NWSG on Poor Dry Soils

F

Freeborn

Member
Hi Group,

I am looking for recommendations on grasses that do well on poor/sandy soils. I?m in North Central Minnesota and had CP2 planted several years ago and on my poor soils it is performing poorly. The mix is dominated by Indian, Big Blue and Dakota switch and it is not providing much for cover. I have now found out that short grass mixes perform better on dryer soils. I would like to find a mix to drill into my existing grasses when I do my mid term grass maintenance.

What have you guys seen that grows to a good height on poor and dry soils. Is there anything I can do to amend my soils that might help?

Thanks much!

FB
 
You're more than a bit out of my neck of the woods, but I'll tell you what goes here. First, the soil dictates that many things are going to perform poorly. However, some grasses will do better. Here, sand bluestem sand dropseed, and sand lovegrass come to mind. They do not have the palatability that the ice cream species do, but they will grow on the sand medium. Again, asking for something tall on a water limited soil is a lot to ask. However, if you're going to get height it will be from adapted species, not those that require better substrates. I'd ask at the NRCS what their county sand mix is and then check the soil survey or ask them what is the original plant mix on your soil type. Switch is a clay soil plant. Probably shouldn't have been in your mix. Good luck with your search.
 
Thanks Prairie Drifter,

I have some serious doubts they know what they are doing. They recommended my current mix and recommended I add extra Dakota Switch when I planted 4 years ago. Recently when I had a discussion with them regarding planting Dakota switch on sandy soils they admited it does not do very well. Hard to understand where their heads are as I have a very hard time getting them to return calls or talk to me, I have to chase them down and most often do as much work for them as I can.

I am on my own with this one so I need to do my homework. Based on my observations grasses like Sideoats gama, little bluestem and then cool season grasses which capture the spring rains do better.

The sand bluestem looks like a tall variety that might be a good species to add to the mix.

Thanks Prairie Drifter.
 
My sandier hill tops in NW Iowa have mostly gone over to buffalo grass and little bluestem.

The drop seeds and side oats I understand do well, but I have no experience.
 
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