Best Time To Plant Switchgrass

The best time to plant switchgrass may be a whole lot later than you realize! The best time to plant allows you plenty of time to get control of your weeds and make sure that you are set up for a decade or more of switchgrass success...
*All 12 of our NEW WHS Seed Blends are available for purchase right now, including our switchgrass! Check out our new seed blend website!
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*Do you want to learn if it's time to plant switchgrass on your land? Check out my advanced whitetail strategy classes:
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*Jeff and Friends Talk Deer Podcast: www.whitetailh...

[@BrentStockstill-i9g]

Thank you for all your videos and expertise. Being a small 30 acre land owner I think this will help me hold more deer and offer better routes to stand locations. Very informative.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks a lot Brent! Really appreciate you watching!

[@scrappydappy2827]

So glad I purchased my switchgrass from you Jeff. Looking forward to getting it planted.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

We really appreciate you...still lots of time to plant, too!

[@anthonymalueg3520]

Someday I’ll get a chance to follow these recommendations soon

[@richardbosco4918]

I applied Simazine per your instructions in a chewed-up patch of rye from last fall on 4/2. The remnants of the rye are still there but there is a nice kill all around it. Thank you!

[@kurtisleffelman3029]

Morning! Headed out for the day for some habitat improvement! Thanks for all the videos and information!

[@aarongoeppner413]

Got some switch grass going in this year, thanks for the pointers! I’m thinking about going with late may

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Definitely my favorite time! I have a few acres going in, in late May this year...

[@janitorialguy4436]

Thanks Jeff, good to know

[@benborgschatz9525]

Will you be putting out a video with what to spray and when to spray 1st, 2nd, 3rd year growing season for switchgrass?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Ben...I hope that this helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX7IomaKgLWSaK8

[@benborgschatz9525]

@Whitetail Habitat Solutions thank you. I forgot you put this video out already. I'm getting ready to spray my switchgrass with 2-4d and glyphosate.

[@isaacketner1893]

Thanks Jeff for the videos! I'm glad I bought your SG seed. When do you plant your corn? Thanks again!

[@isaacketner1893]

I'm in NY.

[@stevefisher1402]

What do you think about planting switchgrass towards the end of August? I was thinking get some germination going and growth before fall, so then the next spring the hard seed would germinate n hopefully beat the weeds. Good idea or not?

[@joelh3303]

With the snow staying so late, I missed the opportunity to spray with Simazine. I see green coming in, so should I skip the Simazine and go to the roundup/2-4D combo? (The area was killed last year.) Then I can plant in late May with seed from your store. Or did I just miss the window?

[@kjaydub]

Joel, toward end of video 12:12 Jeff says planting Mid-End of May plant this year. Plenty of time to spray Simazine if u get on it this weekend or next. I’ve sprayed over slight green up- with it being a pre-emergent, plenty of weeds to pop up yet! You could also spray 2-4D+Glyphosate and plant the same day if need be, then hit it again with those two chems last week of May. One thing to be careful of here is to make sure ur waiting a little longer for Simazine to wash out if you’re planting anything else on the same plot.

[@AC-ut8pl]

My switchgrass from last year is matted down from snow, and almost creating a thatch like layer over the ground. How should I go about controlling weeds going into this year? Would simazine be a waste for me since it most likely won’t make it down to exposed soil?

[@kevinleary5244]

When do you plant your buckwheat? Im in the northeast and last year i planted too late and only got about half mature

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Kevin! Sometime in mid June for me...but really early to mid June for most. More importantly about 8 weeks before your late summer planting on poorer soil, and 6 weeks prior to on great soil

[@michaelswitzer218]

The power company is coming thru this week & taking out all the honeysuckle, autumn olive, & junk trees under the power line next to the road. They are going to take it down to bare ground & spray everything with stump killer. Can I plant switchgrass after they are done?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Michael! I have a great power line strip of switchgrass. BUT, you still have to spray it and kill the weeds. What I did was to spray it soon after with 1 pint of 2-4D and 2 quarts per acre of Gly. Then I would hit it again with 2 quarts per acre of Gly the end of May and immediately broadcast switchgrass at the same time. You will have to mow to keep down the woody shoots within the switch. Another option which I have followed more is to spray that combo of Gly and 2-4D 2 to 3 times during the Summer as needed, then take zero weeds or growth into the Winter. Spray Simazine before Spring Greenup next year and then broadcast the switch before spring Greenup in 2024. You can get another combo spraying when weeds are 10-12" high in the spring and you will have a great stand of switch.

[@michaelswitzer218]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 OK, thanks. I will have to see how smooth it is when they are done to see if I can drive the tractor over it or not to be able to mow it. I have all the chemicals except the 2-4D. I can use the hand wand on the sprayer if I have to.

[@andywhitehead7566]

I planted switch last year with a high volume of hard seed seems that's what was available last year. I did get much of a stand do to hard seed with hopes that it would come up this year. Problem and I should have been more prepared but spring green up happen very early here where I'm at in Ohio and I was scared to spray anything due to the switch my have sprouted. Is there anything I can do besides mow. I have the equipment that I can spray a very accurate amount of chemical. Everything was sprayed last year. Thanks for your time

[@aaroncoleman2615]

So if we frost seeded in the fall or late winter, with no snow should we just use glyphosate and no 24d. So we don’t kill any germinated switchgrass.

[@hunterm671]

Jeff what setting do you usually you use for a Chapin or earthway spreader for your green max traffic seed by chance?

[@natemihlbachler3511]

I bought a new Chapin this year and setting one is too slow but 2 is mega spread. I held it between 1 and 2. It's a bit of a pita.

[@hunterm671]

@@natemihlbachler3511 I greatly appreciate it thanks for the input

[@natemihlbachler3511]

@@hunterm671 that was switchgrass seed btw. I assume most grass seeds are similar.

[@aaroncoleman2615]

1.5 is what he has said in the past

[@Pilled_red]

I think I bought a high hard seed count blend last year. I got very little germination. I guess we’ll see what comes up this year but I do have a much better supply on hand currently so I can do it over again next year if need be.

[@ZJanciste_1]

How's the switch grass in sandy soil here in MI? The side I want plant it in is more shade?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Z! Contact Wes at [e-mail] We have switchgrass designed more for sandy soil in your area...would be a good fit!

[@kevinbradway1567]

The Earthway hand spreader was setting do you use for switchgrass seed

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Kevin! 1.5 at the most...even a shade under, for 8#s per acre...

[@tylerkirsch103]

I took a long time getting my weeds under control. Could i still plant switch right now or is it best to wait until next spring?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

That's great Tyler! I would wait until next Spring in the switch...

[@tylerkirsch103]

@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Thank you for the reply and all the great videos. I wanted to get it in this spring but it just took a little bit longer than expected and weed control is number 1! It'll just be a fall annual this year and probably simozine and gly/24D and frost seeded in next spring without tilling then

[@jadavip7290]

Ok so is Northwoods whitetails cave in rock switchgrass soft seed? It does not say on their website. Thanks Jeff!

[@peterjlukas]

I'm wondering the same thing

[@matureddeer2522]

I have sandy soil.any tips before I buy?

[@DrewBismack]

Jeff, I ordered seed back in Feb. My order was suppose to ship first week of March. It’s almost May and I’ve received nothing. There’s been no communication. I’ve emailed multiple times and received no response. I want my money refunded. This has been an awful experience.

[@kurtpearson2793]

First

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Yes for sure!