Available In:

Soft Stem Rush Packet $2.00 Soft Stem Rush 1 Ounce $25.00 Soft Stem Rush 1/4 Pound $100.00 Soft Stem Rush One Pound $320.00

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Soft Stem Rush

Soft Stem Rush (Juncus effuses) is a clump forming wetland plant that provides a striking vertical element to any garden or container planting.  Soft Stem Rush is a slow spreading, clump forming, grass-like perennial which emerges from a stout branching rootstock.  It is among the most productive of freshwater wetland plant species and is readily propagated from bare root stocks, seedlings, container stalks or direct planting into the soil.  In the wild dispersal by wind, water or animals due to the small size and tacky outer coating of the seed is the primary means of propagation.

Native too much of North America, Soft Stem Rush is a perennial in zones 4-10 and tolerates periods of drought and total inundation. As with all rushes, Soft Stem Rush will grow in soils with little to no drainage. Despite its name, Soft Stem Rush is a stiff and upright plant, with cylindrical glossy bright green leaves that closely resemble the leafless stems that form dense tufts.

These dense tufts have deep fibrous root systems, that provide excellent erosion control, filter suspended solids, absorb nutrients, and assist with substrate oxidation. Soft Stem Rush is an ideal species to include in any wetland restoration/conservation or wetland ecosystem generation project. It can also be employed with wastewater treatment applications and in riparian buffers.

Soft Stem Rush provides food and shelter for many birds and other wildlife species. In addition, many waterfowl and songbirds and smaller animals including jackrabbits, cottontails, muskrats, porcupines, and gophers eat the seeds. Muskrats also use Juncus species, among others for hut construction.

Planting plugs is the surest way to establish a new stand of this species. It flowers between late May through August and occasionally into September.  Seeds need light, moisture and heat for germination and this can be undertaken in a grenhouse.  Keep in mind that seedlings cannot withstand long periods without water in a greenhouse environment.  The seeds begin to germinate in around 1 week.

Seeding is most successful in the early summer after water levels and spring storms have subsided and can be planted at the edge of a pond or in standing water up to 6” deep and prefers partial shade. Fluctuating water levels during establishment periods can assist in speeding up the spread of this rush if required. Soft Stem Rushes generally mature in the late summer and grow to a height of about two and a half feet although it can reach five feet a height of five feet. Juncus effusus is one the most productive of the freshwater wetland species.

An interesting aside is that Soft Stem Rush stems were used from ancient times through to the early 1900s, to create inexpensive, candle-like lights called “rushlights”. Rushlights were popular because they were a free lighting source rather than a superior one. These lights were made by peeling the stems off and soaking the inner pith in animal fat, grease or wax.  Of all the rushes, Juncus effusus were reportedly the best.

If you’re planning a water garden choosing evergreen plants such as Soft Stem Rush in conjunction with sedges, sweet flag, and winter-blooming varieties including Water Hawthorne, will enable you to enjoy a fully planted garden or pond year-round. Likewise, as Soft Stem Rush is relatively tall and forms dense colonies, it’s able to provide substantial cover and nesting environment for wetland birds and other wildlife. Finally it’s an ideal plant in wetland conservation, restoration or creation projects and as a plant to help control erosion and accelerate sediment accretion.

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Available In:

Illinois Bundleflower Packet $2.00 Illinois Bundleflower 1/4 Pound $6.00 Illinois Bundleflower One Pound $20.00

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Illinois Bundleflower

Recommended for use in range seedings and for wildlife food and cover. Illinois bundleflower is a nutritious plant and is readily eaten by all classes of livestock, deer and pronghorn antelope. It decreases under heavy grazing and is an important range condition indicator. Its seeds are readily consumed by birds and rodents. It is considered one of the most important native prairie legumes. It is frequently used in range revegetation projects.  Illinois bundleflower was a minor medical plant for Native Americans. The Omaha and Ponca tribes called it rattle plant because the seeds in the dried pods were used by children as rattles while imitating the dance rituals of adults. Pawnees used the boiled plant leaves to produce a wash which was used to relieve itching.

