The Crowing Post:  3/10/08

 

Now is the Time to Order Your Seed for this Spring’s Habitat Projects

Spring planting season is fast approaching.  In fact there may already some landowners who have already planted their grass and legume seeding for the spring.  There is no time like now to order your seed to plant your nesting, brood rearing, or food/winter cover habitat seed for this spring’s planting season.  There is also no better place to order than Pheasants Forever to order your seed.  PF has over 55 different seed mixtures all designed by wildlife biologists and offered at substantial savings to landowners.  PF seed mixes are also designed to meet USDA specifications while providing the best possible wildlife habitat.

Here are some tips from PF Wildlife Biologists to keep in mind while planning your habitat planting.

  1. More Diversity = Better Habitat.  The more species you include in your planting, the better wildlife habitat you’ll have.  Consider using a high diversity mixture.

  2. Know Your Goals.  Different mixtures produce different wildlife benefits.  Decide what your long-term wildlife goal is and a PF biologist can help you select or design the correct mixture for your project.

  3. The Main Ingredient is Time.  Not all species in your mixture will be present right away.  In fact, some may take several years to appear.  Have patience and enjoy the process.

  4. Don’t Over Plant.  More seeds per acre is not better!  Contact a PF wildlife biologist for suggestions on the best mixtures and planting rate for your habitat projects.

  5. The Balance Between Grasses and Wildflowers.  If you want to wildflowers in your planting for years to come and provide the best wildlife habitat possible, you’ll need to have a balance of at least 50% grass and 50% wildflowers in your initial mixture and planting.  Even better would be a mixture that is 75% wildflowers and 25% grass.

  6. Week Control in Your New Planting.  Your new planting is probably going to be weedy and may be fairly unsightly.  However, it will also be providing some of the most productive wildlife habitat you’ll have.  By resisting the urge to mow or spray your new planting, you can provide great wildlife habitat and have an established stand after 2 to 4 years.

  7. Future Management.  Where wildlife is concerned, you won’t be able to plant something and walk away for years and expect it to still be great habitat.  If you want to produce more wildlife, you need to be managing your planting every 3 to 5 years.

 You can order seed and get more information on the best mixtures to plant by contacting a PF wildlife biologist today.

 
      habitat today….pheasants forever!