[BenAllgood]

Can you explain diversity pockets? Just different varieties of grass?

It's making a mix of things out in the switchgrass instead of just a monoculture of switchgrass. Pollinator areas, shrubs, trees, etc. Basically, lots of edge out in the switchgrass. A guy on YT thought old field type areas needed a coined term.

 

[PrairieShadow]

It's making a mix of things out in the switchgrass instead of just a monoculture of switchgrass. Pollinator areas, shrubs, trees, etc. Basically, lots of edge out in the switchgrass. A guy on YT thought old field type areas needed a coined term.

Thanks. Apparently I've been making diversity pockets and didnt know it. ;)

 

[GMan5465]

What grass species is in the pasture now? And, how do you want the deer to use it, and do you need to use it for anything like access?

Not sure on the grass species, its covered under a foot+ of snow now. There is some clover. I’m looking for it to provide cover for deer and other wildlife. Don’t need it for access, I have that covered.

 

[Troubles Trees]

I am probably not the best to answer but I would think you would want to spray first and plant the switch. Only because you wouldn't want to risk drift spray killing what you are planting in the pockets, especially if you have to buy what you are planting.

JMO there bud, every scenario is unique and can be done multiple ways.

 

[PrairieShadow]

Not sure on the grass species, its covered under a foot+ of snow now. There is some clover. I’m looking for it to provide cover for deer and other wildlife. Don’t need it for access, I have that covered.

Switch is a great cover/bedding for deer in itself. Liberty and tecumseh ii would be my first picks. Cave in rock likes wetter ground IME if that is suitable for you. You could also make pockets of thickets/shrubs within the switch. I'm planning a willow or ROD thicket as we speak for this spring in a lower lying area.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Following. I have a similar situation to you with a part of pasture I'd like to turn into switchgrass and I also did not kill everything off prior to the snow flying.

From what I gathered in reading, i wouldn't frost seed unless you have the seedbed prepped which it sounds like you do not. My tentative plan is to mow, spray, and disk this area in the spring and broadcast CIR switchgrass seed once soil temps are over 60 degrees. It sounds like i'm going to want to spray with atrazine to keep weeds at bay longer as switch tries to get established. The other option was to make it a summer food plot this year and prep soil next fall so it's ready for frost seeding. I kind of hate the idea of leaving an area as black dirt during hunting season though.

Basically the plan is to plant using the method in this video, minus the sorghum.

 

[PrairieShadow]

Following. I have a similar situation to you with a part of pasture I'd like to turn into switchgrass and I also did not kill everything off prior to the snow flying.

From what I gathered in reading, i wouldn't frost seed unless you have the seedbed prepped which it sounds like you do not. My tentative plan is to mow, spray, and disk this area in the spring and broadcast CIR switchgrass seed once soil temps are over 60 degrees. It sounds like i'm going to want to spray with atrazine to keep weeds at bay longer as switch tries to get established. The other option was to make it a summer food plot this year and prep soil next fall so it's ready for frost seeding. I kind of hate the idea of leaving an area as black dirt during hunting season though.

Basically plant using the method in this video, minus the sorghum.

Atrazine will kill switch will it not?

 

[gunfun13]

Personally I'd establish the switch first to have a cover base sooner rather than later.

Below is a picture of a 2 acre switch patch that's 6ish years old. If you're hand broadcasting and anything like me, you'll end up with non-switch pockets as is evident in the pictures. This was somewhat intentional to promote diversity within the stand but I probably couldn't get solid, even coverage if I tried. Unfortunately for me, these pockets filled in with about 95% marestail and 5% common ragweed.

I burned after year 3. The same day I broadcasted red clover, birdsfoot trefoil and a commercial pollinator blend focusing the seed in those pockets. This worked well (except BFT didn't show) and it's evident that it all gets browsed heavily during the growing season.

Last spring I started transplanting Staghorn Sumac and Raspberry into the stand to offer additional diversity and woody browse. There is also some volunteer Black Locust appearing. All 3 of those species will root sprout if top killed by fire, so I can still manage my switch through burning if I choose and not permanently destroy the woody browse.

It's tough to say how effective this all has been. The patch is used heavily for summer bedding and fawning. I don't hunt near it often, but I've never had a deer come out of it that I was convinced was bedded in it during season...which was my intended purpose. It does seem to be a focal point of chasing activity and bucks cruise through it to scent check nearby food plots while remaining in secure cover. A buddy did blood trail a buck through it this year and said it was full of beds, so maybe it is used more than I think. If it's not being used for in season bedding I believe it's most likely a function of it's small size, proximity to food, and proximity to a neighboring house.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Atrazine will kill switch will it not?

From RWW switchgrass planting instructions:

Herbicide – Atrazine is a pre-emergent herbicide that you can spray onto plots to be planted in switchgrass. Atrazine will prevent a lot of weeds from ever germinating. Switchgrass is tolerant to atrazine and thus the seed will not be affected.

Once your switchgrass plot has vegetation (both weeds and switchgrass) growth of 12-18” it can be sprayed with 2,4-D herbicide. 2,4-D will kill broadleaf weeds only without harming any grasses.

 

[GMan5465]

Following. I have a similar situation to you with a part of pasture I'd like to turn into switchgrass and I also did not kill everything off prior to the snow flying.

From what I gathered in reading, i wouldn't frost seed unless you have the seedbed prepped which it sounds like you do not. My tentative plan is to mow, spray, and disk this area in the spring and broadcast CIR switchgrass seed once soil temps are over 60 degrees. It sounds like i'm going to want to spray with atrazine to keep weeds at bay longer as switch tries to get established. The other option was to make it a summer food plot this year and prep soil next fall so it's ready for frost seeding. I kind of hate the idea of leaving an area as black dirt during hunting season though.

