Wetland mix for creating cover

pinetag

pinetag

Well-Known Member
Probably the biggest checkbox on my habitat plan for this upcoming season is to create a lot more bedding/security cover. If any of you have seen my property tour thread you'll know that my place is mostly flat bottomland that tends to hold water after lots of rain, with the potential for an occasional (brief) flood. I definitely need to open up some canopy so the first thing I will be doing is creating some hinge cut pockets, then my thought is to get some good native grasses growing in and around these pockets. Possibly creating some travel corridors between them and seeding with the grasses as well. In checking the various seed company sites I came across this pre-mixed composition from Ernst. What do y'all think? I did some research on each of these plants and it looks like it would be ideal for what I am trying to accomplish. Thoughts?

Seasonally Flooded Wildlife Food Mix

Mix Composition
22.0% Panicum clandestinum, 'Tioga' (Deertongue, ‘Tioga’)
21.0% Elymus virginicus, PA Ecotype (Virginia Wildrye, PA Ecotype)
17.0% Andropogon gerardii, 'Niagara' (Big Bluestem, ‘Niagara’)
15.0% Echinochloa crusgalli var. frumentacea (Japanese Millet)
10.0% Carex vulpinoidea, PA Ecotype (Fox Sedge, PA Ecotype)
8.0% Panicum virgatum, 'Shawnee' (Switchgrass, ‘Shawnee’)
3.0% Chamaecrista fasciculata, PA Ecotype (Partridge Pea, PA Ecotype)
1.7% Heliopsis helianthoides, PA Ecotype (Oxeye Sunflower, PA Ecotype)
0.5% Eupatorium maculatum, PA Ecotype (Spotted Joe Pye Weed, PA Ecotype)
0.5% Juncus tenuis, PA Ecotype (Path Rush, PA Ecotype)
0.3% Asclepias incarnata, PA Ecotype (Swamp Milkweed, PA Ecotype)
 
Pinetag,I have been studying deer bedding choices since I started hunting as a kid and still do not have it nearly figured out as to how to create bedding spots. With that said here is what little I've got. The mix appears to be comprised of some of the types of plants but not necessarily the same cultivars that naturally grow in the seasonally flooded areas here that have full or close to full sun. The deer here do feed in them and once in a while I'll see a bed but very, very seldom. More likely I see beds in the next level higher ground zone, that is the first or second high spot bordering the seasonally flooded areas. Those spots typically here contain plants like jo pye weed, milkweed, goldenrod AND more importantly shrubs/small trees like dogwood (red osier or silky), various willows, wild apple, cedars and poplars. Not only do the deer feed on the willows, dogwoods, cedars, apples and poplar that run along the wet spots but they also do bed there at times. Some willows are perhaps the greatest hinge tree going with a very large number of sprouts growing after hinging (at ground level). I have planted switch grass along a wetland and do not see bedding in it as others do; perhaps a larger area is needed than is growing here.

In looking at your pictures from the beginning of your property tour it looks like the pole sized trees are well stocked and thus blocking the sun from hitting the ground. Simply hingeing or clear cutting could cause a flush of native plants to grow. Also in your pics are many great bedding grades, those high spots that are just a little higher than the surrounding areas; those spots are very difficult to create but they can be improved by adding a focal point. Think deer GARDEN and a large dropped tree or a grouping of two or three large trees cut traditionally and left whole on those types of spots may be just the focal point the deer are looking for. South facing slopes generally work better here than north facing slopes. It doesn't have to be a mountainside, it just needs to be elevated.

Wish I had more concrete thoughts on it but that's it.
 
