I planted Cave in Rock last Spring in North Central Texas with only marginal success. (about 14" of growth) I am going to spray and mow and pray for rain. Do you lime and or fertilize switch?
Cave in rock will be available Monday afternoon. More of the new RC Bigrock will be here in 2-3 weeks. We have a limited supply for the RC this year as it’s a new market for them. They never thought we would sell our first pallet in 6 hours. 😉
@@northwoodswhitetailsfoodpl2663 Nicely done John... Using the last of my CinR I got from you last year to frost seed a plot I tried but turning into switch.
@@northwoodswhitetailsfoodpl2663 we got 2 bags of the RC from you guess we were lucky 😀 For first year planting in KY when do you recommend spraying Simazine?
Thanks for great content. Following all your videos to help our property in NC. One request though, as someone with a huge following, try to practice PPE with your herbicides. I work in herbicide development and you are technically breaking the law (product label) by not following everything written there. At the least it’s a smart practice to keep from hurting yourself and will influence others. Thanks again for all the amazing information!
The maintenance is something I believe is overlooked and yet so very important to the longevity of the grass planting...Its funny about the standability of the switch cuz anywhere I drive I always analyze "prairie plantings" vs switch and the difference is so obvious
Great video. Looking for a grass that will grow tall to use for cover in Texas. Edwards Plateau region, little more rocky-esque soil. Any recommendations?
Is it feasible to plant or ring switchgrass around .25 acre cleared areas for food plots. All the property is wooded hills with very small openings for food plots
Love your videos I have 120 acres of poor wildlife habitat st Clair county mo almost all timber majority oaks rocky soil how do I make this timber better for wildlife
How much sunlight does switchgrass need to grow. My property in in the Catskills mountain in New York and my food plots are big woods created all about 1/2 acre to 1/4 acre. Want to line two sides with switch grass and maybe a couple of pockets. Is light a concern
Thanks for all the great information, where I live, I hold snow for at least another month, can a person plant the switch grass for frost seed in early April if he has to? Our spring green up date is like end of April early May, would that be enough time?
Do you recommend mowing the prior year switchgrass thatch in order to promote thickening up of the next year switchgrass? I’ve got some fields that so well with no mowing but I’ve got other areas that are much weaker and mixed with weeds despite doing all of the early season simazine and roundup/24D spraying. Wondering if mowing the thatch is good or if I shouldn’t mow.
Our property in Southern Illinois is flat and has poorly drained clay soils, In areas that are too wet for switch, we find that broom-sedge(Andropogon Virginicus) is a viable alternative. It stands throughout the winter well into the next growing season and is around 6 ft. tall.
Soil type and topography will sort out which of the switch grasses will express themselves. for example Cave in Rock flourishes in low poorly drained areas and Big Blue Stem on the well drained slopes. Common CRP mixes may contain both but 3 or 4 years in you will swear that you somehow seeded one in one place and the other in another place .
No way can I afford $800 for 10 acres of switchgrass and expect to also plant small food plots. I’m retired, so there has to be an equivalent effective cover that is much more cost effective for those of us who have limited resources.
What kind of success do you find with switch grass in an area where you need screening but don't quite get full sun? Would there be a better alternative if the success rate is not very good?
I've used eastern red cedar in those areas for screening. They grow like weeds in my area. They grow at about 2 feet per year for me. I transplant them from areas I don't want them to areas I do. my 2 cents.
Morning guys.Found my first shed yesterday.Then saw a nice 8 last night from the house.-14 here this morning.Still a lot of snow.I will have to go walk those fields again.They are feeding hard in the hay fields..
If I burn my crp in the next few weeks in Southern Missouri, mostly big and little blue and Indian grass can I come behind the burn and frost seed switchgrass for field borders. I would follow up this spring with simazine and mowing
I'm in NE KANSAS. Wondering the same thing! I spoke with a guy on fb that said he burnt, lightly disced(harrow?) Spread seed and then chemically controlled weeds...
Can switchgrass ever be invasive? I have seen Blackwell and Cave-In-Rock suggested on Penn State extension as a warm season for hay. Are these recommended for cover? Do you mow once established for invasive shrub control - eg multifloral rose / barberry? Or would you spot treat? We currently brush hog abandoned ag sections on rotation every 3 years, and have not established managed food or cover yet. Just getting started. Thank you.
Have you used north woods whitetail’s heavy duty food plot screen? If so what’s your opinion. I’m trying to decide before spring time which would better suit my needs. I’m in northern Ohio.
