Terminate Rye or let it go?

[RCDuck]

I have a 4 acre plot that was soybeans last summer. In September I over-seeded it with a chicory, crimson clover, and rye mix. Right now the rye is headed out and about 3' tall. Their is a good stand of chicory in it and pretty sparse crimson clover.

I'd like to turn this into a perennial clover/chicory plot. I plan to plant Ladino Clover, and maybe a little more chicory, and probably rye as a nurse crop again in September. But for now, what should I do with the rye? Do I just let it go or should I mow it?

 

[RCDuck]

I also have a cultipacker available if it would make any sense to roll it down instead of mowing.

 

[cutman]

Have any pics? How thick is the rye?

 

[RCDuck]

This is the only pic I have. I’d say it’s moderately thick but not super thick. Can walk through it easily and see the chicory below fairly easily.

 

[dogghr]

I let mine just go its dying route mid summer. Provides weed control, adds to soil building, and makes for good fawning cover. Coyotes will skirt the edges but don't usually wade thru the mess. As it dies, clovers and chicories will take over. I actually overseed each fall WR into my perennial plots. Good luck.

 

[shawn cox]

I would let it go so it will help with weeds. It will eventually die off. I would leave it and then throw out my clover in the fall and mow it down on top of it right before a good rain.

 

[E_308]

I let mine just go its dying route mid summer. Provides weed control, adds to soil building, and makes for good fawning cover. Coyotes will skirt the edges but don't usually wade thru the mess. As it dies, clovers and chicories will take over. I actually overseed each fall WR into my perennial plots. Good luck.

What he said. I definitely wouldn't roll it. looks like you have a good stand of clover growing in it. Feed some birds and raise some fawns by winter you won't be able to see any rye.

 

[George]

What they said.

You have a good start to your perennial plot the rye will reseed and continue to be a nice element. Deer eat the seeds too when the heads are ready. Keep frost seeding clovers.

G

 

[RCDuck]

Thanks everyone.... that’s what I was hoping to hear.

I don’t think frost seeding applies as I am in southern OK, but if I do as suggested and seed with Ladino clover in September and then mow the rye down to cover the seed, should I add some rye again or will the existing rye reseed enough to act as a nurse crop over the winter?

 

[Chainsaw]

As Dogghr mentioned in his area and also here some of the does hide their fawns in the rye so we do not terminate the rye. Likely the does hide the fawns in the rye in your area as well.

 

[farmhunter]

I've done it every which way. We plant the rye pretty heavy - but I've never had it too heavy to suppress the clover planted with it.

If I have other plots to carry the load - I leave it - sometimes I never mow it - until the next spring. So it matures in the fall - and falls over with the snows in the winter and is a nice insulating organic cover the clover will grow through the next spring. I think I like that best. - but if I was relying on that plot to draw deer in the fall - I'd mow it off by late summer - you'll get some rye regeneration too in the clover -

 

[Crimson n' Camo]

I agree too. I 'd let it go. Sometimes doing nothing is just the thing to do.

 

[Sir Miss A Lot]

Let it go, the temps will kill it and it will turn to dirt, in the mean time it is shading the ground and holding moisture for your clover