Habitat Restoration
The “Nuts and Bolts” of Establishing Prairie Grass
Switchgrass is the native warm-season prairie grass most often planted to provide wildlife habitat. Outlined below are some of the most important steps in establishing vigorous stands.
BUYING SEED – Purchase switchgrass seen in pure live seed (PLS) amounts – the seed that will grow minus dead seed and impurities. The PLS percentage times the bulk weight of the bag will give the amount of PLS in pounds in the seed sack.
SEEDING EQUIPMENT – Seeding equipment such as grain drills and no-till drills, must be capable of distributing the seed evenly at soil depth of ¼ - ½ inch.
PREPARING THE SEED BED – The seed bed should be fine textured, firm, and free of weeds. Plowing, discing, harrowing, and rolling or cultipacking are generally all required to prepare quality seed beds regardless of seeding equipment used. If seed is broadcast on a firm seed bed, a second cultipacking is needed to form the soil around the seed and cover the seed properly. After seeding with a drill that has press wheels, rolling is not required unless much seed remains on the soil surface. Rolling should be done when the surface is dry. If the roller picks up soil, the soil is too moist and soil crusting may result which will limit seedling emergence. If the seed bed is excessively dry, rolling will not firm the seed bed until rainfall again moistens the soil.
TIME OF SEEDING – Switchgrass can be seeded in clean-tilled seed beds from late spring through early summer. Early seeding in preferable if soil moisture and temperature allow for proper seed bed preparation. Early seeding provides the best chance for adequate moisture in the top inch of the soil which increased the chance that the seed will germinate. Seedings before mid-May should not be made unless residual herbicides are used to control annual weeds.
SEEDING RATES – Seed the Blackwell variety of switchgrass at the rate of 4-6 pounds per acres of pure live seed.
WEED CONTROL – Atrazine may be used on switchgrass to control weeds. Read the label carefully and apply accordingly. Atrazine has been known to damage switchgrass if improperly applied or when it was incorporated with heavy rainfall on loose, dry soil or when applied on course-textured soils or soils with very low organic matter content. If residual herbicides are not used, planting should be made in late May or early June, but the seed be should be prepared early to allow weed seeds to germinate and emerge. The weeds can then be killed with a contact herbicide such as glyphosphate. The switchgrass seed can then be drilled but the soil should not be disturbed thereafter because subsequent disturbance will encourage new weed growth.
MANAGEMENT DURING ESTABLISHMENT
HAYING AND MOWING – Switchgrass should be cut in mid-July. Do not cut the grass closed than 6 inches so that the growth response will be quick and vigorous and thus maintain healthier stands. Remove cut grass or hay bales as son as possible to avoid damaging the grasses. For increased benefits to wildlife on areas larger than 15 acres, consider haying 1/3 of the acreage each year. The area to be hayed in July will produce better quality hay if it is burned the preceding April. Rotary mowing is not desirable because it results in a heavy accumulation of plant litter which will suffocate the grass.
BURNING – Burning is essential to properly maintain switchgrass. Even grass managed by grazing and/or haying still requires burning periodically to maintain vigorous growth and desired plant composition. Controlled burning stimulates the growth of switchgrass, increases seed germination and the growth of broadleaf plants, creates open ground for wildlife, retards non-native species, and keeps maintenance costs low. Switchgrass should be burned on a 3-4 year rotation. To increase the benefit for wildlife leave 2/3 – ¾ of the area unburned each year. Burning is best done about April 10th to maintain the best plant and animal conditions. Burn two weeks earlier or up to two weeks later on a given site every 3rd or 4th burn. Burns prior to April 1st are recommended to create a greater plant diversity which produces the best pheasant brood-rearing habitat. Burns approximately April 10 produce very thick switchgrass stands which produce the best grazing, hay production, and winter roosting cover for game birds. Burns after April 10 are helpful in controlling broad leaf weeds. Plan the burning program prior to establishing the switchgrass. Fire lines or low combustible fuels adjacent to switchgrass provide a margin of safety.
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Switchgrass is the native warm-season prairie grass most often planted to provide wildlife habitat. Outlined below are some of the most important steps in establishing vigorous stands.
