1. Before starting, read all planting instructions, planting tips, and maintenance.
2. Select flat areas with well-drained soils that hold some moisture. Avoid sandy soils, soils that are too moist, and hillsides that drain quickly. An ideal soil bed is well prepared, fertile, firm, and moist. More Wildlife: Buckwheat Soil Builder works best in light to heavy soil types.
3. Test and adjust soil pH to 5.4-6.5
i. If no soil test is available, add 2 tons of lime/acre for new food plots, or 1 ton/acre for established food plots that have been limed previously. Note* To speed things up skip to step #4 before applying lime while you are waiting for soil test to come back.
4. Check rules for your state and weed-kill if allowable and kill all weeds before planting this seed. Use herbicide weed control or tillage. Follow the directions for the weed-kill product you have purchased. Do not move to step 5 until you have waited at least 7 days after weed-kill has been applied.
5. Disc harrow or till thoroughly and then repeat after 5 days if needed. Do not over-till; doing so will result in loss of moisture. Then drag an old box spring mattress, chain-link fence, or ATV harrow-drag to smooth out plot & fluff up top 1/2" for planting. Never plant seed deeper than 1”.
6. Add 200 #’s/acre of 15-15-15 or 19-19-19 or equivalent fertilizer. However, 19-19-19 is a better fertilizer for More Wildlife: Buckwheat Soil Builder. Fertilizer and seed should be done consecutive.
7. Before broadcasting seed, make sure light rain is in the near forecast.
a. For More Wildlife Buckwheat Soil Builder, broadcast 50 lbs./acre
i. After broadcasting seed, lightly drag with old box spring mattress, chain link fence or ATV harrow-drag. More Wildlife Buckwheat Soil Builder likes to be planted deeper than most seeds. Then roll with either a heavy-roller, cultipacker, or drive ATV over seed to ensure better seed-to-soil contact for better germination. Rolling is preferred.
8. More Wildlife Buckwheat Soil Builder doesn't require fertilizing 3-4 weeks after planting like most mixes. Buckwheat is the best product to add organics to your soil and an amazing weed suppressant. If no weeds are present skip weed killing for fall product planting. Roll Buckwheat to kill 2 weeks before planting August 1-15 zone 4 and plant a More Wildlife fall product. *Note, make sure when rolling Buckwheat that you roll before it goes to seed (mid July). If Buckwheat is taller than 2' it will be best to brush hog and let bake in the sun for a week before tilling.
1. Lime requires time to change pH, add lime as early as possible.
2. Avoid hot weather; plant when rain is in the near forecast.
3. Plant More Wildlife: Buckwheat Soil Builder early in the spring when garden planting in your area begins, usually by early June, (Northern Planting Zone 4). Check your planting zone at www.morewildlife.net
4. Do not mow. Replant annually, can only brush hog or mow in the fall before your fall planting.
5. Buckwheat may reseed itself so be sure to keep a close eye on it starting July 4th. If you find that it's going to seed, when you replant it again in the spring plant a week or two later.
