Strategic plantings....

[growalot]

All my catalogs are in  so plans have begun. What and where to plant and for best purpose. Rivers tower blind is a good example...just on the edge of the lane way plot in a brush pile fence line. Now this kin has anal pas through openings and the tower opening. It also has shooting lanes on the backside,not lane way,to catch hestitant and bedding deer. I am cutting back the trees here to get more Sun to the lane way,mature red oaks and opening ground to Sun..also to block my ladder climb and attract wild life. I'm wiring the tower legs and planting grapes I can put in  4 wire system this will block my climb until I am well above deer line of sight. And deer do enjoy grapes as well as Turkey. 

[Dinsdale]

Planted some grapes on a tower blind and they are doing great, plants from local winery I was renovating; but I think a wild variety would be more hardy.

[growalot]

Nearly all I do is duel purpose...I'm planting grapes along a single wire system over the property  line fence as well ...I have a juicer...and we love grapes...I only plant winter hardy varieties for the hill and they do well. .

In the woods I'm working right now, I'm planning on putting in some more Aronia bushes They hold their berries late and make a good filler for grape and choke cherry juices...deer and turkey seem to like them as well and will produce in semi shaded areas...Planted in groups I can use them instead of the grey dog wood for them to bed in and around...Deer here love tucking themselves into the dogwood brush I maintain...I have a couple of more short platforms for popup blinds to build this winter so will be looking to plant attractants around those as well that will camo the tower and grow in limited light. I may use fir trees on one...easy to trim to height and firs handle wet and lower light...these I can dig locally on friends...balsam ,also easy to protect around the tower legs with fencing .. I'm going to take up a bit of fence line with concolor this spring...tired of spending $50 a pop for a Christmas tree...they will be spaced for good growth and will block views in time and block winds until I start harvesting......25 should do well I've gotten a bit tired of planting corn. will just need to spray them ...but fence should help on the one side...Our son worked on a Christmas tree farm as a trimmer 3 yrs while in high school...his trimming will be payment on his trees