Does switchgrass need a lot of water?

Water. A drought-tolerant species, switchgrass can handle dry and hot conditions well. For best growth, though, it prefers to be kept moist.

What is unique about switchgrass?

Switchgrass is a versatile and adaptable plant. It can grow and even thrive in many weather conditions, lengths of growing seasons, soil types, and land conditions.

How does switchgrass survive?

Switchgrass is a perennial warm-season grass. This means it possesses mechanisms that allow it to tolerate cold temperatures during winter as dormant plants, but needs warm temperatures for growth. When temperatures are below 60° F or above 95° F, the growth of warm-season plants slows or stops.

What is switchgrass used for?

Uses. Switchgrass can be used as a feedstock for biomass energy production, as ground cover for soil conservation, and to control erosion, for forages and grazing, as game cover, and as feedstock for biodegradable plastics.

Does switchgrass come back every year?

Switchgrass may die back in winter but the rhizome will remain alive underground, especially if the plants are mulched. You can divide the plant every few years to produce new plants. For the best appearance, the plant should be sheared back to within a few inches (8 cm.)

How tall does switchgrass get?

3 to 6 feet
Switchgrass begins growth in late spring and continues through the summer if moisture is available. It grows 3 to 6 feet in small to large sodded clumps that spread slowly from numerous scaly creeping rhizomes. The leaves have a bluish cast and can attain a length of 2 feet.

How tall does switchgrass grow?

What is the best switchgrass?

There are several varieties of switchgrass available to the grower to choose from but two of the more popular types are Blackwell and Cave-In-Rock or CIR for short. I personally prefer CIR switchgrass when creating deer bedding areas mainly because of the height advantage that it provides.

How much does switchgrass cost?

Switchgrass is planted by seed. About 8 pounds of pure live seed per acre should be used. The assumed price per pure live seed is about $10 depending on the vendor. Total seed cost is about $80 per acre.

How do you maintain switchgrass?

How do you properly manage the site? Honestly, clipping (mowing) is the best way to stay on top of weeds. In the first two years, mow switchgrass stands to a height of four inches in May or about six inches in mid-summer (June or July) to allow enough time to grow back before winter dormancy.

Is switchgrass invasive?

Is switchgrass invasive? While switchgrass is a fierce competitor within the stand, it is not invasive in nature. This is due mainly to its fragile establishment phase. There are literally hundreds of other species capable of choking out switchgrass seedlings should they manage to germinate unintentionally.

How fast does switchgrass spread?

Switchgrass begins growth in late spring and continues through the summer if moisture is available. It grows 3 to 6 feet in small to large sodded clumps that spread slowly from numerous scaly creeping rhizomes.

Does switchgrass grow in Wisconsin?

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a vigorous warm season, native perennial grass adapted to Wisconsin and planted for many purposes including livestock grazing, wildlife cover, and as a biofuel crop. Switchgrass begins growth in late spring and continues through the summer if moisture is available.

Switchgrass is also used extensively as grass filter strips for erosion control, flood management, and reduction of nutrient loading of waterways. Growing switchgrass can also help restore the original tallgrass prairie, one of our more endangered ecosystems.

What does switchgrass look like?

Switchgrass is native in the continental United States except California and the Pacific Northwest. It is a perennial bunch grass averaging 3 to 5 feet tall and may spread from short, stout rhizomes. The stem (culm) is round and can have a red to straw colored tint. The seed head is an open, spreading panicle.

How do I select the best site for my switchgrass project?

Selection of the most appropriate method is based on the weed species present and the appropriate density. In general, sites with extensive perennial grass infestations (e.g. quackgrass) should be avoided as they are difficult to manage while establishing switchgrass.