Smartweed

I've planted different varieties of millet in the past with little to no success. Seems like years it does good, the deer and hogs eat it all before season. And dry years, I don't have water to flood it or it never heads out.

The place I'm on now shouldn't be a problem flooding it. So I'm wondering if anyone has ever planted smartweed and if deer and hogs will leave it alone? Looks like it will grow back every year with a little bit of manipulation which would be nice. Thanks for any info y'all can provide.

sometimes you can disk the ground and get the correct disturbance at the right time in order to get growth of good plants. Most people have perennial smartweed which has a small white flowering bloom. Everyone says smartweed is the bees knees and im sure ducks get some value from this. But, what you want to strive for is the annual smartweed that produces a larger pinkish color bloom. deer and hogs wont mess with it, although ive had some messed up because the hogs were rooting about eighteen inches deep in a couple areas, but they typically don't eat it like they will millet. Spraying the area with 24d can help release good growth, but it's deadly to smartweed. The earlier(march&april) the ground disturbance, the more response you will get from smartweed and the sort. A later disturbance into june will usually yield more grasses and sedges. All of which are good. when you do spring disking, if you leave it chunky, this will often times lead to unwanted things like cocklebur, native bottom hibiscus, etc. Disk up good, and try to time it where it will rain on it in the following few days. most of the seeds you need are already in the dirt. if you need to plant it, the seeds for native plants like that get pretty expensive. kester's nursery has a good variety, but you may be better of trying to harvest some in the wild depending how big of an area you're trying to do.

Yes. I believe pennylvania smartweed is annual. Looks like it's pretty expensive. But also if it's invasive and grows back every year, it's hopefully only a 1 time cost. The other thing is I think it will take over other plants so it's not something you mix with other duck food.

Love finding those solid green puddles in the back of timber...

if your area stays full of water you could go the duckweed route like said above. It needs a fair amount of decaying organic matter to really thrive. What is currently growing in what you have now?

It's my first spring to own this property. Closed in Jan. A lot of birds used the 2acre wetland, but even more used the 5 acres that ajoins. There was usually 40-200 birds on it during the season. I want to plant the 2 acres to attract more birds to that side as it is a constant level and easier to get them to land in your face. Just lots of moss growing it it thus far this year.

Here is a pic. There is a break in the levee between bigger pond/lake and the smaller wetland which is fed by a seasonal creek. Got to figure out how to put water control structure in as well.