How to Plant Switchgrass for Deer

Switchgrass is a perennial grass native to prairies in the U.S. It grows during the summer, making it a warm season grass. During the winter the grass dies back, but the seeds and rhizomes grow back the following spring. Switchgrass grows up to 7 feet tall. White-tailed deer use switchgrass not only as bedding and cover, but they also dig up the rhizomes for food during the winter.

Hand seeder
Rake

Instructions

- 1
  Clear the field you want to plant the switchgrass in the fall before the spring you want it to grow. Pull all the weeds from the land and remove any large rocks from the soil with the rake.
- 2
  Pour 5 to 7 lbs. of switchgrass seed into a hand seeder and distribute the seed to the field in late February or early March, when the ground is still cold and unworkable but the snow has melted. The switchgrass needs the cold, wet weather to break dormancy and grow.
- 3
  Water the switchgrass stand regularly until the grass grows in the spring, if there is a lack of rainfall.

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