Throw N Mow thread...

[Mennoniteman]

Thank you so much! It shouldn't be acidic. Did a soil test last year and applied the requisite amount of lime. And yes I do plan on clearing some of those rocks but that field is a rock fest. I have 3 others that hardly have a rock but that one makes up for it. So are you saying that even that short of grass, weeds and clover etc will suffice as potential cover for a throw and mow?

It's pretty slim but still much better than bare dirt for broadcasting seed into. I guess what I'm trying to say is be careful on spraying and discing or you might end up with even less organic matter than you have now. Keep stuff growing even if it's weeds and every year will get better. I wish someone had taught me this when I started. To much spraying and tilling in poor dirt and soon nothing is growing.

 

[srmtrap]

It's pretty slim but still much better than bare dirt for broadcasting seed into. I guess what I'm trying to say is be careful on spraying and discing or you might end up with even less organic matter than you have now. Keep stuff growing even if it's weeds and every year will get better. I wish someone had taught me this when I started. To much spraying and tilling in poor dirt and soon nothing is growing.

That's helpful. I'll try to get something down and get even more stuff growing now

 

[srmtrap]

Is it necessary to spray as part of throw and mow? Could you mow when green and have success?

 

[TreeDaddy]

Interesting thought

I do not spray for fall plantings and am happy with results

I used throw and mow sorghumXsudan this past spring without spray in april and have a great stand well over 6 ft tall

We have had >average rain this year in east texas

bill

 

[Scott44]

Planted my brassicas today with the throw and roll without spraying so we'll see how they turn out. Not sure what happened to my rye from last fall but there was very little in there, mostly grasses, clover, vetch and weeds.

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[Mennoniteman]

Is it necessary to spray as part of throw and mow? Could you mow when green and have success?

There's many variables with that. In the spring with an aggressive crop like sorghum /millet throw and mow without spraying should work. If the prior crop was a small grain that matured would be ideal for throw and mow or roll without spraying. If your seeding brassica into heavy grass, sod, and weeds in midsummer it will probably be a failure. But you could seed clover into sod without spraying as long as it's not too dry, then kill the grass later with Select (clethodim) I know you posted the picture of your field, if you still have bare dirt showing at places it'll work better.

 

[catscratch]

Is it necessary to spray as part of throw and mow? Could you mow when green and have success?

If you look up dgallow's thread he basically does plots into native without spraying.

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[Mennoniteman]

Planted my brassicas today with the throw and roll without spraying so we'll see how they turn out. Not sure what happened to my rye from last fall but there was very little in there, mostly grasses, clover, vetch and weeds.

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It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. Make sure you update us on the level of success of this brassica planting.

 

[Scott44]

It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. Make sure you update us on the level of success of this brassica planting.

I have planted my brassicas this way for the last 4-5 yrs but I have always sprayed while rolling, just thought I would change things up the plot in the pic was a throw and mow last year with the Dbltree cereal grain mix with no spraying.

 

[John Barnes]

I just used throw and mow into standing rye 2 weeks ago without spraying. I planted 3 seperate strips of sunflowers, peas, and buckwheat. I knew I didn't have enough seed for it to come in thick, so didn't spray. Allowing the weeds and grass to come back after mowing will insure I have plenty of thatch for the fall plantings.

Sunflowers are easily outpacing the grass and weeds coming in. The pea section is pretty thin, and has a lot of weeds. Peas did germinate well and deer haven't found it among the weed cover at this point. Lots of clover in the buckwheat section, both are growing well.

I will be spraying the fall plantings in these spots. I'll try and post pics tomorrow.

 

[John Barnes]

Here are the pics.

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[lakngolf]

I tried a test last fall and had throw and mow section in most fertile ground. For conventional I lightly filled and then used chisel plow to create planting furrow. We had record drought. I expected nothing. Seed in the cp furrows did great, even in drought. Other nothing, weeds and grass back when we did have rain. This spring I used tiller and chisel plow for chufa. Great results. It is now my method!

 

[Mennoniteman]

I tried a test last fall and had throw and mow section in most fertile ground. For conventional I lightly filled and then used chisel plow to create planting furrow. We had record drought. I expected nothing. Seed in the cp furrows did great, even in drought. Other nothing, weeds and grass back when we did have rain. This spring I used tiller and chisel plow for chufa. Great results. It is now my method!

Agree on that. Almost all types of seed need soil contact to get started, some more critical than others. That's why the best planting results are with a notill drill. And as you pointed out if someone doesn't have a drill and can rake furrows in the sod some other way the germination rate will be much better than broadcasting onto a thick growth of whatever's been there before. Even back dragging bucket teeth works on a small plot.