Ernst Seed bought 50lbs in 3/2020 at $5.60/lb and it’s now at $14.40. Crazy price jump - makes me want to harvest seed heads from my 2020 plantings. Wish I went 100# order instead of 50# - the places I planted look incredible, now I’m going to create lines and pockets in my CRP field for structure - probably will have to bite the bullet on an additional 25# to go with the seed I have left
@Number 1 Fan Interesting, because everyone I talk to has deer bedding in their switch and I'm not sure why you would plant so much if they don't bed in it.
I am 30 minutes North of Weatherford. I planted some with marginal success. It only grew to about 14'. I'm going to mow it several times times this spring and pray for rain.
@@jackhuffman2268 14 foot or 14 inches? 14 foot is pretty dang good! I am south of OKC and was debating between switch and something like Big bluestem for screening.
Would love to see a video on where/how to plant red cedars! Love your content!
Yeah
Can you use switchgrass inside the woods or inside of the woods edge not the field side? Keep them videos coming!
IMHO it needs full sun to do best.
I also tried and failed...couple times.
I planted Cave in Rock last Spring in North Central Texas with only marginal success. (about 14" of growth) I am going to spray and mow and pray for rain.
Do you lime and or fertilize switch?
What is a good pollinator blend to put next to your switchgrass or within the switchgrass
Jeff, great content! Thanks for all you do. When you mow, how short are you mowing? What are you using to mow? Thanks
Waiting for John to get his next shipment in! I guess Jeff Sturgis bought it all 😂😁
Soon I hear 😊
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 can’t wait!
Cave in rock will be available Monday afternoon.
More of the new RC Bigrock will be here in 2-3 weeks. We have a limited supply for the RC this year as it’s a new market for them. They never thought we would sell our first pallet in 6 hours. 😉
@@northwoodswhitetailsfoodpl2663 Nicely done John... Using the last of my CinR I got from you last year to frost seed a plot I tried but turning into switch.
@@northwoodswhitetailsfoodpl2663 we got 2 bags of the RC from you guess we were lucky 😀 For first year planting in KY when do you recommend spraying Simazine?
Thanks for great content. Following all your videos to help our property in NC. One request though, as someone with a huge following, try to practice PPE with your herbicides. I work in herbicide development and you are technically breaking the law (product label) by not following everything written there. At the least it’s a smart practice to keep from hurting yourself and will influence others. Thanks again for all the amazing information!
Well done Jeff. I've struggled with Switch even following your guidance in Mid-OH. I'm trying again this year!
The maintenance is something I believe is overlooked and yet so very important to the longevity of the grass planting...Its funny about the standability of the switch cuz anywhere I drive I always analyze "prairie plantings" vs switch and the difference is so obvious
Jeff I know it takes time but what pollinator blend do you think would compliment new successional growth areas to speed things up?
Great video. Looking for a grass that will grow tall to use for cover in Texas. Edwards Plateau region, little more rocky-esque soil. Any recommendations?
I hunt in far northern MN, lots of snow like you said. Is cave in rock grass a good fit up there (usda zone 2), would HD screen work better?
Is it feasible to plant or ring switchgrass around .25 acre cleared areas for food plots. All the property is wooded hills with very small openings for food plots
Love your videos I have 120 acres of poor wildlife habitat st Clair county mo almost all timber majority oaks rocky soil how do I make this timber better for wildlife
Here in mid July is it too late to start planting switch grass to get it established? I’m in the Traverse City Michigan area
What are spraying recommendations for year 2 switch grass? Spray gly before the corn is up? Thanks for all the info Jeff.
Thanks for all the great info 👍🏻
Off subject.. is barn lime ok to use on plots ?
That's what I plan to use, so I hope so. The good things are that you can get it fairly easily, and it comes in managable size bags.
Thanks Wyatt... yeah, it's all i could find in WNY. I did go back & see one of Jeff's videos where he was spreading barn lime 👍🏻
How much sunlight does switchgrass need to grow. My property in in the Catskills mountain in New York and my food plots are big woods created all about 1/2 acre to 1/4 acre. Want to line two sides with switch grass and maybe a couple of pockets. Is light a concern
Thanks for all the great information, where I live, I hold snow for at least another month, can a person plant the switch grass for frost seed in early April if he has to? Our spring green up date is like end of April early May, would that be enough time?
Jeff, have you had success planting switchgrass after a controlled burn?
Do you recommend mowing the prior year switchgrass thatch in order to promote thickening up of the next year switchgrass? I’ve got some fields that so well with no mowing but I’ve got other areas that are much weaker and mixed with weeds despite doing all of the early season simazine and roundup/24D spraying. Wondering if mowing the thatch is good or if I shouldn’t mow.
Hey jeff i have some land around my house that has like crp mix on it and some has regular grass on it. Can i frost seed and then spray?
Can you substitute 24DB (Butyrac) for regular 24D in the roundup mix? Thanks?
