NWSG Planting Questions

[birdog]

I cleaned up my field edges last week with the thought of planting nwsg between my timber and my tillable. What would be a good cover crop to throw down while waiting for the nwsg to get established? I was thinking buckwheat for this year (2 plantings) but thought I would reach out to you guys first for some advice. I also thought about just letting it go but I keep coming back to nwsg.

 

[BenA]

I would just lightly disk it and see what come up between now and the fall. A lot of annuals should pop up before perennials get established. It would let you get an idea of what you have to work with or against.

 

[birdog]

That is one plan for sure.

If I choose not to wait what would be a good plan for planting nwsg this year?

 

[BenA]

Mine was mowed in early spring, sprayed with gly shortly after it started growing back, sprayed again with gly and imazapic 5-6 weeks later. It was planted, then sprayed again to control some johnsongrass. I had some edges that were only disked. I can't tell the difference now.

 

[birdog]

What did you plant?

 

[BenA]

What did you plant?

Little Bluestem
Side Oats Grama
Virginia Wild Rye
Blackeyed Susan
Bergamot
Purple coneflower
Smooth Beardtongue
Rigid Goldenrod
Greyheaded Coneflower
New England Aster
False Sunflower
Smooth Aster

 

[birdog]

I would love to see some pictures

 

[Badgers80]

You could plant a Plateau herbicide tolerant native grass/forb mix. I’ve toyed with that idea since it might ensure a more successful establishment at least initially. Not sure how you’d plant, but I’d assume you’d do gly & 2,4D burn down first. And then do plateau at planting or just after.

 

[Badgers80]

And oats for cover crop. That’s the standard for CRP mixes here.

 

[BenA]

I would love to see some pictures

The first is what came up naturally the first spring after a fall disking. The second is what it all looks like right now, right at 5 years.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I would till it and now and spray anything that greens up in a couple weeks. Then drill your NWSG. April is an ideal month for NWSG germination, warm season forbs will do alright in your blend as well. However, you aren't likely to get good cool season forb germination as most will require cold stratification next Winter. I don't see any need for a cover crop when planting this late in the Spring. You are going to have your cover crop competing for moisture with the NWSG in short order.

 

[birdog]

I was under the impression that nwsg is slow to establish, therefore the need for a cover crop. Is this not the case?

 

[Turkey Creek]

I was under the impression that nwsg is slow to establish, therefore the need for a cover crop. Is this not the case?

It takes a couple growing seasons usually for the NWSG to build enough of a root system to reach full height, but it will germinate the first year. With the slight exception of hard seeds like Switch Grass, it might not all germinate the first season. Cool season forbs generally need cold stratification in order to germinate. Slow to establish does not mean is not the same as lack of germination.

 

[BenA]

I went back to see my timeline. Mine was planted in June of 2021. These pics are from October of 2022.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Do you guys see much deer bedding in your native grasses? I have some CRP that includes switchgrass and it looks great, but the deer don't bed in it.

 

[Westwind]

Yes- but it does not stand up to snow. I'm replacing mine with switch now that im out of the set aside program I was in.

 

[BenA]

Do you guys see much deer bedding in your native grasses? I have some CRP that includes switchgrass and it looks great, but the deer don't bed in it.

I see beds in it, like the pic above. When I walked through, I saw lots of beds. But, hunting near it, I think it's more night bedding. I've also seen them bedding in it during the daytime in summer, and would not have thought that given the heat. But, I've seen them lay down in soybean fields too, so... I see more deer coming from the woods into those areas more than I see them get up out of the grasses. But, I have seen them just stand up out there too. I don't get the big heavy snows, so mine doesn't lay down. I find them along the edges of it too, and trees or any kind of structure out in it.

 

[356]

When I planted NWSG's in April 2021, some definitely came up the first year. Year 2 was pronounced and year 3 was what I anticipated. I had to spot treat some areas with herbicide and others with mowing. For the most part, the planting did what I anticipated.

Drilled NWSG Project, Drilled, year 3-photo taken in September

In another field I very lightly tilled the two 1-2". Ragweed came up immediately in year one, and now in year four it is primarily NWSG. Yes, there are some undesirable plants, such as honeysuckle, lotus, autumn olive and sericea lespedeza, which require herbicide or mowing. Still, I would recommend this approach, as planting NWSG should be via broadcasting during the dormant season or via drilling, which requires special equipment (a drill with NWSG auger).


Lightly tilled field and left alone, year 3. Mostly native grasses, photo taken in late May


Whichever approach you choose, be sure to consider a burn cycle if allowed in your area.