Miscanthus giganteus transplanting

[Telemark]

Do deer bed in GM or use it mainly for screening?

I don't personally have any MG or switch, but I've read a lot about both while planning for my own plantings.

MG doesn't seem to be well suited for bedding. It's an excellent screen, but for bedding you are better off with switch, just don't plant it so obscenely thick like Sturgis recommends.

If you prefer a rhizome-forming grass with a bunching growth habit, you can use a shorter variety of pampas grass that the deer can see over the top of, and jump over if necessary. This gives them a screen to bed up against which is low enough that they can still see over the top and smell wind coming over the top.

I will end up using switch, but im considering pampas grass as well, so long as I can be reasonably sure it won't spread and become a nuisance invasive.

 

[goatman]

My oldest row is probably 8’ wide now. In the middle it doesn’t grow with all the old leaves piled up. I have a doe and her fawns bed in there last couple years. It is right next to my shed. Sometimes a fawn will come around and lay in one of my smaller sheds and chill.

 

[Mortenson]

Do deer bed in GM or use it mainly for screening?

I scatter planted rhizomes throughout a couple acres of relatively open ground that deer like spending time in. Shed hunting through there a few wks ago, there were a lot of fresh droppings. I think they bed in it conditionally. Nighttime, low human intrusion, rut - are all times it gets used. In my opinion, it helped the spot.

 

[Brian662]

I scatter planted rhizomes throughout a couple acres of relatively open ground that deer like spending time in. Shed hunting through there a few wks ago, there were a lot of fresh droppings. I think they bed in it conditionally. Nighttime, low human intrusion, rut - are all times it gets used. In my opinion, it helped the spot.

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How's the shed hunting this year? Your boys find many?

 

[somich]

I scatter planted rhizomes throughout a couple acres of relatively open ground that deer like spending time in. Shed hunting through there a few wks ago, there were a lot of fresh droppings. I think they bed in it conditionally. Nighttime, low human intrusion, rut - are all times it gets used. In my opinion, it helped the spot.

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What are you going to grow or let grow in the spaces, that looks excellent.

 

[bjseiler]

If Don would have asked I would have given him the money shot. And this is before both sides of the street.

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I'm looking at something similar. Did you dig individual holes for all those rhizomes or just till a huge swath and plant it that way? I've only done a short run before.

My short section is maybe 100 feet and completely blocks a neighbor's house. Stuff is amazing after the second year or so.

 

[Bill]

I'm looking at something similar. Did you dig individual holes for all those rhizomes or just till a huge swath and plant it that way? I've only done a short run before.

My short section is maybe 100 feet and completely blocks a neighbor's house. Stuff is amazing after the second year or so.

When I first planted them I used a sub spoiler to dig a trench. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/farm-ranch-sub-soiler-ss20bl-1549575

Last time I borrowed a small tiller and it was the way to go. Just step on the rhizome to sink it in and kick some dirt on it.

 

[Bill]

I scatter planted rhizomes throughout a couple acres of relatively open ground that deer like spending time in. Shed hunting through there a few wks ago, there were a lot of fresh droppings. I think they bed in it conditionally. Nighttime, low human intrusion, rut - are all times it gets used. In my opinion, it helped the spot.

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Always wanted to try that but never have gotten around to it.

 

[roymunson]

planting MG tonight and tomorrow.

600 rhisomes, 600' long

Planning on doing 36" spacing and offsetting 3 rows

My foot is in a cast, so i encouraged/invited/manipulated a buddy to come plant it for me while I supervise.

We have a local amish outfit that sells them for about $75 per 100 rhisomes

 

[roymunson]

I don't personally have any MG or switch, but I've read a lot about both while planning for my own plantings.

MG doesn't seem to be well suited for bedding. It's an excellent screen, but for bedding you are better off with switch, just don't plant it so obscenely thick like Sturgis recommends.

If you prefer a rhizome-forming grass with a bunching growth habit, you can use a shorter variety of pampas grass that the deer can see over the top of, and jump over if necessary. This gives them a screen to bed up against which is low enough that they can still see over the top and smell wind coming over the top.

I will end up using switch, but im considering pampas grass as well, so long as I can be reasonably sure it won't spread and become a nuisance invasive.

it's not awesome for bedding, but it is nice as "structure" in a big weeds field. The way a big bass hangs out the a post or a log, they'll gravitate to MG Grass, but a whole field of it would not be ideal.

Tele, if you wanna see some nice MG grass screening, I can get you a pin just south of Nashville near your homeplace. It's incredible

 

[Telemark]

Tele, if you wanna see some nice MG grass screening, I can get you a pin just south of Nashville near your homeplace. It's incredible

I've seen plenty, and I think it's impressive.

My intention was not to badmouth MG. I only meant to say that for my specific needs, switch and pampas grass are better for deer habitat, both in terms of cost and effect.

Anyone who needs the height advantage of MG should use it. Apropos, I've been toying with the idea of using MG for a small game field. I think if it's planted dense enough, it could not only hide small game animals, but protect them from raptors.

I can't afford the expense right now, but I think it's worth pursuing for a potential project in the future. I'm thinking appropriately staggered rows could hinder raptors from swooping in from overhead, giving the quail, pheasant, etc., enough cover to move about the field, especially for starting a population from farmed birds.