Nurse crop for switchgrass- yes/no?

[Chessy56]

I've noted several techniques to prepping/planting switchgrass (John Komp's videos, Roger Samson's FB page, etc.). Last year's attempts failed miserably as I didn't do the necessary weed control. Weeds have been burned down 2X so far, with a couple more sprayings of Gly in the coming weeks. Being that one of my marsh beds was literally baked to a hard concrete-like surface with last year's drought, I was toying with the idea of a nurse crop to provide a bit of vegetative matter to shade some of the sun and prevent baking the soil again if we've another drought event. Not finding much on nurse crops. I've got Kanlow/Alamo for the wet marsh area and RCBR for the plot screens. Can I get your thoughts as to nurse crops for SG beds? If yes, I've heard either cereal rye or oats as an option, 50#/A max. Oats would self terminate with the first frost; I'd have to kill the rye manually if it's needed. Then, I was looking to wait until green-up, hit the beds with Gly once more & broadcast the seed among the dead stubble, followed by a pass with the cultipacker (sorry, no drill nor experience with one). I have sufficient cereal rye seed if I need to go that route, but no oats. Is one better than the other? Thanks!

 

[omicron1792]

I used Milo and did well with mine.

 

[buckdeer1]

I did the same thing almost as I do where Im planting trees.I plant winter wheat then spray same day as I start planting trees or if NWSG just drill and spray before the NWSG sprouts.I always keep my NWSG mowed about a foot high at least the first year.

 

[Brian662]

I would use oats in this scenario because of your repeated sprayings I doubt you'd benefit that much from the alleopathic qualities of rye and then as noted, you'd have to terminate the rye.

I would broadcast the seed onto moist soil in March and cultipack and walk away. You could use a pre-emerge such as simazine at that time if you desired.

 

[Chessy56]

I would use oats in this scenario because of your repeated sprayings I doubt you'd benefit that much from the alleopathic qualities of rye and then as noted, you'd have to terminate the rye.

I would broadcast the seed onto moist soil in March and cultipack and walk away. You could use a pre-emerge such as simazine at that time if you desired.

I've heard of oats from a few others. I was considering rye as I have a sack of it, but the thought of eliminating the need to manually terminate it appeals to my lazy nature; plus, a 50# bag won't break the bank. Only other consideration for rye was my planting date, which now looks to be end of August. Q: Are you spraying Simizine after packing the SG seed or before? Thanks for the help!

 

[Brian662]

I've heard of oats from a few others. I was considering rye as I have a sack of it, but the thought of eliminating the need to manually terminate it appeals to my lazy nature; plus, a 50# bag won't break the bank. Only other consideration for rye was my planting date, which now looks to be end of August. Q: Are you spraying Simizine after packing the SG seed or before? Thanks for the help!

Doesn't matter, just make sure you spray the simazine before grasses and broadleafs green up and after the frost is out of the ground.

 

[omicron1792]

You thinking of fall planting your switch?

 

[TreeDaddy]

Paul Knox ( Lick Creek) has some great threads on Switchgrass planting

I would start there

bill

 

[Chessy56]

You thinking of fall planting your switch?

Looking at a spring '26 seeding.

 

[omicron1792]

Ok. I see. I don’t really view what you plant this fall as a nurse crop. I call nurse crop something you plant at same time as another plant.

This fall I would plant heavy rye. Then terminate with spraying of gly and Simazine and plant your switch.