And then you'll have videos that you say deer don't like switch grass can't they see predators and don't want to be ambushed so what is it
Thanks for this!! #NAME? P r o m o S M!
Our property in Southern Illinois is flat and has poorly drained clay soils, In areas that are too wet for switch, we find that broom-sedge(Andropogon Virginicus) is a viable alternative. It stands throughout the winter well into the next growing season and is around 6 ft. tall.
Soil type and topography will sort out which of the switch grasses will express themselves. for example Cave in Rock flourishes in low poorly drained areas and Big Blue Stem on the well drained slopes. Common CRP mixes may contain both but 3 or 4 years in you will swear that you somehow seeded one in one place and the other in another place .
No way can I afford $800 for 10 acres of switchgrass and expect to also plant small food plots. I’m retired, so there has to be an equivalent effective cover that is much more cost effective for those of us who have limited resources.
I’m getting land select cut this June/July and the logger is to put a 2 acre food plot in. Can I still plant switch grass for cover around that plot?
The propert is in Iron River Michigan.
Yes you can...the following Spring.
What kind of success do you find with switch grass in an area where you need screening but don't quite get full sun? Would there be a better alternative if the success rate is not very good?
I've used eastern red cedar in those areas for screening. They grow like weeds in my area. They grow at about 2 feet per year for me. I transplant them from areas I don't want them to areas I do. my 2 cents.
Morning guys.Found my first shed yesterday.Then saw a nice 8 last night from the house.-14 here this morning.Still a lot of snow.I will have to go walk those fields again.They are feeding hard in the hay fields..
If I burn my crp in the next few weeks in Southern Missouri, mostly big and little blue and Indian grass can I come behind the burn and frost seed switchgrass for field borders. I would follow up this spring with simazine and mowing
I'm in NE KANSAS. Wondering the same thing! I spoke with a guy on fb that said he burnt, lightly disced(harrow?) Spread seed and then chemically controlled weeds...
Hey Jeff! Love your content!!!
Thank you very much!
I live in North Florida, thick underbrush, any good good suggestions lol
Can switchgrass ever be invasive? I have seen Blackwell and Cave-In-Rock suggested on Penn State extension as a warm season for hay. Are these recommended for cover?
Do you mow once established for invasive shrub control - eg multifloral rose / barberry? Or would you spot treat? We currently brush hog abandoned ag sections on rotation every 3 years, and have not established managed food or cover yet. Just getting started. Thank you.
Jeff, I ordered your book "Food Plot Success by Design" on January 5th and I have yet to receive it. Any help would be appreciated Thanks.
Have you used north woods whitetail’s heavy duty food plot screen? If so what’s your opinion. I’m trying to decide before spring time which would better suit my needs. I’m in northern Ohio.
Any thoughts on alternatives for screening? I’ve heard silky willow can be used as a dense shrub for screening
We're pretty sandy here. Will cave in rock still do well here? I grew some switch in the past and it's not very tall
Do you have to plant switch year after year? Or like how often do you have to replant?
Great video Jeff! Do you lean towards mowing year old switchgrass or just spray simazine into it and let it go?
For these grasses, can you use mesotrione instead of simozine?
If only I could find the seed to buy right now 😅
I just wish it would be easier to buy😊
Thanks Jeff👍
Thanks Jeff! Just wondering, how long after you spray gly and 24d do you plant? Cause I'm pretty sure 24d lasts up to 3 weeks
@Number 1 Fan thanks!
They are both post emergent so you can plant right away
Gonna get some switch this year for my access routes and screening around foodplot but dang that stuff is up there in price
Ernst Seed bought 50lbs in 3/2020 at $5.60/lb and it’s now at $14.40. Crazy price jump - makes me want to harvest seed heads from my 2020 plantings. Wish I went 100# order instead of 50# - the places I planted look incredible, now I’m going to create lines and pockets in my CRP field for structure - probably will have to bite the bullet on an additional 25# to go with the seed I have left
Do you expect deer to bed in the switch of ag conversions?
@Number 1 Fan Interesting, because everyone I talk to has deer bedding in their switch and I'm not sure why you would plant so much if they don't bed in it.
How does it do in North Central Texas?
I am 30 minutes North of Weatherford. I planted some with marginal success. It only grew to about 14'. I'm going to mow it several times times this spring and pray for rain.
@@jackhuffman2268 14 foot or 14 inches? 14 foot is pretty dang good! I am south of OKC and was debating between switch and something like Big bluestem for screening.
@@Bullitt3709 I'm in a toss up between blue stem switch and letting the southern Johnson grass come back in it holds up if left alone
@@jackhuffman2268 I'm in Springtown my self
@@davidbeckham526 I'm in Poolville.