 

[Perry]

I wanted to try throw and mow this year on my fall plot I was letting the spot grow up some but my dad ended up coming in and bush hogging it when I was out of town. So I came in and sprayed the spot then we had a dry spell and didn't get any rain for a while.



So I waited until we had a good chance of rain in the forecast then I broadcasted my seeds right before a the rain. I planted around the first or second week in october. I planted the real world wildlife harvest salad blend and then picked up some radish seed and added into the mix. I do have some spots that are a little bare but for the most part I'm thrilled at the way this turned out. Only thing is I think I went a little too heavy on my radishes.

 

[lakngolf]

I wanted to try throw and mow this year on my fall plot I was letting the spot grow up some but my dad ended up coming in and bush hogging it when I was out of town. So I came in and sprayed the spot then we had a dry spell and didn't get any rain for a while.

View attachment 10163

So I waited until we had a good chance of rain in the forecast then I broadcasted my seeds right before a the rain. I planted around the first or second week in october. I planted the real world wildlife harvest salad blend and then picked up some radish seed and added into the mix. I do have some spots that are a little bare but for the most part I'm thrilled at the way this turned out. Only thing is I think I went a little too heavy on my radishes.
View attachment 10164 View attachment 10165

Looks great . Best to never cover small seed like radish and turnips. I always plant them after dragging

 

[Semisane]

This 0.4 acre plot is on it's 3rd. year of throw and mow, except this year I did a throw & roll. I have no complaints. It looks like it will be getting another shot of rain today.

This is the same plot shown in my thread with time lapse pictures showing ten days of day-by-day growth after the first rain. That one is here. http://deerhunterforum.com/index.php?threads/a-series-of-time-lapse-pictures.3314/

 

[pinetag]

So I'm curious about the rolling method of throw and mow. Do most of you spray first, then spread seed, and then roll or do you just spread seed and roll without any spraying? I am in the process of purchasing a property and I would like to open up some small areas for food plots but I won't have access to any large equipment. My father in law has a pull behind roller that I can attach to my atv as well as a box blade with teeth and I also would like to purchase a sprayer to attach to the atv. I was thinking this might be a good method for small plots located further back in the woods. Thoughts?

 

[dtabor]

So I'm curious about the rolling method of throw and mow. Do most of you spray first, then spread seed, and then roll or do you just spread seed and roll without any spraying? I am in the process of purchasing a property and I would like to open up some small areas for food plots but I won't have access to any large equipment. My father in law has a pull behind roller that I can attach to my atv as well as a box blade with teeth and I also would like to purchase a sprayer to attach to the atv. I was thinking this might be a good method for small plots located further back in the woods. Thoughts?

Many here much more knowledgeable than I on this but spray, spread, roll is the order generally. One thing I will say is to not let the grass get too high before you roll or it will be too heavy for the seed to germinate and sprout. I made that mistake this past season. Its alot of trial and error to get it just right.

 

[catscratch]

So I'm curious about the rolling method of throw and mow. Do most of you spray first, then spread seed, and then roll or do you just spread seed and roll without any spraying? I am in the process of purchasing a property and I would like to open up some small areas for food plots but I won't have access to any large equipment. My father in law has a pull behind roller that I can attach to my atv as well as a box blade with teeth and I also would like to purchase a sprayer to attach to the atv. I was thinking this might be a good method for small plots located further back in the woods. Thoughts?

Always spray! Not spraying means that your seed will have to compete with established plants. This usually ends in frustration.

Rolling and mowing "can" help but I'm finding that their true advantage is shifting seed down to the soil. Seed needs soil contact. If you have a light and vertical thatch then the seed will fall to the soil on it's own. If you have a thick thatch it might need help. This is where a mower or roller really shines.

An important part of your plan will be to make your openings big enough to let sunlight reach the soil. I've never had a plot do very well if the opening was too small and was shaded.

Good luck on your purchase and new adventures on it.

 

[pinetag]

Always spray! Not spraying means that your seed will have to compete with established plants. This usually ends in frustration.

Rolling and mowing "can" help but I'm finding that their true advantage is shifting seed down to the soil. Seed needs soil contact. If you have a light and vertical thatch then the seed will fall to the soil on it's own. If you have a thick thatch it might need help. This is where a mower or roller really shines.

An important part of your plan will be to make your openings big enough to let sunlight reach the soil. I've never had a plot do very well if the opening was too small and was shaded.

Good luck on your purchase and new adventures on it.

Thanks guys!
Cat, I have been thinking about the shade aspect and my plan is to cut the plots in such a way that it reduces the southern canopy, hopefully letting in the most light possible. A north-south plot with a little bit of an L shape toward the east should allow decent germination and growth by allowing mid-day to afternoon sun to hit most of the opening. We shall see! LOL