Tips for Grazing Natives
• Do NOT overgraze – Native grasses, especially warm seasons, do not tolerate continuous, close grazing. Use a managed grazing system to control grazing.
• Don't wait too late in the spring to begin grazing – In cool season dominated grazing systems, it is tempting to utilize the spring flush of growth before grazing warm season grasses. Potential production can be limited if the plants are grazed too early, but waiting too long can limit animal performance as warm season grass quality declines.
• Native warm season grasses as stockpile – While these grasses may be stockpiled for use in the dormant season, quality is lower than in the growing season. If you choose to graze the stockpile, keep an eye on animal condition, and beware that some species loose quality faster than others.
• Firm seedbed – The soil should be firmly packed before planting. When walking boot heels should make only very slight indentions. If needed, roll the field.
• Ensure correct planting depth – Most natives should not be planted more than ¼" deep. If using a drill, make sure some seed is visible on top of the ground. Eastern Gama Grass is the exception, it is best planted ½" to 1" deep.
• Plateau® or Panoramic ® -- This herbicide, active ingredient Imazapic, can considerably decrease establishment time for grass plantings. It is labeled for use on Switchgrass, Eastern Gama Grass, Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, and Indiangrass, among others. Always read and follow label directions.
• Wildlife and pollinators – Many species of wildlife can benefit from native plantings. To create wildlife habitat add forbs or choose an odd area such as at the edge of the field to plant a mix high in forbs for wildlife use.
Getting Started
Getting rid of existing vegetation and seeds in the soil is usually the most important step to ensure a successful wildflower planting from seed. For more information check out our planting timeline.
Wildflower seeds need to go through a cold, moist period before they will germinate; so plant in winter or see our stratification guide.
New construction sites and steep slopes are considered critical areas. See special instructions for these areas in our critical area treatment..
Visit our guides page for more tips and solutions.
|
Mixes
All grazing operations are different; no one mix will work for everyone. See what is working for others in your area, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), or contact us to share thoughts.
Which grasses to plant: Switchgrass and Eastern Gama Grass produce large quantities of forage but earlier than other warm seasons; choose one of these if the grazing system has a good balance of warm and cool season grasses. Although they produce slightly less tonnage, Big Bluestem and Indiangrass peak in production later than the other two. This is ideal for cool season grass dominated operations. Little Bluestem will produce a smaller quantity of forage; however, it can be part of a mix on drier areas of the field and will help prevent overgrazing on these sites.
A word on cultivars: Many cultivars have been developed for use in grazing operations. Some work best in good soil while others thrive in drier, rockier soils. Find out what others in your area have used or contact us.
Each grass has its season of growth. This graph illustrates the percent of the plant's growth that occurs in each month. Cool season grasses, such as fescue, begin their growth early in the spring. Warm season grasses wait for the warm temperatures of summer to produce. However, there are differences in timing of peak production even among the warm seasons. When choosing grasses to plant in a grazing system, take into account the growth curve of the forages already in place and consider the curve of the forage to be planted. Make sure they complement each other and that quality forage is being produced throughout the growing season. (Data from NRCSCode 528, 2007)
Contact us for current priving on warm season grass seed. |
