Aquiring some Guinea grass.

[collector_and_buyer]

Could anybody advise me as to where i could purchase some Guinea grass plants.I live in Young NSW and we don't have much in the way of nurseries out here.Have just returned from Cairns and it was growing everywhere up there.Thanks Dale.

[Trilobite]

Dale, you will be flat out finding it in any nursery as it is not a native nor an ornamental grass. You should have grabbed some of the clump or some seed heads, it grows like a weed. I proabaly wouldnt last too long in the winters down that way.

[collector_and_buyer]

My friend and i were on our way back from the Cape,culling ferals and we stopped at Cairns for a couple of days.This was on the weekend when i saw the Guinea grass.Had no way or time to get it back,or organise for someone to post some {if you are allowed to}.It will be planted under full cover with plenty of access to sun and protection from the frost.Must be some very fat-healthy finches up that way,as it is everywhere.Regards.

[GregH]

Remember that Guinea grass is Panicum maximum which is often in finch mixes so your seed supplier may be able to get you some. If you were further north a farm supplies might have some as either seed for growing it for fodder or seed production. It would be better to source a less tropical adapted variety if possible.

[collector_and_buyer]

What would be a suitable grass to grow that would provide both seeding heads and good cover for either nesting or perching?.It will be under opaque polycarbonate and will not get any frost on it.Thanks.

[E Orix]

It depends on the size of your aviary and what type birds.
In my opinion the best alround grass is Phylaris(wild canary) it grows well in a ball shape will seed and can be cut back to seed again.
The best plants to get are the big single ones along the side of the road.Cut them back hard plant and water and they will shoot well.
They will stand up to you local cold weather.

[collector_and_buyer]

The aviary will be 8mtr x 5.9mtr x 2.4 high and i will put in a mixture of Aussie -Plumhead,Diamond sparrow,Pictorella.Painteds and foreign-Jacarini,Red facePF,Aurora,O breast,Green singers.E.Orix,is the phalaris that you mention,the type that grows in the paddocks around Young?.If it is,i have a paddock full.There will only be one pair of each bird listed above.Thanks.

[E Orix]

Most likely,just look for the large single plants,they are easily removed,cut them back hard and within a couple of weeks you will have a fine grass clump.

[wagga]

Johnson grass (Sorghum halapense) is also suitable for larger aviaries. Mice, if given the chance, will make their nests below ground level in the root system. I transferred the plants into large pots or drums/bath tubs to reduce this invasive rhizome plant taking over the aviary and controlled any mice infestation/nesting by flooding with water the tubs. Like Phylaris this can be heavily pruned to ground level each year in winter to allow regrowth and extra sunlight into aviaries.

Due to weed eradication programs and the recent long drought it might be harder to find than years ago. Johnson grass has been declared a Noxious Weed in NSW so be careful for applied poisons.

I used the DPI web site for plant identification. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/p ... s/profiles

[E Orix]

I planted Johnston grass in my aviary about 10 years ago and I am still trying to eradicate it still.
If you do use it do as Wagga suggested and contain it.
While I have no concrete proof I have a feeling that if the birds eat too much seeding heads it may be toxic especially
to Parrot Finches.I guess mixed with other seeding grasses it maybe fine.As I have said before its only my opinion.