Illinois bundleflower is a warm season, self-pollinating, herbaceous, perennial, leguminous forb. Multiple stems grow from a woody caudex which is attached to the perennial root system of this legume species. Stems are glabrous, angled, longitudinally grooved and erect. The plant stands .6 to 1.3 meters in height. Its bipinnately compound leaves are alternately attached to the stem. Leaves are sensitive to external stimuli such as sunlight or touch which causes infolding of the leaflets. Flowers are white and five parted with 5 sepals, petals and stamens. The peduncles or stalks supporting the inflorescences are located in the leaf axil. The white globose heads produce clustered flat scythe-shaped pods which are slightly spirally twisted. Two to several seeds are contained within the dry dehiscent pods. The dark brown pods are broadly oblong and flat being 3 to 4 times longer than wide. Seeds are brown and 3 to 5 mm long, nearly as wide and mature in August.

Desmanthus illinoensis is the most widely distributed of Desmanthus species in the United States. It ranges southward from South Dakota and Minnesota through Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, and eastward to Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carolinas and into Florida.

It is found on rocky, open wooded slopes, prairies, ravines, stream banks, roadsides and waste places. The great diversity of habitats in which it is found indicates a wide temperature and moisture tolerance.

Natural populations are most often found in prairie remnants, glades, sloughs, woodlands edges, and disturbed areas in the east. In the west it is found in moist alkaline bottoms, rocky open woods, grasslands, and along streams and rivers. Soil acidity or alkalinity did not appear to be a significant edaphic factor in the distribution of Illinois bundleflower, since stands were found in more or less equal abundance on  both sandstone and limestone parent material soils. It thrives on medium textured soils and is tolerant of most except coarse sands and heavy clays. It has fair tolerance to burning in the dormant state and will grow less vigorously in shady situations. More vigorous and more abundant growth is realized in 50+ cm rain fall zones. Good drought tolerance can be expected in open communities with reduced levels of competition. Bundleflower is normally found in association with native warm season grasses.

It is easily established from seed, and may be seeded alone at a drill depth of 1.27 to 2.54 cm deep on heavier, moister soil and sandy or drier soils, respectively. Plant into a prepared seed bed or dead stubble for mulch may help establishment. Additional mulch and irrigation will aid establishment on critical sites or tough mine spoil sites. Plantings made in early to mid spring time would provide the seedlings optimum moisture, while late fall or winter planting would pre-chill and stimulate better germination of “hard” legume seed.

The inclusion of legumes improved crude protein (CP) concentrations of forages compared to that of grasses alone. However, forage samples containing the legumes roundhead lespedeza and Illinois bundleflower showed lower In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) than grasses alone. This may be influenced by the amount of tannins accumulated by the legume species. Tannin concentration can limit digestibility of forages in high concentrations.

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Illinois Bundleflower at a Glance
Type	Light	Seed Depth	Seed Spacing	Days to Sprout	Plant Spacing	Plant Height
Perennial	Full Sun	1/8"	1"	7-21	12-24"	24-60"
Seeds per Pound 60,000				Seeding Rate 8 oz per 1,000 sq ft

]]> http://www.lorenzsokseedsllc.com/illinois-bundleflower-desmanthus-illinoensis/feed/ 0 http://www.lorenzsokseedsllc.com/horsetail-rush-equisetum-hyemale/ http://www.lorenzsokseedsllc.com/horsetail-rush-equisetum-hyemale/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:22:48 +0000 Jim http://www.lorenzsokseedsllc.com/?p=1565 Horsetail Rush is available as a live plant only. The minimum order is 50 plants at 50 cents per plant. Shipping is overnight and as such our standard rates do not apply. Please contact Freddie Lorenz TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 to obtain a shipping quote. Your order will be processed immediately.
Horsetail Rush (Equisetum hyemale), or scouring rush is a hollow stemmed, perennial, non-flowering plant that has been]]>

Horsetail Rush is available as a live plant only. The minimum order is 50 plants at 50 cents per plant. Shipping is overnight and as such our standard rates do not apply. Please contact Freddie Lorenz TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 to obtain a shipping quote. Your order will be processed immediately.

Horsetail or Scrubbing Rush

Horsetail Rush (Equisetum hyemale), or scouring rush is a hollow stemmed, perennial, non-flowering plant that has been around for a long time. In fact, they were around millions of years before dinosaurs.

First appearing in the Devonian period (ca. 360 to ca. 397 million years ago) of the Paleozoic era these types of rushes became a particularly dominant plant during the Carboniferous period (ca. 360 to ca. 290 mya). There were many genera and species with some growing up to 60 feet tall. The vast majority of these became extinct at the end of the Paleozoic except for one genus containing some two-dozen species. Horsetail Rush was one of the survivors.

Horsetail Rush can attain a height of around three feet and the cylindrical evergreen stems have a diameter of around 1/3 of an inch. The stems are jointed and hollow, usually un-branched and have slightly raised longitudinal ridges. Tiny leaves join together to create the narrow black to greenish bands around the joints. As such, Horsetail Rush looks similar to leafless bamboo.

Horsetail Rush does not produce flowers or seeds. Instead it reproduces by microscopic spores in a cone shaped strobilis that forms at the tip of fertile stems. It also propagates by rhizomes and clumps of the plant can be divided and should then be replanted immediately.

This plant grows in full to partially shaded sunlight and can tolerate prolonged wet conditions however, it should not be completely submerged and the soil should kept moist at all times. Despite remaining green year-round, stems that have died out and turned brown should be pruned to maintain the plants appearance. They also grow well in containers.

If the stems ever become damaged they should be pruned just above the ground level. This is because higher pruning will result in multiple new stems that can make the plant top-heavy.

There are many uses for Horsetail Rush. They are often found in Japanese gardens and can add a little “chic” to any setting. They grow well in confined spaces and can be used as an accent in ultra modern architectural settings.

Horsetail Rush is also popular in floral arrangements. The individual stem compartments can be filled with water by cutting small holes in them and then cut flowers inserted into these holes. Moreover, as this rush dries out in arrangements it does so without wilting or decaying. Similarly, it’s possible to run a wire through the stem and then bend or fold it into the desired position with a high degree of accuracy.

Finally as its other common name suggests this plant has been used in the past for scouring. Individual sections of the plant can be bundled together, or used separately to form a scrubber. The scrubbing, scouring or polishing action is caused by sharp silica crystals in the stem. It can also be used to sand wood and it is still commercially harvested in the Northern parts of Mexico to polish high quality furniture.

Strobilus of the Horsetail Rush

For quantities over 5 (five) pounds please call TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 for quote and shipping costs.

Virginia Wild Rye

Virginia Wildrye (Elymus virginicus) is a native, cool-season, medium height perennial grass that can be found throughout the US, excluding Nevada, California, and Oregon. As a rule it prefers moist, heavily textured soils with a high fertility. It is shade tolerant and is most commonly found growing on shady river, stream and lake banks, along fencerows and in open woodlands.

Virginia Wildrye is best established from seed.  Recent studies at The Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center in Kingsville, Texas have been looking at two collections of Virginia Wildrye that are adapted to South and South Central Texas.  The study found consistent germination percentages above 85 percent.  The East Texas Plant Material Center in Nacogdoches, Texas is also evaluating this species for collections adapted to the northern and eastern portions of Texas and the Southern part of Oklahoma.

In  South and South Central Texas, planting should be undertaken during early fall on a clean, firm, weed-free seedbed, with adequate soil moisture. Planting depths  will vary according to the soil type. An emergence study conducted by the Kika de la Garza PMC found that seeds should be planted between ¼ – ½ inch deep on clay soil type, and up to 1” deep in sandier soils.

Virignia Wildrye can be drilled at a minimum of ten pounds of pure live seed per acre, or broadcast at twenty pounds of pure live seed per acre.  If it is a critical area planting or if dense coverage is desired, double the seeding rate.   When including Virginia Wildrye in a seed mixture, adjust the seeding rate accordingly.  The planting should be considered successful if 1-2 plants are present per square foot planted.  Stands are best established and maintained if they are not planted next to areas with a large concentration of aggressive warm-season grasses.

Virginia Wildrye is also a good seed producer.  It can produce as much as 400 pounds of seed per dry-land acre per year.  Virginia Wildrye contains approximately 80,000 seeds per pound.

Virginia Wildrye is an ideal addition for any flood plain mixes, pasture or a habitat mix. Livestock find it very palatable and nutritious when hayed or grazed prior to heading. In a grazing situation it should not be grazed during the first year to ensure the growth of a strong and viable root system. However, following its establishment Virginia Wildrye can be grazed rotationally throughout cool seasons. The optimum height for the forage is 4 –10 inches.

Virginia Wildrye can be used to provide graceful accents in any garden and is also popular in dried floral arrangements.

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Available In:

Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania Smartweed) 1 Packet $2.00 Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania Smartweed) 1-9 pounds $30.00 per pound Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania Smartweed) 10-19 pounds $25.00 per pound Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania Smartweed) 20-49 pounds $20.00 per pound Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania Smartweed) 50 pounds or more $15.00 per pound

DEALER PRICING AVAILABLE. Please call TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 for quote and shipping costs.

Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania Smartweed)

In its natural state Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania smartweed) tends to grow on freshwater mudflats, and areas that are moderately brackish. If you are considering planting smartweed, or have natural stands of smartweed that attract ducks the following plan will certainly benefit not only yourself, but also the smartweed and the ducks you attract.

Cultivation

Cultivating Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania smartweed) from seed is a straightforward process and unless you have several acres to plant, broadcasting by hand will suffice.

Management

Management of Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania smartweed) can be broken down into four seasonal steps.

Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania smartweed) Winter Management

Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania smartweed) Spring Management

Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania smartweed) Summer Management

Pink Smartweed (Pennsylvania smartweed) Fall Management

Available In:

Frog Fruit Packet ca. 300 Seeds $10.00 Frog Fruit 1 Ounce ca. 60,000 Seeds $50.00 Frog Fruit 1/4 Pound $175.00

For quantities over 5 (five) pounds please call TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 for quote and shipping costs.

Frog Fruit (Lippia nodiflora), despite its funny name is not really a fruit for frogs. This small prostrate spreading perennial forb has soft green leaves when water is plentiful and blooms from spring through fall. It is widespread in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions. It makes an excellent ground cover and has been suggested as a lawn substitute.

In the warmer regions and those protected from frosts Frog Fruit will grow as an evergreen. Despite spreading energetically it is not an invasive plant. Frog Fruit is generally found growing in moist sandy soils or rocky areas. While it prefers moderately fertile soils it will grow in soils with lower fertility. Frog Fruit has a definite preference for sunlight and while it will grow in shady areas it tends to make considerably more vegetation and produces less blooms.

Despite being drought tolerant it does much better with good watering. In extremely dry areas Frog Fruit tends to stay close to the ground reaching a height of 3 to 6 inches. However, in wetter, shady conditions or when given additional water it tends to be more upright and can attain heights of around 8 inches. Frog Fruit propagates from seeds, root division and will also transplant easily from cuttings.

The bloom clusters are round and compact, measuring about 0.5 to 0.8 inches in diameter. The tiny blossoms open in a ring and vary in color from pale pink to white. The blooms throats tend to be orange to yellow in color. Despite their soft looking appearance the leaves of Frog Fruit tend to be stiff and have distinct serrations around their edges.

Cattle, white-tailed deer and other herbivores will graze the leaves and it also provides a food source for butterflies.

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Frog Fruit Flower Close Up

Available In:

Plains Coreopsis Packet $2.00 Plains Coreopsis 1/4 Pound $6.00 Plains Coreopsis One Pound $18.00

For quantities over 5 (five) pounds please call TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 for quote and shipping costs.

Plains Coreopsis

Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) is one of Americas most loved annuals and one of the easiest to grow. It is a large colony forming plant that is native to the Southern US although it has spread throughout much of North America. It is also the official state flower of Florida.

This colorful and hardy upright annual is a impressive bloomer. While flower colors vary they tend to be a visually stunning buttery-yellow with brilliant maroon centers. The flowers bloom from summer to fall. The leaves, which can be up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide, are green in color, finely divided and occur mainly on the lower portions of the plant.

Plains Coreopsis is an easy plant to grow and attains a height between 2 and 3 feet and should be planted in the spring or fall. They require full sun although they are tolerant of a sun-shade combination and will grow in a variety of soils. They are an ideal plant where soils are poorly drained or remain sodden for extended periods. After reaching a height of around 12 inches brown colored buds will begin to appear on the seedlings and shortly thereafter will begin blooming

It is an ideal plant for cutting with each stem adding a colorful array of small flowers to any floral arrangement.

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Plains Coreopsis at a Glance
Type	Light	Seed Depth	Seed Spacing	Days to Sprout	Plant Spacing	Plant Height
Annual	Full Sun	1/4"	Scatter	8-12	12-15"	24-36"
Seeds per Pound 1,400,000				Seeding Rate 1 ozs per 3000 sq ft

Plains Coreopsis Close Up

Plains Coreopsis- a slightly different view of the flower

Available In:

Common Reed Packet ac. 1000 Seeds $10.00 Common Reed 1 Ounce ac. 131,000 Seeds $500.00

For quantities over 5 (five) pounds please call TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 for quote and shipping costs.

Common Reed is available as a live rhizome or seed. The minimum order for rhizomes is 2500 at 40 cents per rhizome.
Planting rate: 24,000 rhizomes per acre.
Shipping is overnight and as such our standard rates do not apply. Please contact Freddie Lorenz TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 to obtain a shipping quote. Your order will be processed immediately.

