Planting Southern Timber Tract Thinning Rows

white cloud · Apr 18, 2020

Hi there. My wife and I own a timber tract in S.C. Part of this tract is 35 year old pine. There are thinning rows cut through this and I have cleared some of them for food plots. I have tried crimson clover with limited success. Do any of you have some suggestions for other crops to try? I would appreciate any ideas.

OkieKubota · Apr 18, 2020

white cloud said:
Hi there. My wife and I own a timber tract in S.C. Part of this tract is 35 year old pine. There are thinning rows cut through this and I have cleared some of them for food plots. I have tried crimson clover with limited success. Do any of you have some suggestions for other crops to try? I would appreciate any ideas.

How much sunlight does the area get?

white cloud · Apr 18, 2020

I would call it mixed. The crowns of the pine trees are pretty far up in the air so the land does get sun but maybe 50% of what a pasture gets.

davidhelmly · Apr 18, 2020

I plant some similar areas here in GA, I normally do wheat, oats and white clover and it will look good for 2-3 years until the pine straw get too thick on it.The deer absolutely love those long narrow plots for daytime use.

white cloud · Apr 18, 2020

David, I suspect your environment and mine are very similar. Your idea sounds great. Do you mix the various seeds equally?

Thanks very much for the advice.

Drycreek · Apr 18, 2020

I’ve had good luck with Whitetail Institute clover in semi-shaded areas, but the soil has to be right.

davidhelmly · Apr 18, 2020

white cloud said:
David, I suspect your environment and mine are very similar. Your idea sounds great. Do you mix the various seeds equally?

Thanks very much for the advice.

white cloud I bet our climates are similar. I normally do 40-50 pounds each of wheat and oats and 6-8 pounds of white clover per acre. During the hottest part of the summer that partial shade helps to keep your clover producing.

tlh2865 · Apr 18, 2020

I would think low ph would be a concern in 35 yr old pines?

OkieKubota · Apr 19, 2020

tlh2865 said:
I would think low ph would be a concern in 35 yr old pines?

Lots of lime...

white cloud · Apr 19, 2020

PH is an on going problem. I buy lime by the pallet.

Triple C · Apr 19, 2020

wc - Lots of lime and white clover is your friend in row pines where they've been thinned. David's advice on grains and white clover mix is bout as good as it gets.

Turkish · Apr 19, 2020

When were they last thinned? I suspect sunlight is your biggest issue.

THE LLC · Apr 19, 2020

Durana is hard to beat in those situations.

white cloud · Apr 20, 2020

Thanks for all the replies. I think I got some ideas here to try.

Deadeye · May 14, 2020

I deal with the same issue, but even worse since we are dealing with just between the rows. Lime is essential, but even that takes time to get the soil right.

I've tried several types of Well Known Brands of Clovers and Mixes with little results to show for it. What we plan to try this year is ICP, Iron Clay Peas. Several guys that have the same conditions swear by them and mixing Clover in, as the ICP's work as a Cover Crop to give the Clover a chance to survive.

I've also found a Local Seed Company that makes seed Blends for the conditions we face in Florida and the South. Handcock Seed. Going to give them a try this year.

THE LLC · May 14, 2020

Hancock is a good dealer. I wouldn’t be planting clovers with ICP in the south though. IF the deer let the peas grow, they will shade out clover. If the deer wipe out the peas, weeds will choke out the clover. Clover is strictly a fall seeding forage in the south.

TreeDaddy · May 14, 2020

THE LLC said:
Hancock is a good dealer. I wouldn’t be planting clovers with ICP in the south though. IF the deer let the peas grow, they will shade out clover. If the deer wipe out the peas, weeds will choke out the clover. Clover is strictly a fall seeding forage in the south.

And acts more like a reseeding annual than a perennial here due to texas heat

bill

Deadeye · May 14, 2020

THE LLC said:
Hancock is a good dealer. I wouldn’t be planting clovers with ICP in the south though. IF the deer let the peas grow, they will shade out clover. If the deer wipe out the peas, weeds will choke out the clover. Clover is strictly a fall seeding forage in the south.

Ok thanks.

I got that info from a Florida based Hunting group. That is what most were doing on their property.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Drycreek · May 14, 2020

TreeDaddy said:
And acts more like a reseeding annual than a perennial here due to texas heat

bill

Yeah, I’ve never had any white clovers make it through August here. Looks like melted green plastic. The good thing is though, after a little cool weather and some rain, it bounces right back........just in time to go dormant for the winter.

Despite that, I’ve never seen deer love anything more in the spring and early summer than Imperial Whitetail clover. They just love it !

THE LLC · May 15, 2020

Yes they do. Pretty much any white clover.

Planting Southern Timber Tract Thinning Rows

Member

Moderator

Member

Active Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Moderator

Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads