How I Get Switchgrass Established

[@huntermoon7251]

Best most informative video on KZbin about switch I’m in first year frost seeded it and didn’t know what it looked like now that I know I have a lot of switch and am feeling very confident thanks I liked and subscribed

[@HobbyHarvest]

Wow, thanks!

[@PlanetMojo]

You can also spray 2,4-D to kill the broadleaf stuff and leave the grasses alone. If you mix fertilizer into the batch, the grass gets a boost and the broadleaf stuff is killed. When I mow, I like to do it before the weeds set seed. I'm restoring an oak savanna, and the deer (and other animals) love it! Look into little bluestem and big bluestem as well, they are awesome screen grasses as well 😊

[@HobbyHarvest]

Yes, thank you! That is something I forgot to mention. To add to that, you definitely want to wait until young switchgrass has 3 to 4 leaves before spraying 2-4-D on it or it can hurt it.

[@PlanetMojo]

@@HobbyHarvest Correct. Nice video BTW!

[@icehog2367]

Mid-June is about the best time to plant switchgrass, weed control is much improved and it'll grow just fine in year 1. Come year (2) expect CIR Switch to be 4-6'.

[@patrothwell9138]

Awesome thanks for the info. I am going to Frost seeding Switch grass next year. I been watching all kinds of videos on planting &getting it to grow.I am a little nervous because I hate for it to not grow or it gets taken over by weeds. Especially with how much it cost.Thanks again I am going to save this video

[@matulala2000]

I’ve watched a couple of your videos and like the content. I’m in NW MI so just across the lake from you. I find your advice helpful. Thanks!

[@HobbyHarvest]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@figandcloverranch5871]

Really good complete video. I do what you said, I love to watch everyone’s stuff . Everyone does bring a little something diff to the table . 👨🏻👍🏼👍🏼

[@HobbyHarvest]

Definitely! We all have a little bit different piece of the world we're dealing with. There can be some minor adjustments for some areas over others.

[@MyVisualRomance]

Its called Switchgrass for a reason. Its such a pain in the arse to get it to grow that you wind up SWITCHing to another type of cover.

[@HobbyHarvest]

Haha it's definitely a challenge!

[@flyhigh5056]

All creators seem to neglect telling the viewer what zone they are in. For example, Huge difference in methods between zone 4 and 8 in relation to deer season 😅

[@HobbyHarvest]

This switchgrass is in 5b. My NW WI property is in 4a.

[@thetrooper1061]

Great video

[@HobbyHarvest]

Thanks!

[@drewpeterson6617]

Please be specific on year 2 switch grass management-Should we use symazine? Should we use any butarac or 2,4D to kill broadleaf in spring greenup? Should we use glyphosate in May? That would be put on weeds and grasses prior to the Switchgrass coming up in June? Mow too Or instead-when? Your experience and thoughts. Thanks.

[@HobbyHarvest]

Thanks for the questions. It really depends on what your switchgrass is doing and what other competition is growing within it. I just went and looked at my switchgrass in SE WI this past weekend and it's already starting to germinate (we had 80+ degree weather here last week before cooling down again). That would mean glyphosate is a no go. If it hadn't germinated yet but other grasses did then glyphosate is okay. 2,4-D is a great way to get rid of broadleaf weeds but wait until your switchgrass is at least a couple inches tall and those broadleaf weeds are fully germinated. If you missed the timing on the glyphosate in the spring, you can always mow later in the summer to set all of the grasses back to an even playing field. The switchgrass will grow faster than the other grasses at that time and choke them out.

[@ericseeger462]

I find a bunch of videos of how to establish swicth, but nothing about fertilization. Is there any special consideration to yearly fertilizer applications?

[@HobbyHarvest]

I've never fertilized my switchgrass but like any grass, it needs nitrogen.

[@harbortim1]

Great video. Wonder what fertilizer to use and when to use it.

[@HobbyHarvest]

A soil test will tell you exactly what you need but creating perfect soil for switchgrass will also create perfect soil for other grasses so you're still going to need to deal with the competition from them.

[@stevegermain1222]

Good stuff thank you subscribing

[@HobbyHarvest]

Thanks for the sub!

[@11234231423423]

Screw glyphosate

[@tidecoys]

I’m interested in which variety has done the best for the land managers here?

[@HobbyHarvest]

This is cave-n-rock switchgrass in the video and has worked well for me in SE WI.

[@tidecoys]

@@HobbyHarvest have you heard anything about the CR switch grasses?

[@HobbyHarvest]

@@tidecoys RC switch seems to grow a lot taller year one, of course dependent on soil and weather. I haven't seen any info on long term comparison though; meaning year two/three/four.