Common Reed

Common Reed (Phragmites australis) is perennial wetlands grass that resembles cane. It can reach heights between 6 and 16 feet and tends to grow in thick stands.

Despite being coarse, common reed is readily eaten by cattle and horses as it provides a high quality warm-season forage. However, it becomes tough and unpalatable after maturity. Animals that graze this grass during winter should be fed a protein concentrate.

Common Reed has been used in the Southwest for lattices in constructing adobe houses.  Indians have used the round, hollow and almost woody stems for making arrow shafts and weaving mats and carrying nets.

Common Reed begins to grow in February (this varies with location). New shoots grow from buds at the nodes of old stems and stolons.  Common Reed will also propagate from either its creeping rhizomes or seed. It grows in marshes and swamps, on banks of streams and lakes, and around springs.  It grows best in firm mineral clays and tolerates moderate salinity.  It does best if water level fluctuates from 6 inches below soil surface to 6 inches above

The leaves of Common Reed are long – up to 24” long x 2” wide – tapering to a point. During the growing season the foliage is a grayish-green color. Following the first frost Common Reed turns tan and loses the majority of its leaves. However, during winter the stems with their feathery tips remain prominent features.

The seed head, located at the end of the stem is 8-16” long and has multiple branches. The plume-like, feathery, purple-brown flower heads gain their appearance from silky hairs growing along the flowers axis. Flowers generally begin to appear by the end of June and are densely arranged along the branches of the plume.

Those parts of the plant growing below the waterline provide habitats for both micro and macro invertebrates which are a food source for fish and other animals such as amphibians, reptiles, ducks and geese.  Many species of birds utilize common reed seeds as a food source and use the plant’s thick  stands for shelter.

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Common Reed Leaves

Common Reed - Close Up of Seed Head

Available In:

Torrey’s Rush Packet $2.00 Torrey’s Rush 1 Ounce $42.00 Torrey’s Rush 1/4 Pound $200.00 Torrey’s Rush 1 Pound $600.00

For quantities over 5 (five) pounds please call TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 for quote and shipping costs.

Torrey’s Rush (Juncus torreyi) is a North American native species of rush and can be found in many habitats from northern Mexico north to the southern half of Canada. It is one of the easiest plant of the rush species to identify due to its globular flower clusters and rhizomes which have tuberous enlargements.

Common habitats include wet prairies, prairie swales, sloughs, pond and stream banks, roadside ditches and wet depressions. It grows in full sun in soils that are slightly acidic to alkaline. Soils can comprise sand, mud and poorly drained clays. Torrey’s Rush does require consistently moist to periodically wet conditions.

Torrey’s Rush is an ideal plant for water gardens and reaches heights between two and three feet. It is unbranched except towards the apex where the inflorescence occurs.  The inflorescences comprise many rounded dense clusters of up to 100 flowers each. Each flower has narrow, pointed greenish, red or tan colored teals and six stamen. The leaves are colored from green to pink or red. Torrey’s Rush generally flowers between July and August. It reproduces by either seed or rhizomes.

In addition to its use as an ornamental plant in water gardens Torrey’s Rush also provides cover for wildlife including ducks, geese and other waterfowl.

Torrey’s Rush Is Available In:

Torrey’s Rush Packet $2.00 Torrey’s Rush 1 Ounce $42.00

For larger quantities call Freddie Toll Free 1 800 826 3655 for a quote

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Torrey's Rush

Available In:

Alamo switchgrass 1 Packet $2.00 Alamo switchgrass 1 Ounce $5.00 Alamo switchgrass 1/4 Pound $8.00 Alamo switchgrass One Pound $15.00

For quantities over 5 (five) pounds please call TOLL FREE 1 800 826 3655 for quote and shipping costs.

Alamo Switchgrass

Alamo switchgrass (Panicum virgatumis) is a perennial, sod-forming grass growing between 3 and 5′ tall. Switchgrass is a native grass and given suitable soil conditions can be found throughout the USA except California and the Pacific Northwest. Best soils are moderately deep to deep, somewhat dry to poorly drained, sandy to clay loam soils unless severe weed competition exists during establishment.  In the East, it performs well on shallow and droughty soil. Switchgrass does poorly on heavy soils.

Alamo switchgrass is readily distinguished from other warm-season grasses by the white patch of hair found at the point where the leaf attaches to the stem. This patch is also visible in young plants. Plants are blue-green in color and usually slightly waxy. The seed head is an open, spreading panicle.