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I dont know how wet your ground is - but switch and big bluestem do not grow in my wet areas. Big seed, or gamma grass - tripsicum dactyloides does. For cover, i much prefer chiwappa millet over jap millet - much taller, more robust plant, much longer maturity date, fair reseeder. The wildrye should be a food one. Doesnt get very tall - but a lot of seed
 
Chainsaw said:
Pinetag,I have been studying deer bedding choices since I started hunting as a kid and still do not have it nearly figured out as to how to create bedding spots. With that said here is what little I've got. The mix appears to be comprised of some of the types of plants but not necessarily the same cultivars that naturally grow in the seasonally flooded areas here that have full or close to full sun. The deer here do feed in them and once in a while I'll see a bed but very, very seldom. More likely I see beds in the next level higher ground zone, that is the first or second high spot bordering the seasonally flooded areas. Those spots typically here contain plants like jo pye weed, milkweed, goldenrod AND more importantly shrubs/small trees like dogwood (red osier or silky), various willows, wild apple, cedars and poplars. Not only do the deer feed on the willows, dogwoods, cedars, apples and poplar that run along the wet spots but they also do bed there at times. Some willows are perhaps the greatest hinge tree going with a very large number of sprouts growing after hinging (at ground level). I have planted switch grass along a wetland and do not see bedding in it as others do; perhaps a larger area is needed than is growing here.

In looking at your pictures from the beginning of your property tour it looks like the pole sized trees are well stocked and thus blocking the sun from hitting the ground. Simply hingeing or clear cutting could cause a flush of native plants to grow. Also in your pics are many great bedding grades, those high spots that are just a little higher than the surrounding areas; those spots are very difficult to create but they can be improved by adding a focal point. Think deer GARDEN and a large dropped tree or a grouping of two or three large trees cut traditionally and left whole on those types of spots may be just the focal point the deer are looking for. South facing slopes generally work better here than north facing slopes. It doesn't have to be a mountainside, it just needs to be elevated.

Wish I had more concrete thoughts on it but that's it.
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Thanks chainsaw. I like the thought of trying to create beds on those slightly raised areas so I'll definitely keep that in mind when hinging. I guess i need to look at getting some shrubs established as part of my plan too.

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SwampCat said:
I dont know how wet your ground is - but switch and big bluestem do not grow in my wet areas. Big seed, or gamma grass - tripsicum dactyloides does. For cover, i much prefer chiwappa millet over jap millet - much taller, more robust plant, much longer maturity date, fair reseeder. The wildrye should be a food one. Doesnt get very tall - but a lot of seed
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It's not constantly wet, although last year was the second wettest year on record for us so most days throughout the season had spots of standing water. The last couple of weeks we've gotten back to normal rain levels and there is very little water now. I think it drains really well until you get excessive rain. I guess all I can do is experiment? I contacted Ernst Seed about creating a custom mix and they said they will, so I'm probably gonna go that route to get the best bang for the buck.

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MarkDarvin said:
No trees or shrubs in that plan?
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I will be hinging pockets and seeding grasses all around them, but I do need to look at adding some shrubs in the mix. Ernst Seed said they will do custom mixes.

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I just looked at your list:

I guess it's possible that some cultivars of Deer Tongue Grass could reach 5 feet like they advertise. However, at my farm it only reaches about 3 feet max, and there is a lot of difference in cover for deer. I hate it because it is very competitive and doesn't grow tall. I would ask them about the height again. If any less than 5 feet, I wouldn't want it.

I cannot imagine planting Fox Sedge. They advertise it as being 3 feet tall. That is not deer cover. Same thing for Path Rush.

I would rather have a monoculture (and I hate monocultures) of one tall plant than to have diversity with a bunch of plants that won't hide a deer and provide proper cover. I suggest you tell them you want a mix, but make sure that the mix is tall species.

Best wishes.
 
Native Hunter said:
I just looked at your list:

I guess it's possible that some cultivars of Deer Tongue Grass could reach 5 feet like they advertise. However, at my farm it only reaches about 3 feet max, and there is a lot of difference in cover for deer. I hate it because it is very competitive and doesn't grow tall. I would ask them about the height again. If any less than 5 feet, I wouldn't want it.

I cannot imagine planting Fox Sedge. They advertise it as being 3 feet tall. That is not deer cover. Same thing for Path Rush.

