Landscaping for Wildlife, Initiatives

This is a map showing some of the initiatives that are on the table.

In area "A", rejuvenate the orchard.

• Remove dead trees
• Remove dead limbs
• Mow
• Herbicide patches around each tree
• Cut brush
• Fertilize
• Replant "holes" where trees were removed

In area "B" and "C"
Initiatives are shown as triple red lines.

We will be mass planting Maximilian Sunflower.  This photo is included to show the size of the plant and the density of the flowers.  And yes, they do produce sunflower seeds....tiny ones.

• Plant tall, sturdy perennials as windbreaks, cover and travel corridors
• Species under consideration include
• Maximilian Sunflower
• Switchgrass cv. Panicum "Thundercloud"  or Cave-in-Rock seedlings
• Sunchokes cvs Gigant,  Gute Gelbe, Wild PJs 

The recommendations for sunchoke cultivars came from Ken Asmus, owner of Oikos Tree Nursery.  With his permission, I quote from his email...

The varieties Gute Gelbe, Gigant and Wild PJ's are good choices. They are quite vigorous and form fairly dense clumps.  The Clearwater is another tall one and it always has clean foliage. All of these do not drop foliage early due to disease or ripening like Stampede does.

Stampede is the default.  If you do not know the cultivar you are getting then most nurseries are shipping you Stampede.

If you do not care much about the yield aspect of it and you are using it more like a windbreak first and food second then I would definitely try the bulk packets of Diversity this way you could create and name your own selection over time finding the best selection for your location.

Hypernova is probably the best choice where very heavy meadow vole pressure is expected because it has many, small tubers and they cannot get all of them.

Hope that helps.   -Ken Asmus

Region "D"
A trial hinge-cut for a bedding area.  The current plan is to leave well shaped walnut and oak trees.  The expectation is that we will leave a 20% canopy.

Image borrowed from HERE

Special attention will be paid to "side cover".  Assorted native vines will be encouraged to knit together brush that is stacked around the perimeter.

We will fertilize with P and K.  Ca and B will also be spread, as will clover seeds.

Region 'F"
The letter "P" indicates areas where persimmons will be planted.  I have about 30, two-year-old seedlings.  I will graft over them after they are established.