Description

Switchgrass

Variety: Shelter
Packaging: 12 kg bag (equivalent to 1 hectare)
Perennial grass, native variety, germination 25–45 days, cover for small game, establishes itself in 2 years, height 150–170 cm

The Shelter variety is very upright, can be sown on all soil types, is versatile and hardy.

In comparison, the Dacotah variety is shorter, suitable for all soil types, and intended primarily for small game.
RC BigRock, RC Chippewa, RC Tecumseh and RC Sundance are tall varieties intended primarily for big game. When mixed, these varieties will help standardise the plots depending on the year and soil conditions.
Another species, BigBluestem, a tall and sturdier variety, is generally intended for large game.

Sowing in grouped patches favours large game, whilst narrow, elongated strips (3–6 metres wide) favour small game.

All areas, however small, are suitable for cultivation.

If these plots are attractive to wildlife, they may even help prevent damage to neighbouring agricultural fields. Perennial plants such as switchgrass or miscanthus serve as shelter or refuge for all species. They provide a vital haven during periods when crops in the fields are not yet grown, allowing animals to hide or protect themselves from predators.

Well-organised plots with switchgrass of varying heights are attractive to game. Arranged in strips or patches, they allow you to hunt in front of you, either alone or in a group, in a suitable area, evoking the hunting of days gone by.

Switchgrass forms a dense cover that provides a refuge for insects. The density of the vegetation offers a quiet place for game to nest or breed. The organic matter on the ground produces a substantial layer of mulch, retains moisture and thus increases the activity of insects and earthworms. Consequently, it is an ecosystem that regains its balance.

Shelter is an old, unimproved variety. Another tall variety suitable for big game cover is RC BigRock, which is included in the Late PackDuo.