Planted too early?

[Creek chub]

I planted a plot of oats and Durana clover late July based on rain forecasts and time constraints for August. The oats are doing great, maybe too good because some are starting to head out. I planted it as a nurse crop so I’m not concerned too much about the oats. Is it okay to mow the oats without damaging them? Durana germination has been slow but from reading it may be due to higher temps and may improve shortly

 

[Native Hunter]

It won't hurt the oats to mow them, but deer will eat oats that are very tall and mature. So, even though you can do it, I wouldn't. You could be mowing down food that the deer would have eaten.

The only reason I would mow would be if you had some warm season annual weeds (like pigweed and lambsquarters) coming up in the plot. It's getting late enough that you would probably stop them from seeding this year - yet the oats would continue to grow some as the weather gets cooler.

Best Wishes.

 

[Creek chub]

It won't hurt the oats to mow them, but deer will eat oats that are very tall and mature. So, even though you can do it, I wouldn't. You could be mowing down food that the deer would have eaten.

The only reason I would mow would be if you had some warm season annual weeds (like pigweed and lambsquarters) coming up in the plot. It's getting late enough that you would probably stop them from seeding this year - yet the oats would continue to grow some as the weather gets cooler.

Best Wishes.

Thanks. I’m totally cool letting the plot go as is. Plenty of wood cutting chores between now and bow season

 

[Native Hunter]

Sounds good!

 

[Creek chub]

Sounds good!

Proof is in the pudding. My deer haven’t touched the oats too much but have been crushing medium red clover even walking thru whitetail institute clover to get it