Grass Hedge screen - help
Whitetail Deer
Contributors to this thread:
I have a couple of gas and power lines that run through my property which in the past allowed people to look several hundred yards into the property. Because they are gas/power lines, I cant plant trees or shrubs as a hedge screen. In the past I have planted Egyptian wheat and Alamo switch grass to create a hedge but I have had limited success with both. The switch grass is hard to get established and the wheat has to be replanted.
Does anyone have a suggestion for something else that is tall but does not require replanting and is not a invasive threat?
CAS_HNTR's Link
Miscanthus Giganteus.......its a perennial that is sterile and only spreads by rhizome division. Basically you have to plant little roots and they are there for good.
Takes about 3 years to establish and will push 12' tall and stands well in winter.
A permanent solution that we used. The power company gave us permission on the condition that they have access through a gate.
CASH_HNTR, thanks for the suggestion. Have you planted this stuff? Are the rhizomes considered "runners"?
loprofile, thanks for the suggestion. I have actually thought about this. Might be the way to go.
I have not planted it but think I will be planting some next spring for a visual barrier until my spruce grow up.
Anyways they dont spread with a runner (like a strawberry) but a rhizome (like an Iris)......I belive the main difference would be above verus below ground.
I have not heard of issue with them getting out of control as they don't produce seed and only spread a few inches a year.
CAS_HNTR, I contacted someone at maple rivers farms and was told that its "Not a running grass. Each cluster will spread four to five inches in diameter every year. Two rhizomes planted 18" apart in a heavy clay soil will touch in about five years. In sandy loam, four years. I have seen it grow just as well in partial shade. I believe that is because of the extra moisture the soil held on the hot summer days."
Only downfall I have for it it its NOT cheap when you look at covering a larger gap.....I calculated I would need between $500-750 of it!! Damn!
I will likley plant NEEDED sections and then propogate them myself for the remainder of less mandatory areas.
I'm telling you, look up Egyptian Grass.
It can grow up to 15' tall and is very hardy. It can literally give you a wall of privacy. If you stage it, you can create entry and exit points for the deer.
Good luck !
bamboo, the clumping types. www.raintreenurseries.com
Have to be careful with any of the exotics like bamboo or you will have a problem you can't get rid of down the road.
TREESTANDWOLF.......do you mean egyptian wheat?
I have not heard of egyptian grass.....any additional infomation?
r-man, I considered corn but decided that I really didn't want to attract deer to an area that I was trying to keep them away from because of poaching.
I hear you, sorgum is all so a good temp screen. but a fence seems to be a best choice to stop night time spot light poaching. oats get tall as 6" , can you place chain lik fence up a roads edge? if so consider planting grapes along it.
and there is sunflowers and even chi, chi gets over 6' and doesn't require much nutrients, only fair soil with 2per nitrogen. it grows faster then corn, and has a look of a sunflower, mine are 6-7' tall and no flowers yet, not sure it will have time to flower before frost kills it. seed is small like clover or turnip and dirt cheap, look in the Walmart near the dry beans and spices section. 1-lb will cover 2 acres and cost about 8$, and it can be thrown on top and walk away. each plant can use only less than one square ft, so two seeds per sq ft, is enough
I second the Miscanthus.....easy to plant, and its permanent and not invasive. First year slow growth, but it makes a tall thick barrier. have a 3 year old stand, that I wished I planted long time ago, Plant it soon, its a great screen. good luck
Egyptian wheat works great as a screen, but it has to be planted every year, plus a heavy snow will flatten it as well.
t-roy, thanks for response. I think that's what I have decided to go with. I live in TN. A heavy snow for us is three inches
I did the Egyptian wheat until local farmers asked me to reconsider because it can spread to their fields and become problematic.
Tndeer.....what did you decide on??
Not sure if you have enough time to get the results you are looking for this year. If you are gonna try yet this year, I would recommend fertilizing with nitrogen of some sort before planting. (Soil test is best but if pressed for time) Then hit it again several weeks later with some more nitrogen. I used ammonium sulfate & had very good results until it snowed. I planted mine in May last year in Iowa.
Good luck & post some pics!
planting tall grass might work until the ROW crew decides to bushhog or spray.
I am going to try Egyptian wheat in some spots next year. I have some Alamo switch grass out in a couple spots that I planted a couple years ago. Its doing ok.
Is a dirt burm out of the question? can't see through dirt, nor would you have to worry about it spreading, or reseeding it.
Sounds like a plan.....mind stating your thouhts on EW vs other options?