[Farmall] O/T...but serendipity

[szabelsk at gdls.com]

Queen Ann's Lace, chicory, sounds like my acreage. We have an ample supply 
of wild strawberries, thistle, dandelions, maybe a dozen and a half of 
different grasses, etc. All without adding anything to the soil. Once the 
clay is bare it does take a little while for all of these to fill in, but 
they do. I have noticed that the trees take a little long to take root and 
start maturing, but once they do, they seem to grow normal. Seed from the 
bird feeders seems to take root easy too, including the corn. I would 
think that adding anything on top of the clay can only help. Even a good 
covering of straw or hay that would help with the germination.

One more thing that I just remembered, and it probably is a little late 
for you, but they sell wild flower mats that you just lay like sod. Don't 
know what they cost or where to get them. You could lay these mats down 
and then add the seed you already have to thicken up the growth. The mats 
should help the seed germinate and take root. Also would keep the birds 
from eating up all your efforts.

Another idea. Does anybody in your area do hydro-seeding? Maybe you could 
get them to hydro-seed your wild flower seed.  The paper holds the seed in 
place and helps with moisture control. My brother had his yard 
hydro-seeded and the grass grew on everything that got sprayed, even the 
side of his house. Basically all hydro-seeding is is mixing seed, 
fertilizer, and ground up paper together. Maybe you can figure out how to 
make and spread your own.

Carl Szabelski



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