White Clover and Rye Plot

H80Hunter

New Member
Quick question, I've got a small 1/5 of an acre plot that was mostly Rye and White Clover last fall. It's coming along pretty well this year. I'm going to let it go into the fall since it's small, looks good, and is an area we don't hunt much.

Would you leave it alone completely? Maybe just add some lime and fertilizer.

Would you throw and mow anything into it? I've though about broadcasting a light rate of clover, Rye and radishes, and then mow the clover before a rain. Is there any risk to this? It's a small plot so the financial risk is small (as compared to if the plot was 6 acres).
 
Dr. Craig Harper has actively promoted a mix of cereal grains and heavily reseeding clovers as a "once-a-year" food plot. It can be a single grain, like winter rye or wheat, and usually includes a mix of annual and perennial clovers. The idea is to let it grow until each plant has produced mature seed. Once that happens you broadcast any lime or fertilizer needed, bush hog the plot and then scratch the surface with some kind of harrows. Don't disc it deep or you'll get too much of the cereal grain coming back.

You can add in an annual, like a pound of radish, but it's not likely to produce seed and be self-perpetuating, like the rest of the mix.
 
Quick question, I've got a small 1/5 of an acre plot that was mostly Rye and White Clover last fall. It's coming along pretty well this year. I'm going to let it go into the fall since it's small, looks good, and is an area we don't hunt much.

Would you leave it alone completely? Maybe just add some lime and fertilizer.

Would you throw and mow anything into it? I've though about broadcasting a light rate of clover, Rye and radishes, and then mow the clover before a rain. Is there any risk to this? It's a small plot so the financial risk is small (as compared to if the plot was 6 acres).
This plot has oats written all over it. Oats do well in clover, help keep the grass down, are more attractive to deer than rye, and winter kill in your zone so you don't have to worry about them coming back. Interseed in August so they aren't to tough by hunting season. A notill drill would produce the best results. No mowing or discing needed. Broadcast/ frostseed more clover seed as needed this fall or winter.
 
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