BUYING SEED – Purchase switchgrass seen in pure live seed (PLS) amounts – the seed that will grow minus dead seed and impurities. The PLS percentage times the bulk weight of the bag will give the amount of PLS in pounds in the seed sack.
SEEDING EQUIPMENT – Seeding equipment such as grain drills and no-till drills, must be capable of distributing the seed evenly at soil depth of ¼ - ½ inch.
PREPARING THE SEED BED – The seed bed should be fine textured, firm, and free of weeds. Plowing, discing, harrowing, and rolling or cultipacking are generally all required to prepare quality seed beds regardless of seeding equipment used. If seed is broadcast on a firm seed bed, a second cultipacking is needed to form the soil around the seed and cover the seed properly. After seeding with a drill that has press wheels, rolling is not required unless much seed remains on the soil surface. Rolling should be done when the surface is dry. If the roller picks up soil, the soil is too moist and soil crusting may result which will limit seedling emergence. If the seed bed is excessively dry, rolling will not firm the seed bed until rainfall again moistens the soil.
TIME OF SEEDING – Switchgrass can be seeded in clean-tilled seed beds from late spring through early summer. Early seeding in preferable if soil moisture and temperature allow for proper seed bed preparation. Early seeding provides the best chance for adequate moisture in the top inch of the soil which increased the chance that the seed will germinate. Seedings before mid-May should not be made unless residual herbicides are used to control annual weeds.
SEEDING RATES – Seed the Blackwell variety of switchgrass at the rate of 4-6 pounds per acres of pure live seed.
WEED CONTROL – Atrazine may be used on switchgrass to control weeds. Read the label carefully and apply accordingly. Atrazine has been known to damage switchgrass if improperly applied or when it was incorporated with heavy rainfall on loose, dry soil or when applied on course-textured soils or soils with very low organic matter content. If residual herbicides are not used, planting should be made in late May or early June, but the seed be should be prepared early to allow weed seeds to germinate and emerge. The weeds can then be killed with a contact herbicide such as glyphosphate. The switchgrass seed can then be drilled but the soil should not be disturbed thereafter because subsequent disturbance will encourage new weed growth.
MANAGEMENT DURING ESTABLISHMENT
- First Year: If broadleaf weeds are present, control them with 2,4-D after the grass seedlings are past the 4-5 leaf stage.
Second Year: Mow cool season broadleaf weeds in May. Cool season grasses can be controlled with atrazine before the switchgrass begins active growth. A light cutting of hay or light grazing may be possible in the second year but should not be done after August 1st.
HAYING AND MOWING – Switchgrass should be cut in mid-July. Do not cut the grass closed than 6 inches so that the growth response will be quick and vigorous and thus maintain healthier stands. Remove cut grass or hay bales as son as possible to avoid damaging the grasses. For increased benefits to wildlife on areas larger than 15 acres, consider haying 1/3 of the acreage each year. The area to be hayed in July will produce better quality hay if it is burned the preceding April. Rotary mowing is not desirable because it results in a heavy accumulation of plant litter which will suffocate the grass.
BURNING – Burning is essential to properly maintain switchgrass. Even grass managed by grazing and/or haying still requires burning periodically to maintain vigorous growth and desired plant composition. Controlled burning stimulates the growth of switchgrass, increases seed germination and the growth of broadleaf plants, creates open ground for wildlife, retards non-native species, and keeps maintenance costs low. Switchgrass should be burned on a 3-4 year rotation. To increase the benefit for wildlife leave 2/3 – ¾ of the area unburned each year. Burning is best done about April 10th to maintain the best plant and animal conditions. Burn two weeks earlier or up to two weeks later on a given site every 3rd or 4th burn. Burns prior to April 1st are recommended to create a greater plant diversity which produces the best pheasant brood-rearing habitat. Burns approximately April 10 produce very thick switchgrass stands which produce the best grazing, hay production, and winter roosting cover for game birds. Burns after April 10 are helpful in controlling broad leaf weeds. Plan the burning program prior to establishing the switchgrass. Fire lines or low combustible fuels adjacent to switchgrass provide a margin of safety.
Was this information helpful to you?
If so, why not support the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy's effort to restore precious wildlife habitat?
Simply click here to make a tax-deductible gift.
[Return to Habitat Restoration Page]