Switch Grass

Switch Grass is a Versatile, Warm Season Perennial Grass

Switch Grass is a versatile perennial warm-season grass native to nearly all the United States, excluding only the Pacific Northwest and California. This grass features a distinctive white patch at the leaf base as it attaches to the stem making it easily recognizable. The leaves have a bluish cast that can reach up to 2 feet long. It is a forming sod grass with a round reddish stem. An open spreading panicle helps to identify the seed head. A soil test before seeding is recommended to determine whether phosphorus and potassium are necessary. Nitrogen is not recommended before planting as it may encourage weed growth but maybe warranted after it begins to produce. It is best not to add fertilizer to Switchgrass since too much fertilizer can harm the plants. If the ground needs fertilizing, then add the compost before planting to protect the plants.

The only real danger to switchgrass seedlings is grasshoppers. Dusting with plain, all-purpose flour will deter the grasshoppers without harming the plants. Switchgrass adapts well to differing climates, soils, and rainfall making it ideal for protection against soil erosion. The good thick bed is also perfect for grazing livestock and wildlife. Testing is going on in many areas as to the suitableness of a biofuel source. Burning switchgrass fields every 3 to 5 years will have to stimulate growth and control weeds and residue.

Switch Grass is a Versatile Ground Cover used for Erosion Control.

It is a natural grass, also known by the names tall prairie grass, thatch grass, Wobsqua grass, and tall panic grass. It can grow up to 8 feet tall. Farmland has replaced much of its original range. It has multiple uses, including as a source of hay and straw, biomass for energy production, a versatile ground cover, and erosion control, mainly because of its deep root system. Switchgrass also provided suitable habitat and protection for upland game birds such as pheasant, quail, and grouse.

The Panicum Virgatum grass, known as the Switch Grass, is native to the Midwestern United States and is most commonly found growing throughout prairies and flatland typical to areas such as Missouri. The grass grows in large clumps during the Spring and Summer and produces large amounts of foliage during June and July. This grass grew in USDA Growing Zones 5-9. Maximum heights at full maturity range between 3 feet to 6 feet right, and the Switch Grass achieves a maximum spread of up to 3 feet total. The blooming season lasts from the mid-months of Summer to February, and blooming produces bright flowers with a pink-shaded hue. 

  The Switch Grass grows best in wet soil, but the grass also proliferates in dry soil. Furthermore, the Switch Grass is best served by increasing it with large amounts of exposure to direct sunlight. It is best to make sure the plant is not subject to excessive amounts of shade. Although the primary growth mechanism of the grass is through its highly packed clumping, the Switch Grass also spreads by creeping rhizomes. 

  When grown under the most optimal conditions, the Switch Grass will be self-seeding.

Add Subtle Colors to Garden Problem Spots Using Panic Grass   Panic Grass (Panicum species) includes over 450 different types of tall grasses, including Hall's Panic Grass (P. hallii), Maidencane (P. hematoma), and Switchgrass (P. virgatum). Other versions of these grasses thrive in locations around the world. For example, Maidencane occurs widely in coastal regions of North and South America. Switchgrass has gained popularity as a decorative grass in gardens, but it also occurs naturally in many North American prairies.

 Impressive Variety  Different varieties of Panic Grass grow well in challenging terrains, such as rock gardens, deserts, or locations with heavy clay soils. This plant varies considerably in terms of its height and its physical appearance. Some species, such as Switchgrass, attain well over 6 feet at maturity. The hardiness and flexibility of different Panic Grass species make this plant an excellent solution for gardeners seeking hardy grasses to cover barren "problem spots" in rock gardens or other hard-to-mow sites.

 More Like a Grass Than a Flower  Some Panic Grass species produce a myriad of very tiny flowers. This pant resembles a grass far more than a conventional garden bloom. Its spiked stems help add light golden or green hues to landscaping. Switchgrass, in particular, has achieved popularity in erosion control programs and as an ornamental garden addition.

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