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Post by benj on Jun 11, 2017 20:51:36 GMT -5
So I started doing some habitat enhancement on my property 2 years ago with some hinge cutting. I've been pleased with that and plan to do some more this winter. After selling an old truck this spring, I was able to purchace a 6.5 foot disc for my tractor, and give a food plot a shot! I sprayed the area with glyphospate first, waited a few weeks and then hit it with the disc. The ground was pretty dry and I didn't get great results, so I waited until after those several days of rain( plus a week to dry it out)to hit it again. I was pretty pleased this time!  The plot is in an area where I run our horse manure bi weekly, so hopefully that counts as fertilizer! I ran a broadcast spreader with Whitetail Institute Imperial clover. I like the idea of an annual for my first go around. Hopefully we get some more rain so this stuff can start growing! |
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Post by popcornridgevevay on Jun 12, 2017 9:13:25 GMT -5
Good luck, we have had better luck planting clover in the fall. Less weeds to control and cooler temperatures help clover get a good start. Clover also needs a high Pah soil or it will not grow very tall in low PH soils.
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Post by tynimiller on Jun 12, 2017 10:03:27 GMT -5
IF weather doesn't allow the young clover to get acclimated and strong with a spring planting (we do fall to establish due to summer heat and drought on young clover doesn't always work)...have no fear.
Worst case this fall plant clover, but along with it plant Winter Rye (cereal rye not ryegrass) and Oats. These things will be the nurse crop for your clover and do awesome job of it. After this fall they'll still be desirable into early winter and take pressure off clover in early stages...then in spring of 2018 you'll have Rye/Oats growing back up to head, let them go to full seed head and then mow high or even crimp kill them and the clover in the understory will already be thriving and set up nicely for the 2018 drier spells.
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Post by popcornridgevevay on Jun 12, 2017 14:09:54 GMT -5
Excellent comment!
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 14, 2017 10:00:14 GMT -5
I did plant Whitetail Institute clover in the spring, and it did come up good. I rolled mine in. I have a roller if you need it.
One error I made on my first plot was that I waited too long to actually plant after killing the vegetation. Weeds came back up ...different ones, but they came up.
I think there is a little bit of chicory in the mix. Well, I didn't know what that looked like, so I ignored a weed that had just about taken over. Not much clover could even be seen. Mowed the whole plot and sprayed a mix of the broadleaf killer and grass killer, both were sold by Whitetail. I bought mine from Amazon. Also purchased the oil that needed to be added to the mix. I waited one week after mowing before spraying just to get a little growth for more coverage on the plant.
Three weeks later, clover was the only thing growing. It's beautiful now, and very thick. It's resilient.
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Post by benj on Jun 14, 2017 11:38:08 GMT -5
We're getting some good rain now, so I'll be interested to see how the plot looks after vacation next week. I estimated the plot size at about a 1/4 acre and seeded accordingly. If it doesn't take off too well, I'll take Ty's advice and give the rye/oats a go. I'll keep my eye out for a deal on some arrest(whitetail institute brand)herbicide!
I've also tilled up a strip(no pictures yet) to plant some Northwoods Whitetail food plot screen. This screen will be to the right in my first picture, outside of the frame. Also not seen are 2 oak trees; A transplant I moved last fall that is probably 3 ish years old, and a seedling from last year that I happened to notice while bush hogging the area. A few weeks ago our local master gardeners had a plant sale and I was able to pick up 2 more oak tree seedlings for $2! Those are currently in pots on my deck so they can grow a little bit bigger before I transplant them. Another fun thing I've taken to since learning what seedling oaks look like is spotting them around my property. I've found several and have started transplanting them into pots as well. I figure I can let nature save me some time and money!
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 14, 2017 12:40:41 GMT -5
I've not had much luck with oats, but some places they go crazy over it.
I have and may again, disk over parts that didn't come up good and plant a fall plot.
Spring plots can be tough with the weeds, but the perennials have been growing good for me. I just spray for any weeds and fertilize.
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Post by popcornridgevevay on Jun 15, 2017 19:05:57 GMT -5
We plant about 3/4 acre of forage oats and sweet peas and the deer lloved it. We have an enclosed tower stand overlooking the oats which worked great for my 9 year old son. Deer came to the oats every time we hunt.led. The oats were 8" tall in October and by December they eaten everything. We will plant another 3/4 forage oats plot in August in same spot.