Switchgrass provides good warm-season pasture and high quality hay for livestock. Switchgrass is also renowned for its heavy growth during late spring and early summer.  Alamo can be employed on its own for pasture or in seed mixtures for warm-season grazing or hay.

When it comes to erosion control switchgrass is possibly the most valuable of the native grass across a wide range of sites.  It’s a valuable plant for soil stabilization on strip-mine spoils, sand dunes, dikes, and similar critical areas.  Switchgrass has also bee used for low windbreak plantings in truck crop fields.

In addition to its benefits to livestock and in erosion control switchgrass also provides excellent nesting and fall and winter cover for pheasants, quail, and rabbits.  It holds up well in heavy snow and is used on shooting preserves.  In addition the seed provides pheasants, quail, turkeys, doves, and songbirds with a food source.

Despite the aforementioned benefits of switchgrass its potential use as a renewable biofuel resource may prove to be its greatest. Interest in this use for switchgrass has been increasing in recent years, primarily in the Southern United States. The Booneville, Arkansas, Plant Materials Center (PMC) and the Plant and Soil Science Department of Oklahoma State University (OSU) are cooperating to evaluate several upland types of switchgrass for use as a biomass energy resource.

OSU has evaluated selections of upland types of switchgrass for several years.  The development of hybrid progeny with substantial heterosis for increased biomass yield will ultimately result in improved hybrid cultivars for the Central and Southern United States.

The PMC is currently evaluating a number of improved lines and commercially available cultivars for their dry-matter potential and environmental adaptation.  Results of this study may contribute to producers cashing in on a growing demand for renewable fuels and a decrease on our dependency on fossil fuels.

When used for pasture or hay switchgrass should be seeded in pure stands as it is more manageable alone than in mixes.  Its slick, free-flowing seed can be planted with most seed drills or with a broadcast spreader. The optimal or best time to plant is between December and the end of May.  In the Central Plains 3-5 pounds PLS per acre is the recommended planting rate.

Switchgrass seeds are smooth and shiny, with about 426,000 per pound.

Seedbeds should be firmed with a roller prior to drilling or broadcasting the seed.  If seeds are planted using the broadcast method, roll the area after seeding to help cover the seed.  When drilled, seeds should be planted 1/4 inch deep.  No-tillage seeding in closely grazed or burned sod has been successful where clipping, grazing, or proper herbicides accomplish sod control.

Phosphorus and potassium should be applied according to soil tests before or at seeding.  Nitrogen should not be used at seeding time as it will stimulate weed growth.

To control weeds during initial growth mow switchgrass to a height of 4 inches in May or 6 inches in June or July.  While grazing is generally not recommended the first year, a vigorous stand may be grazed late in the year. However, grazing periods must be short with at least 30 days of rest provided between grazings.  Switchgrass is the earliest maturing of the common native warm-season grasses and it is ready to graze in early summer.

Established stands of switchgrass may be fertilized in accordance with soil tests.  Phosphorus and potassium may not be needed if the field is grazed since these elements will be recycled back to the soil by the grazing animal.  Apply nitrogen after switchgrass has begun to produce using a single application in mid-to-late May or a split application in both May and early July.  Avoid high rates of nitrogen because carry-over could spur cool-season grass growth and harm young plants the following spring.

Switchgrass will benefit from burning of plant residues just prior to the initiation of spring growth.  Burning fields once every 3 to 5 years decreases weed competition, eliminates excessive residue and stimulates switch grass growth.  Switchgrass used for wildlife food and cover should be burned once every 3 to 4 years to reduce mulch accumulations that restrict the movement of hatchlings and attract nest predators.

Under continuous grazing management, begin grazing switchgrass after it has reached a height of 14 to 16 inches, and stop when plants are grazed to within 4 inches of the ground during late spring, 8 inches in early summer, and 12 inches in late summer.  A rest before frost is needed to allow plants to store carbohydrates in the stem bases and crown.  Plants may be grazed to a height of 6 to 8 inches after frost.  The winter stubble is needed to provide insulation.

With management intensive systems, grazing can begin in the first paddocks when plants reach a height of 10 inches and should not be grazed below a stubble height of 6 to 8 inches.  Grazed paddocks need to be rested 30-60 days before being grazed again.

 

Alamo Switchgrass is available in:

Alamo switchgrass 1 Packet $2.00 Alamo switchgrass 1 Ounce $5.00

For larger quantities call Freddie Toll Free 1 800 826 3655 for a quote

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• Download this information as a printable .pdf fact sheet. Alamo Switchgrass Fact Sheet