suggestions please

[Lewis]

Ok. I have changed my mind a hunderd times on what to plant in a small clearing (3/4 acre) on the farm I hunt. Will you guys help me out with some suggestions please? Where the clearing is located makes it hard to get to with the tractor if it is at all wet. The clearing itself is not wet but getting up the hill is tough. I need to plant something that is low maintenance and still benifitial to the Turkeys, Deer and other wildlife. I am going to have a ladino clover plot (1 acre) not far from it. I would like it to be just maybe grasses and stuff like that so it won't have to be plowed or disced every year. I already bought 10lbs of alfalfa last fall. I would like to throw that in the mix. The ground was just cleared last fall so it is bare at the moment. Any suggestions would be appriciated. Thank you and have a great weekend.

[Multidigits]

peas or turnips-but both are annuals. Maybe wheat and milo or sourgham.

[Lewis]

I would prefer something not annal so it will cut down on the trips up there that I have to make. I need something I can get established easy and just have keep mowed. I can do that when it is dry.

[GSP]

Native grass, all you got to do is burn it every 3 years. The best bedding area you can establish

[Lewis]

It is surrounded by woods. Can you safely burn and place like that? Could I just mow them instead or do they have to be burned to germinate?

[GSP]

You want to burn it in March. I burn some that is surrounded by woods also. If you can't disk a ring you can do it on a day with no wind by burning a small area at a time. Start the fire at the woods edge and let it feed into the middle.

[Lewis]

Ok. I think that I am going to go with planting the native grasses. Which types do you recomend? Can I plant them this spring? Thank you for your help.

[GSP]

Call you Land Biologist in your area, these guys can be a big help. They can put you onto the right seed. They will also stop by and recommend which type to use.

[rlb165]

Lewis, you should be able to contact the Private Land Biologist in your area with help on the Native Grasses. It is usually planted in Late Spring, Early Summer. In my case, the Biologist provided me with the seed and a quantity of herbicide called "Plateau" which, to put it in technical terms, somehow or 'nother kills bad stuff and doesn't hurt good stuff.

Unless its changed, the varieties they recommend are Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, and Indian Grass. If you're not familiar with those, just imagine Big Bluestem as Johnson Grass that is about 6~8 feet tall, and the other two varieties being considerably smaller.

I planted 1 1/2 acres of this mixture in '99, it's done really well, but I personally haven't been very impressed with how much use it's gotten from wildlife.

Admittedly, a lot of people think its the best thing going.

This is only my opinion, but to me it seems that Native Warm Season Grasses benefit mostly small game; it provides excellent cover for them, because it grows in clumps, with bare spots in between that rabbits and quail and stuff can pass thru. A problem I've had is there are a lot of thistles in this area, and thistles do too well on these bare spots. Plus, because of the height of the grass, its hard to find the thistles early enough for spray to be effective.

Something I've been reading about lately is how beneficial it is to clearcut areas and then.....do nothing but fertilize and lime. The stuff that comes back on its own will provide a lot of nutritious browse for deer and stuff, especially with proper fertilization. The impression I've gotten is that you usually don't hear much about this, because nobody makes money from selling seeds this way.

Also, as already mentioned, a controlled fire will "wake up" some seeds of beneficial plants, and does wonders for the soil.

I'm not trying to confuse you, or discourage you on the Native Grasses, these are just things I've found out since I've planted them.

Again, I encourage you to get in touch with your Biologist. I've worked with 3 of them, and they all seem genuinely eager to help.

Heck, if nothing else, you could plant a chunk of Native Grasses, let some come back natural, and plant a little chunk of it in Alfalfa and see what works the best. If I'm reading your first post right, the plot you're talking about is on top of a hill. The soil on top of hills tends to dry out pretty quick. Alfalfa's roots go down several feet deep, making it able to withstand drought/ dry soil better than some other plants.



Good luck in whatever you decide.

Richard

[rlb165]

GSP, I wasn't trying to echo you about calling the Biologist. You posted while I was still typing.[:)]

[GSP]

Nary a problem rlb. Actually all the biologist I've worked with have also done a first class job

[perry_max]

Growing nwsg is the best thing you can do for rabbits and quail,but deer won't get alot out of it.Turkey love it right after a good burn and when nesting but that's about it.I have 15 acres and I love it,but I'm a rabbit hunter.Deer do like to bed down in it.I'd either plant more ladino clover or I'd plant switchgrass.The deer will like the switchgrass better than the other native grasses to bed in.

[ahood]

Well if you know the Ph of you soil I can tell you what you need to plant! Without know that I can only make suggestions. I like soy beans or this stuff call "strut and rut" works great.

-Andy

Hunting is not a matter of life or death. It is much more important than that!

[perry_max]

Deer love soybeans,but a plot of 3/4 of an acre wouldn't last no time.I think Strut and Rut is just ladino clover and wheat,isn't it?

[RTC]

It's hard to beat Ladino clover! Deer love it! I have several plots of Ladino and I always see deer and turkey in them.

[Redneck]

All kinds of clover,
Milo, Millot, sorgum (sp), soybeans!, wheat, buckwheat, legumes, corn, blackberries, even let your foxtail, and johnson grass grow out, they are good also

Chase Powell

[ahood]

I love strut and rut it works great! But I would have the soils pH tested before i do anything! That way you will know what to get and you wont have problems with growth.

-Andy

Hunting is not a matter of life or death. It is much more important than that!