{"id":31580,"date":"2020-09-20T12:54:32","date_gmt":"2020-09-20T16:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=31580"},"modified":"2020-10-05T14:35:09","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T18:35:09","slug":"warm-season-grasses-for-wildlife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2020\/09\/20\/warm-season-grasses-for-wildlife\/","title":{"rendered":"Warm Season Grasses for Wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>

Switchgrass and bluestem meadow by Tom Potterfield CC by NC SA 2.0<\/p><\/div>\n

Warm season grasses are grasses that grow best during the summer (June-August) and often form large clumps. These grasses provide excellent wildlife habitat, in addition to erosion control. Warm season grasses typically are tall plants with large root systems that help keep soil in place.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many warm season grasses are colorful and have large seed heads which can provide food for some wildlife species. The main wildlife benefit of native warm season grasses is the cover that they provide. Maryland has several native species of warm season grasses, which are listed in the table below.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/strong><\/td>\nHeight<\/strong><\/td>\nSoil\/Light Requirements<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Big bluestem <\/span>(Andropogon gerardii)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

5-7 ft<\/td>\nTolerates dry sites with acidic, sandy, loamy, or clayey soils; requires full sun<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Broomsedge bluestem (<\/span>Andropogon virginicus<\/span><\/i>)<\/span><\/td>\n2-4 ft<\/td>\nTolerates a wide variety of soils, including old fields with low fertility.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Eastern gamagrass <\/span>(Tripsacum dactyloides)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

6-8 ft<\/td>\nTolerates moist, well-drained soils; prefers fertile sites; requires full to partial sun<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Little bluestem <\/span>(Schizachyrium scoparium)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

2-4 ft<\/td>\nTolerates dry sites with acidic, sandy, loamy or clayey soils; requires full sun<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Indiangrass <\/span>(Sorghastrum nutans)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

4-6 ft<\/td>\nTolerates dry-moderately wet sites; requires full sun<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Switchgrass <\/span>(Panicum virgatum)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

4-6 ft<\/td>\nTolerates dry-wet sites with acidic, sandy, loamy, or clayey soils; requires full to partial sun<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The bunching growth habit of most warm season grasses allows for open space at ground level. This space allows smaller species, like northern bobwhite quail,to safely navigate through the grasses. If growing a warm season grass meadow for wildlife, it is recommended that the meadow contains about 50% native warm season grasses and 50% forbs and shrubs. This mixed habitat will help support food and cover requirements for a variety of wildlife species. To keep the desired open space at ground level, periodic disking and mowing may be necessary. For more information about creating and maintaining warm season grass meadows, click on the following resource links below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n