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Post by 76chevy on Jun 26, 2017 20:29:12 GMT -5
Good info. I am a fan of mixes, if one variety does not work another will. Hard to beat a soybean plot for late season hunting too. Has to be big enough to sustain the early browsing pressure though...or fence them out..
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Post by benj on Jul 6, 2017 8:55:46 GMT -5
Well, it's been a few weeks and I was able to snap this picture on the 4th:  I have some weeds to tame, but not as many as I thought! I'm pretty happy with the results so far. I was also happy to see that my older oak transplant has grown many more new leaves and looks very good. My tractor is currently having some electrical issues. Hopefully I can get it fixed this weekend, mow the surrounding areas, and plant the seed for the plot screen.  |
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Post by benj on Jul 10, 2017 13:28:51 GMT -5
I was able to get my tractor going and mow around the food plot yesterday. While I was out, I got the northwoods plot screen planted. After today's rain, hopefully the next time I check the area I'll see more progress on the plot and the screen! I need to get one of my cameras down there and set up so I can see the deer traveling through the area. I was fortunate enough to see a good sized buck( with a wide rack, way past the ears but not many points showing yet), along with another smaller buck while I was mowing our horse pasture on Saturday evening so hopefully it's trend that will continue into hunting season!
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Post by benj on Aug 28, 2017 10:59:19 GMT -5
An update: I mowed the plot a few weeks ago, and revisited the area last evening. The clover is looking good considering I haven't sprayed the grass(?)growing along with it. I'm thinking about mowing for the last time in the next week or so. The plot screen is doing well, it is just over knee high right now. I planted an apple tree by the plot last night as well. It is a self pollinating Braeburn variety that I picked it up for $17 at Menards. Hopefully it takes well and I'll have some nice apples dropping in mid to late October in the coming years!
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Post by tynimiller on Sept 11, 2017 15:09:39 GMT -5
Plot screens typically I like to have in during the May time frame and try to hit with two doses of nitrogen as milo/sorghum/corn and even Egyptian Wheat all love the stuff and without will not yield the height I want.
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Post by benj on Sept 12, 2017 9:25:36 GMT -5
Plot screens typically I like to have in during the May time frame and try to hit with two doses of nitrogen as milo/sorghum/corn and even Egyptian Wheat all love the stuff and without will not yield the height I want. Ty, what form of nitrogen do you like to use? Right now, the screen is about 4' and is continuing to grow. I ordered it from Northwoods Whitetail, and planted in mid July after I worked a few passes of horse manure into the strip with my disc. I have 3 horses and like to use the "natural" fertilizer I get from cleaning out the soiled bedding from their stalls. It doesn't add extra cost, and I'm able to re-purpose it all over the farm. |
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Post by tynimiller on Sept 12, 2017 9:33:34 GMT -5
The horse crap is great if for nothing else organic matter back into the soil. For corn or plot screens typically I'm gonna grab Urea (46-0-0 nitrogen) from the local ag store. If your screens aren't the longest honestly one bag should suffice so long as you spread it just on the screen. Everything will utilize nitrogen that doesn't fix its own.
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Post by benj on Dec 20, 2017 14:45:24 GMT -5
With deer season winding down and harvesting a buck early this year, I've started thinking about next year plans. One thing for sure is to frost seed my clover plot. The deer seemed to hit it pretty hard and the grass that took over didn't do any favors either. I'm also contemplating clearing a section of my woods to put in a smaller "kill plot", but I'm not sold on that idea yet because I'm not sure of a good stand location in the area. In addition, I'd like to get some more hinge cutting done as well. My plot screen I planted didn't end up growing as tall as I wanted either, so a replant of that with supplemental nitrogen( like recommended) is in the plan as well. Thanks y'all for all the advice/tips/tricks!
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Post by steiny on Dec 20, 2017 16:12:42 GMT -5
When things are growing good late spring, spray that clover plot with some Clethium. It will kill most of the grasses and leave the clover. May need to do it one more time right before fall, helps a lot.
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Post by benj on Mar 6, 2018 9:04:31 GMT -5
After looking at the temps for this week, I went ahead and frost seeded the plot on Saturday. I'm looking forward to more work this spring. One thing is for sure, I have plenty of wood to cut; quite a few dead ash trees in my woods that are falling or have fallen.
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