Table 33. Early summer versus winter planting of bitter panicum. 



Summer 



Winter 



Higher, more consistent transplant survival. 



Transplants begin growth within 1 month 

 after planting and are trapping sand within 

 2 to 3 months. 



Inundation of plantings by seawater is less 

 likely. 



Evaporation severe; beach usually has 

 several inches of dry surface sand except 

 soon after heavy rain, although subsurface 

 moisture is usually greater than field 

 capacity. 



Beach plantings require irrigation to pre- 

 pare planting surface or planting soon after 

 a heavy rain. 



Climate is unsuitable for prolonged physi- 

 cal labor during much of the day. 



Winds are typically southeast. Sand move- 

 ment is predictable; elevated, barren dune 

 plantings are less likely to be eroded or 

 buried. 



Transplants require extra care (storage in 

 freshwater or partial burial in wet sand) to 

 prevent dessication between digging and 

 planting. 



Survival generally poorer, more erratic. 



Transplants remain semidormant 3 to 6 

 months; active growth does not begin until 

 the following spring. 



Inundation of plantings may be regular in 

 winter and spring. 



Evaporation much reduced; beach surface 

 is usually moist. 



Beach plantings do not require irrigation to 

 prepare planting surface except after pro- 

 longed drought. 



Climate is usually more suitable for physi- 

 cal labor. 



Winds are variable; sand movement unpre- 

 dictable. Elevated plantings often buried or 

 eroded. 



Usually no extra care is required. 



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