Tracy discussed the merits of Egyptian Wheat as a fast growing and hearty visual and wind screen at the conference with myself and Brian. Additionally, it's characteristics may offer benefits to wildlife. Tracy - if time allows could you please discuss your experiences with the forum and share whatever advice you can? Namely, I'd like to know if I can hand sow it, or if it needs a planter. This would serve as useful science for the forum community.

See link below for thread on iowawhitetail.com - appears it's cold tolerant at least up to the Midwest, and grows 10'+.

http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28421&page=14

TJ, I'm not sure if Tracy is on the forum or not but I'm going to give the EW a try on the north end of my pond to block the wind. From what I've read since the conference, it can be planted by broadcasting. I'm going to give it a shot come mid April.

I wish it reseeded itself like bluestem or indian, but it appears from my scant research it does not and needs to be replanted - so it's an annual. With those huge seed plumes it shouldn't be too hard to harvest plenty to resow the following season, however. What do you think?

TJ- Check this one out if you haven't already. Paul Knox was a great man who recently lost his battle with ALS. This man was the most incredible resource a person could have with regards to the wildlife management, IMHO!

http://www.outreachoutdoors.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=2704

Thanks for the link Mnfish. I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. I wish it was a perennial too TJ but it's not too expensive and I'm thinking about the same thing as far as replanting.

Here's another idea for you guys, for a perianal.

http://www.outreachoutdoors.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3195

Hope these help!

Hey, that Miscanthus sounds like it may be the ticket - I like that it's a perennial for sure, and grows up to 15' tall. That's one heckuva screen.

Thanks! I've been looking for something to screen my pond to be from prying eyes. Bamboo would work great, it grows naturally, but it spreads like crazy.

Do you know if this stuff grows in acidic soils, such as we have in east Texas?

Cisco, there is a type of miscanthus called Freedom giant that was developed for southeastern US conditions. It's probably more expensive than the usual, but it grows faster & more densely, and it can take southern heat better.

Might be worth a look. http://www.repreverenewables.com/docs/FreedomGrowing-GR1010d.pdf

TJ, it was a pleasure to meet u and it felt good to make a suggestion that might solve a muddy water problem by reducing wind across the water.
Ok, so my experience with Egyptian wheat is as follows. I was looking for a screening/barrier to give additional cover around some of my wildlife food plots here in E Texas. I disked the area 8 foot wide and 100 yds long and then threw the seeds and covered by dragging some fence over seeded
ground. the EW came up good and grew to around 10 feet. It worked just like I wanted. The stalks are still standing but now in a winter form with a golden color. It will act as a wind break if planted in a wider path of 8 feet, in fact I would look at 16' for a really good wind break. I will do it again and unlike bamboo it will not spread. I hope this helps to break wind across a muddy pond.
Tracy

Thanks Tracy - any photos of the stand or planting process?

TJ, just disk and throw the seeds out and cover using a drag like a section of fence worked great. Sorry but no pics. I planted here in late April along the side of an Eagle Brand soybean mix for the deer and for the turkeys. I fertilized with 13-13-13. hope this helps. it was pretty easy to grow.

Thanks Tracy - good feedback.

TGW1

You think that stuff will grow around the BuffaloTex area?

I think it will be easy to grow in the Buffalo area. If u have a place, like a hiway or a neighbor that u want to block off, it works good for that. Just plant a row about 8' wide. You will be surprised how well it screens off an area.
Tracy

One caution, don't plant it too thick or it will fall over after a heavy wind/rain storm. Lat time I planted it, it got 10 - 12' tall (lots of urea) and after a nasty thunderstorm a bunch of it had fallen over. I was told that I planted it too thick.

lassig, I guess my stalks were 6 or 8" apart and have not experienced the problem u had but as we all know a thunderstorm can produce some really heavy winds and some golf ball size hail.
Thanks
Tracy

Yes mine where closer than that so just a word of caution. I do plan on planting more this year to make screens to my deer stands