Miscanthus

Benefits of Miscanthus

• Can provide a very warm secure holding area for gamebirds
• Can be used as a windbreak
• Lasts many years – Cost effective in the long term
• Leaf produces a mulch on the floor to keep birds away from mud and suppresses weeds
• Once established, management very easy

Issues to consider

• Cost – High initial costs to establish crop
• Lead time – Likely to take a couple of years (at least) to become useful
• Establishment – The crop needs careful planting into a good, deep seedbed and can be verysusceptible to drought in the early stages
• Appearance – The crop can get very tall, but it stands well and provides good cover. It does however standout in the landscape which may be a consideration for you / the landowner

Establishment

• Miscanthus is supplied as Rhizomes (picopposite)
• Need to be planted 7 – 10cm down into a deep, well structured seedbed
• Plants should be established in wide rows 1 metre apart, with 1 metre between plants in the rows as well
• 1st year weed control is very important, but quite simple

Alternatives to consider

• Miscanthus is very expensive, compared to some useful alternatives
• Reed Canary Grass, grown in wide rows, can perform many of the same functions at a fraction of the cost. We have many successful examples of this. Most dissatisfaction with Canary Grass is poor decision making at the outset.
• Perennial Chicory is working very well on many shoots now, often in conjunction with Canary Grass (See Oakbank Game Mix 206)