Wild flower patch

[giles]

So I kinda went off this spring about how we suck as hunters with habitat. Went on about how we will mow acres of grass because it looks nice and the neighbors do the same. Well, change starts within and I plan to change that in the spring. I talked with my neighbor (long driveway) and we plan to plant some sort of wildflower mix. So I'm here for suggestions. I have some ideas but I'm mixed. We plan to split the cost and do both his property and mine.

@at1010 I'm all ears and I honestly didn't look at your seed blends to see if you offered anything along these lines. I would be all ears for a no till blend.

Plan right now is the strip between the driveways to be a flower blend that has some sort of bloom all spring/summer/fall. Likely add a hive and possibly a few bird houses or something. Just now getting the neighbors on the same page so looking for more information.

 

[GoetsTalon]

Pretty cool! Even if you planted blue stem it would give you like a privacy planting to separate the drives. Big problem with it would be to keep the invasives out.

 

[OO2]

Ohio CRP Seed Mixes for Sale | Pheasants Forever

See the Pheasants Forever selection of 2024 Ohio CRP Seed Mixes for Sale. Quality CRP and Other Habitat Seed designed for Wildlife.

www.pfhabitatstore.com

 

[giles]

Ohio CRP Seed Mixes for Sale | Pheasants Forever

See the Pheasants Forever selection of 2024 Ohio CRP Seed Mixes for Sale. Quality CRP and Other Habitat Seed designed for Wildlife.

www.pfhabitatstore.com

I have looked at those mixes and I understand zero about what they are or what they do in comparison to what I'm wanting.

 

[Gunther]

We have good luck with Zin Master from Eden Brothers. The attached photos are Zin Master but we also like Cosmic Zen mix from the same company,but I do not have a pics on my phone of that mix.

 

[giles]

We have good luck with Zin Master from Eden Brothers. The attached photos are Zin Master but we also like Cosmic Zen mix from the same company,but I do not have a pics on my phone of that mix.

That looks great! Got to plant that every year?

 

[Gunther]

That looks great! Got to plant that every year?

Yes, both blends I noted are annuals but literally just till it up, spread the seed, and press it in the dirt with a yard roller or your 4 wheeler tires and you are done. I typically do it the day before expected rain.

 

[jagermeister]

I planted 13 acres of the Ohio CRP #2 mix back in spring of 2021 and I’ve had excellent results with it. Very diverse, green, and flowering all season long. No offense to @Gunther post… zinnias are stunning, easy, and benefit pollinators… but they aren’t native to Ohio and they lack the diversity that really drives attraction to a plot all season long. Just my 2 cents. Go with a native seed mix.

 

[LonewolfNopack]

Giles, call me sometime on this. You'll want proper site preparation and seeding, as well as seed mixture. Theres definitely a wrong way and right way to go about this. Too much for me to type right now.

 

[at1010]

I don’t play in this arena. But I’ve planted several varieties of pollinator mixes.

I normally till
Fit ground
Seed
Pack ground

to ensure a clean slate. I also plant in fall - so don’t see much until next spring.

best of luck. Great idea!!

 

[giles]

Giles, call me sometime on this. You'll want proper site preparation and seeding, as well as seed mixture. Theres definitely a wrong way and right way to go about this. Too much for me to type right now.

I was waiting for a rain day to call you, lol. I know my prep needs to start this fall, just not sure what I need to do. I would prefer to not rototiller it by hand.

 

[Buckmaster]

Butterfly / pollinator mix. AEP updated our power lines this summer and will be laying their mix down.

 

[Hedgelj]

I know a guy who knows bees for your hive

 

[bowhunter1023]

Love this. I've been contemplating turning our back field into CRP, with an emphasis on flowers since my sister and BIL have bees. We replanted this in clover and rye, but it's suffered from lack of maintenance and this summer's weather. I'd love to start over with that CRP #2 mix.

 

[jagermeister]

Love this. I've been contemplating turning our back field into CRP, with an emphasis on flowers since my sister and BIL have bees. We replanted this in clover and rye, but it's suffered from lack of maintenance and this summer's weather. I'd love to start over with that CRP #2 mix.

View attachment 198777

It is an extremely overlooked approach from a deer management standpoint. The tonnage of palatable browse held within a diverse stand of forbs is staggering. For 3 years I’ve watched deer, in early fall, head straight for a patch of wildflowers to browse before heading to the big ag at night. It’s as good or better than any food plot on the market, IMO. Food and cover all in one, while benefitting countless insects/pollinators/birds/small mammals at the same time. It’s really a no brainer.

 

[LonewolfNopack]

It is an extremely overlooked approach from a deer management standpoint. The tonnage of palatable browse held within a diverse stand of forbs is staggering. For 3 years I’ve watched deer, in early fall, head straight for a patch of wildflowers to browse before heading to the big ag at night. It’s as good or better than any food plot on the market, IMO. Food and cover all in one, while benefitting countless insects/pollinators/birds/small mammals at the same time. It’s really a no brainer.

I've told many folks they are marketing CRP all wrong. They need to advertise it as deer cover and food, and they would get much more sign-ups. Put a picture of a big buck on brochures and seed bags. The bees, butterflies, and Quail don't care why it's growing, they only care that it's there. I've gotten more then a few landowners to enroll using this method, who I'm pretty sure cared zero about pollinator habitat, even though they are now growing it.

 

[brock ratcliff]

Seth and I see it firsthand with our drones every time we fly. A one occasion last September we counted 48 deer in a 150 acre patch. There was not a single deer in the surrounding alfalfa or beans. It is a gold mine for deer among other critters. Whomever developed that mix hit a grand slam.

 

[giles]

Bump