This mix prioritizes forb biomass, nectar, and insects, while maintaining just enough native grass to provide structure without forming a dense thatch layer. The result? Warm, sun-lit ground, plentiful soft-bodied insects, and forbs that support brood survival in the critical first 6–8 weeks.
Ideal Locations:
- Abandoned field edges
- Field borders
- Utility ROWs
- Pine Barrens/Coastal Plain openings
- Old field restoration sites
- Pair with shrub thickets (sassafras, bayberry, dogwood) at edges for full brood-cover enhancement.
Performance Highlights
- Supports bobwhite, turkey & pheasant chick foraging habitat
- Fast establishment & strong early-season bloom
- High insect attraction = increased chick survival
- Designed for NRCS Practice EQIP / WHIP habitat objectives
How It Works on the Landscape
This mix grows 1–3 ft tall, remaining patchy and “walkable” with plenty of bare ground between stems — exactly what broods need to move, feed, and avoid predation.
Seeding Guidance
Timing: Dormant fall (best) — OR spring as soon as soils are workable
Site Prep: Control fescue, reed canarygrass, and other invasives prior to seeding
Seedbed: Firm, weed-free; drill ⅛–¼” OR broadcast + press
Management:
- Mow 1–2x in establishment year at 8–12"
- Then periodic strip disking or rotational mowing every 2–3 yrs to maintain early-successional condition