Basically plant using the method in this video, minus the sorghum.

I get the perception you and I are on the same timeline Wind Gypsy, and roughly that same area. I'm leaning that way as well. Start the kill off in the spring and plant SG later. I'd like to get it started this year. Planning on transplanting some of my Hazelnut shrubs into the diversity pockets to start. Maybe drag a disc where I want the switch to "map" it out versus the pockets. Good Stuff!

 

[Bill]

Atrazine will kill switch will it not?

No. Atrazine is good with switch grass.

For legal reasons I wouldn’t recommend it but the rates posted in the label could even be doubled and not hurt your switch grass. The listed rates are for crops that will be rotated next year.

Since you’re not rotating out of switch in a years more could be better.

Just keep it away from streams and ponds.

 

[silver_yummies]

Atrazine will kill switch will it not?

As others already said, nope. Go with Simazine if you can’t get Atrazine. Pretty sure you need an applicator license for Atrazine but not Simazine.

 

[buckdeer1]

Another option that I did was worked the ground and planted winter wheat then in the spring I sprayed and killed everything the same day I no tilled drilled the NWSG in.The nice thing about switch is you can use a regular drill vs NWSG.You could also work the top and frost seed then keep mowed first year about a ft tall or spray for broadleafs.If you have marestail you should be able to spray with interline which is a generic liberty and it will kill gly resistant weeds.

 

[buckdeer1]

Another thing to keep in mind with planting shrubs is that that switch will come up in the shrubs and you can't burn if you are wanting to and also you want to know how much the shrubs spread naturally.My last planting I put sandhill plums in rows 8 ft apart and I actually brushog in spring to keep shrubs thinned so it will get used more for bedding cover.I did also have some switch in CRP nad since you can't have trees I drug some tree tops out in and that makes structure which I am finding beds around and in a couple years I would imagine there will be new woody sprouts coming from birds landing on the tree tops.Which is about when contract expires and with new rules I haven't been renewing.

 

[Brian662]

Personally I'd establish the switch first to have a cover base sooner rather than later.

Below is a picture of a 2 acre switch patch that's 6ish years old. If you're hand broadcasting and anything like me, you'll end up with non-switch pockets as is evident in the pictures. This was somewhat intentional to promote diversity within the stand but I probably couldn't get solid, even coverage if I tried. Unfortunately for me, these pockets filled in with about 95% marestail and 5% common ragweed.

I burned after year 3. The same day I broadcasted red clover, birdsfoot trefoil and a commercial pollinator blend focusing the seed in those pockets. This worked well (except BFT didn't show) and it's evident that it all gets browsed heavily during the growing season.

Last spring I started transplanting Staghorn Sumac and Raspberry into the stand to offer additional diversity and woody browse. There is also some volunteer Black Locust appearing. All 3 of those species will root sprout if top killed by fire, so I can still manage my switch through burning if I choose and not permanently destroy the woody browse.

It's tough to say how effective this all has been. The patch is used heavily for summer bedding and fawning. I don't hunt near it often, but I've never had a deer come out of it that I was convinced was bedded in it during season...which was my intended purpose. It does seem to be a focal point of chasing activity and bucks cruise through it to scent check nearby food plots while remaining in secure cover. A buddy did blood trail a buck through it this year and said it was full of beds, so maybe it is used more than I think. If it's not being used for in season bedding I believe it's most likely a function of it's small size, proximity to food, and proximity to a neighboring house.
View attachment 39678

Why not go for a walk around out there when the season closes and see how the deer relate to your pockets and the switchgrass?

 

[Brian662]

There are many things to consider when implementing a new stand of switchgrass. What is the purpose of the stand. The purpose will tell you what seeding rate. It appears you are attempting to achieve some bedding cover via the diversity pockets and the switchgrass, so I would plant at a rate of 5-8 lbs per acre with some variability to the stand. Your outsides could be a little thicker "screening" and the inside could be a little thinner to promote movement and plant variety/diversity but still achieve good standability/cover.

For pockets I would make them 1/4 to 2/3 acre at most. Vary the diversity from shrubs to conifers to hardwoods and mixtures of all three. Diversity pockets can be created in pasture by killing off the cool season grass and let regeneration happen (likely weeds first, then Brian's and brambles, then hardwoods) or simply by planting your preferred species and keeping competitors away from it.

As far as the order goes, I would probably plant the switchgrass first and then work on the pockets afterwards due to what I wrote above. Deer will use the edge of the switchgrass for bedding and can browse the weed regeneration in the early years.

It is important to remember that a mature stand of switchgrass can and likely will take 3 years to reach maturity and that is with good soil prep. You have no soil prep. If I were you, I'd outline where you want the diversity pockets this year and kill off the cool season grasses this fall. I would start on prepping the soil for your switchgrass this spring and either frost seed next winter or drill late fall. Your headaches will be much less with good soil prep, it will also save you substantial time mowing and chemical use trying to get the stand established.

I utilize switchgrass with pockets on both of my properties and have planted switch about every way possible. The best stands always start with the best prepared seed beds. The best prepared seed bed is a soybean field. Stands introduced into other seed beds take more mowing and more chemicals but can still be just as successful.

 

[gunfun13]

Why not go for a walk around out there when the season closes and see how the deer relate to your pockets and the switchgrass?

Plan to Friday and hope to kick up a pheasant, Saturday is last day of both deer and pheasant.