2_ Depth . Normal planting depth is 20 to 30 centimeters 

 for plants set upright. This depth places the rooting zone of the plant 

 where it will remain moist until fully established and anchors it against 

 being blown out. Bitter panicum cannot withstand as much sand burial as 

 some other dune grasses. Dahl, et al. (1975) obtained very low survival 

 when the uppermost living part of the plant was buried more than 15 cen- 

 timeters deep. Consequently, deep burial of plants during establishment 

 should be avoided. Planting close to unfilled sand fences is also risky 

 because the sand will accumulate too fast and bury the plant. 



_3 Planting Date . Survival of bitter panicum trans- 

 plants depends more on moisture conditions at and following transplanting 

 than on calendar date. Dahl, et al. (1975) transplanted this plant suc- 

 cessfully at least once in each month of the year. However, the best 

 planting period was from late winter to early summer. Fall and early 

 winter plantings were inferior because the plants remained dormant until 

 late spring. In the meantime, they were exposed to the hazards of winter 

 weather, burial, blowout, and saltwater inundation. 



4_ Planting Stock . Two distinct types of stems of 

 bitter panicum (primary stems and tillers) are available in the fall and 

 again in the spring and early summer. Primary stems represent mature 

 growth from the previous year which has flowered and is generally dry 

 and brittle. Such stems are 1 meter or more long and most of the lower 

 leaves are dead with the terminal leaves still green. These are pre- 

 ferred for transplanting from early winter through early summer. 



Tillers are young, succulent growing stems with green leaves and are 

 usually smaller than primary stems (Fig. 26). Tillers are best planted 

 from late spring through summer because they become established and grow 

 quickly. Consequently, planting stock should be according to the season. 



The size of the primary stems is important in selecting planting 

 stock. Small primary stems are usually found only in old, crowded, or 

 starved stands; their poor performance is probably due to their limited 

 reserves of stored food. Use of crowded nursery plants is not economical 

 as the small stems must be planted at a much higher density to counter 

 the high mortality. 



In upright planting, stems longer than 50 to 60 centimeters should 

 not be used. Primary stems from vigorous nursery stock are 1 meter or 

 more long and may be cut into two or more pieces for planting with little 

 difference in survival between top and bottom pieces (Dahl, et al., 1975). 

 The number of usable transplants may be more than doubled by cutting the 

 large primary stems. Survival will not be reduced and handling will be 

 much easier. 



5^ Spacing . Planting density and pattern should be 

 based on the nature of the site and the objective. A planting spaced 30 

 centimeters on centers, will cover over quicker than one spaced 60 centi- 

 meters on centers, but it will require four times as many hills and cost 



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