I am looking for a barrier type plant, something tall enough to reduce visibility from a dirt track on one side of a property that has some poaching issues. Right now I am leaning towards Egyptian Wheat. Anyone have any experience using anything else? Ideally it would be nice to have something that is fast growing to a respectable height, but would not require yearly planting like the EW.
https://www.facebook.com/journey.the/photos/pcb.557845820988158/557845337654873/?type=1&theater I planted plot screen from pastorandrew here on bowhunting.com and its coming in nicely, the one pic is plot screen with not tilled radishes and brassicas that are starting to grow. It has to be done every year though. Scoot
Yes I believe it is and I think I put it in beginning of June. I guess August is month it really grows from what I have read. Scoot
Egyptian wheat is hard to beat for a fast growing annual screen.....if you want something that is a perennial....you could either use a crp mix with blue stem in it. That stuff will grow 10 to 12 feet tall. Or you could go to a landscape supply and get pampas grass. It's an ornamental grass that gets really tall....and will come back each year
Don't want Pampas, I was considering something more along the lines of some type of cane, or bamboo type plant. I have access to a watershed that I fish some and a buddy hunts, where they used cane, not sure of the variety, but the stuff became a bit invasive.
I forgot to mention Russian olive. It is a shrub, not a grass....but it is awesome for creating a security screen. Grows thick & tall in just a few years. I know at least a couple of the big names in the hunting industry that use it on their farms to create screens and funnels. I planted some last year...it needs a few more until it's tall enough to hide what's on the other side, but once it grows, you can't see through the stuff.
I've heard of that, it's an invasive also. Any idea what its growth rate is like compared to say cedar?
Do white pines grow well out there TJ? Or even a arborvitae could be good as they are naturally less affected by deer (not as attractive to eat)...either of those could be done for long term with Egyptian Wheat being used in the mean time for a few years.
Russian Olive can be a terribly invasive mess. I battle it here after the MDC planted it all over a local public area...nice huh. For something permanent, giant bluestem as already mentioned or Switchgrass. If those aren't tall enough then you're probably limited to either some kind of ornamental grass or maybe some kind of cane or woody stemmed stuff. Wild plum and dogwood get pretty dense and you can enhance it with honeysuckle if needed, which deer like all of them as do quail.
It is technically an invasive. Keeping lanes mowed on either side of it Seems to keep it under control. It's growth rate is much faster than cedars or pines. In 5 years a row of it will form an impenetrable wall about 10 feet tall. In ten it will be twice that tall. The highway dept uses it where i live as a screen on either side of the interstate.
If done this does control it...the issue is if you stop like Covey said it can take over....deer love it so it isn't a "negative" in that sense but it can take over a habitat and that can/could be a "negative"
Honestly hybrid willows may be a good way to go as well...as for cane maybe someone else has knowledge from first hand experience.
Frigid Forage plot screen is what I planted: I'm 6'2" and its 1-2' taller than me Damn farmer planted beans in my perimeter and other areas so they are competing way to much and are only 4' tall instead of 8'
Its awesome stuff! I planted the entire perimeter of my beans to create a little sanctuary for them! Once they are in, they cant see out!