I would rather have a monoculture (and I hate monocultures) of one tall plant than to have diversity with a bunch of plants that won't hide a deer and provide proper cover. I suggest you tell them you want a mix, but make sure that the mix is tall species.

Best wishes.
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Thanks Native! Yea I wasn't too keen on the deer tongue anyway plus a few of the other things in that list. I'm glad I checked with them about a custom mix. Here is what I came up with, but I may tweak it a little before actually placing an order.
81ccc6768f8b31412dc58f07a58c98ba.jpg


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pinetag said:
Thanks Native! Yea I wasn't too keen on the deer tongue anyway plus a few of the other things in that list. I'm glad I checked with them about a custom mix. Here is what I came up with, but I may tweak it a little before actually placing an order.
81ccc6768f8b31412dc58f07a58c98ba.jpg


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Click to expand...

Should do okay unless it is too wet. It can get too wet for those grasses.
 
Not sure how your wetlands are Pinetag but I just backed off mine and let nature go at it. I have a proliferate succession of plants now quite adapted to wet soils including mosses, grasses, cottontails, brush, and trees. Most of which flower at various times of year making my drive into the farm like a post card. And didn't cost me a thing except occasional spraying of MFR and Cedar trees. I've have a black willow that bucks stand in knee deep muck to rub each year, in the most exposed place on my farm. Just a thot. Good luck.
 
dogghr said:
Not sure how your wetlands are Pinetag but I just backed off mine and let nature go at it. I have a proliferate succession of plants now quite adapted to wet soils including mosses, grasses, cottontails, brush, and trees. Most of which flower at various times of year making my drive into the farm like a post card. And didn't cost me a thing except occasional spraying of MFR and Cedar trees. I've have a black willow that bucks stand in knee deep muck to rub each year, in the most exposed place on my farm. Just a thot. Good luck.
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Cool, thanks dogghr! The only invasive I know of is japanese stilt grass, which I will be spraying this spring. I may just do some experimenting this year. Hinge cut some areas and let them go wild, and in other areas hinge and spread some of the mix. See which wins out.

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Native Hunter said:
Should do okay unless it is too wet. It can get too wet for those grasses.
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Interesting. In most of my research the websites state these grasses like "moist, fertile" soils, which should be a good fit. I guess it will be a part of the experimentation process for me and I'll just have to hope it doesn't cost me too much money/wasted time over the long run. LOL

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pinetag said:
What do you think about this mix?

Kanlow Switchgrass 30%
VA wildrye 30%
Japanese millet 20%
Red Osier Dogwood 10%
Big bluestem 5%
Indiangrass 5%
Click to expand...

Big Blue is bad to fall over in the winter, and I have noticed that in wet spots it is worse. However, with some support from things like ROD, it will still provide cover because it will lodge up high. Kanlow is a lowland variety of switch and known for being good at tolerating wet soils. My knowledge of it is only vicarious because I don't grow it myself. However, from what I know it would be a good choice for your situation.
 
I would replace jap with chiwappa millet . Chiwappa much more robust, taller, more seed, bigger stem, stands erect much longer. The only way I plant jap millet is if i am planting late summer with a short time for it to mature before frost. If I am planting planting spring - I always plant chiwappa.
 
Native Hunter said:
Big Blue is bad to fall over in the winter, and I have noticed that in wet spots it is worse. However, with some support from things like ROD, it will still provide cover because it will lodge up high. Kanlow is a lowland variety of switch and known for being good at tolerating wet soils. My knowledge of it is only vicarious because I don't grow it myself. However, from what I know it would be a good choice for your situation.
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Thanks native!
 
SwampCat said:
I would replace jap with chiwappa millet . Chiwappa much more robust, taller, more seed, bigger stem, stands erect much longer. The only way I plant jap millet is if i am planting late summer with a short time for it to mature before frost. If I am planting planting spring - I always plant chiwappa.
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Where would you find seed for this? I don't see it listed on some of the more common sites like Ernst and Hancock.
 
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