Dont mow
New to food plots, is this the correct way?
hey all, thanks for reading and helping. I have never planted a food plot before but I’m going to give it a try. Here is my plan please correct me if I’m wrong.
Going to mow as short as possible and then spray round up to kill everything. Get the soil tested so I know how to fertilize. After what’s left of the grass is good and dead. Probably aug 10-15. Wait for s good rain forecast and then fertilize and broadcast clover seed on the same day. Going to make a drag of some kind to drag over it and hopefully get good contact with the dirt and hope for rain.
Do I really need to buy the high dollar seed or can I get some from the local feed store?
Any help is appreciated- thanks
Going to mow as short as possible and then spray round up to kill everything. Get the soil tested so I know how to fertilize. After what’s left of the grass is good and dead. Probably aug 10-15. Wait for s good rain forecast and then fertilize and broadcast clover seed on the same day. Going to make a drag of some kind to drag over it and hopefully get good contact with the dirt and hope for rain.
Do I really need to buy the high dollar seed or can I get some from the local feed store?
Any help is appreciated- thanks
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What are you planning on trying to plant?
If the grass isn't really tall, don't mow it... just spray. If you decide to mow, do it after you spray.
If the grass isn't really tall, don't mow it... just spray. If you decide to mow, do it after you spray.
It is not very tall 3-5 inches I have been mowing it to keep it looking nice. Going to plant a white clover mix. You suggest spraying it, let it die then mow it short? ThanksWhat are you planning on trying to plant?
If the grass isn't really tall, don't mow it... just spray. If you decide to mow, do it after you spray.
At 5", I wouldn't bother to mow at all. Just spray, broadcast, drag and pray for rain. Small seed like clover should find its way through the dead grass just fine IMO.
You can mow and spray a week after but mowing and spraying at the same time isn't effective. The grass needs to be growing to take in the herbicide. Too much thatch can cause bad germination rates too so the height of the grass comes into play as well.
My suggestion is to mow now and then wait until when you want to plant to spray and broadcast seed if the grass is high. If the grass isnt high, I would spray now and broadcast and mow the dead grass to help cover the seed.
My suggestion is to mow now and then wait until when you want to plant to spray and broadcast seed if the grass is high. If the grass isnt high, I would spray now and broadcast and mow the dead grass to help cover the seed.
spray first then mow a few days to soak into the plants. I would to disk the plot somewhere between Sept 1 to 15 then broadcast Wheat and fertilize (3 or 4 bags (50 lb) and 2 to 3 bags fert / acre) then cut down a cedar and drag around it. I would broadcast the cover in Feb and let the freeze, which will contact with the dirt
the deer don't care about the clover but Wheat is everything
at least that is what I do...
the deer don't care about the clover but Wheat is everything
at least that is what I do...
My biggest concern would be seed soil contact. How much thatch layer is built up from mowing ?
Clover is the easiest thing you can plant & have success with. But early Aug could be good or bad, really depends on how hot & dry it gets. Clover needs moisture to grow. If it germinates, then we get a hot, dry spell, it's going to die. IMO, I'd wait till late Aug to plant. Don't expect much growth this fall though. You'll for sure not have big enough plants this fall to hunt over. That said, add winter wheat or winter rye to your clover mix as a companion. You'll have a food plot to hunt over this fall that will be very beneficial to your new clover plants. By late fall, if ya don't see good germination of clover among the wheat, you can frost seed more clover into the plot in late winter (Feb). If ya follow my advice, come spring, don't mow off the wheat unless the weeds are crowding out the new clover.
Decent amount of thatch from mowing all summerMy biggest concern would be seed soil contact. How much thatch layer is built up from mowing ?
Thanks.. that sounds like great advise. I think I'll do that. 50/50 clover and winter wheat.Clover is the easiest thing you can plant & have success with. But early Aug could be good or bad, really depends on how hot & dry it gets. Clover needs moisture to grow. If it germinates, then we get a hot, dry spell, it's going to die. IMO, I'd wait till late Aug to plant. Don't expect much growth this fall though. You'll for sure not have big enough plants this fall to hunt over. That said, add winter wheat or winter rye to your clover mix as a companion. You'll have a food plot to hunt over this fall that will be very beneficial to your new clover plants. By late fall, if ya don't see good germination of clover among the wheat, you can frost seed more clover into the plot in late winter (Feb). If ya follow my advice, come spring, don't mow off the wheat unless the weeds are crowding out the new clover.
Is it situated where it could be burned after spraying and killing?
No, not that much clover. 50#/acre on wheat. I haven't seeded clover in a while, but I think it's like 2-4#/acre for ladino (could be wrong). Throw in a few pounds of red clover as well & you'll likely have enough growth this fall for deer to browse.Thanks.. that sounds like great advise. I think I'll do that. 50/50 clover and winter wheat.
Here's a seeding chart. https://extension2.missouri.edu/g4652
I ment 50% clover and 50%. only calls for 1.5 ladino clover per acre. How much wheat would you suggest to go with 1.5 clover? Or should I pull back on the clover to make room for the wheat?No, not that much clover. 50#/acre on wheat. I haven't seeded clover in a while, but I think it's like 2-4#/acre for ladino (could be wrong). Throw in a few pounds of red clover as well & you'll likely have enough growth this fall for deer to browse.
Here's a seeding chart. https://extension2.missouri.edu/g4652
not throwing in my 2 cents cuz I learned from these guys & i'm a better food plotter for it ..soak up their knowledge they have been there done tha
this is why I came to MWT and stay
this is why I came to MWT and stay
An initial seeding of clover, I'd go way heavier than 1.5lbs per acre, more like 7-8.I ment 50% clover and 50%. only calls for 1.5 ladino clover per acre. How much wheat would you suggest to go with 1.5 clover? Or should I pull back on the clover to make room for the wheat?
Don't plant wheat until October or it won't be utilized by deer when you want. I'd split the plot in 1/2 and then in February, broadcast more clover into the standing wheat.
Some guys see good utilization from deer on wheat, me not so much but I usually toss it into standing beans. I honestly plant it in the fall for turks to pick through in the spring.
Clover & wheat are both seeds you can't put too much seed down. I'd go full dose on both. 50# wheat per acre. Don't forget to add the red clover for this fall.I ment 50% clover and 50%. only calls for 1.5 ladino clover per acre. How much wheat would you suggest to go with 1.5 clover? Or should I pull back on the clover to make room for the wheat?
The main reason for adding wheat isn't for deer food, it's to help the clover hold moisture during the dry periods. It provides shade so the ground doesn't dry out as fast & it also helps wit weed suppression.An initial seeding of clover, I'd go way heavier than 1.5lbs per acre, more like 7-8.
Don't plant wheat until October or it won't be utilized by deer when you want. I'd split the plot in 1/2 and then in February, broadcast more clover into the standing wheat.
Some guys see good utilization from deer on wheat, me not so much but I usually toss it into standing beans. I honestly plant it in the fall for turks to pick through in the spring.
I plant it for turks.The main reason for adding wheat isn't for deer food, it's to help the clover hold moisture during the dry periods. It provides shade so the ground doesn't dry out as fast & it also helps wit weed suppression.
And I broadcast into standing beans anyway.
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