Broadleaf Weed Plot!

[Deck78]

I couldn't ID a couple of these broadleafs and wish this was a foodplot and not a weedplot!

Any id ideas on these closeups?

 

[jmb4wd]

What ever it is brother, you for one heck of a stand!

Looks like deer would love it!

Someone way more knowledgeable than me will chime in.

 

[BigGameGuy]

I couldn't ID a couple of these broadleafs and wish this was a foodplot and not a weedplot!

That right there my friend is better habitat than any food plot you could ever put in. To wildlife, ugly is beautiful.

 

[BSK]

I've gone back and forth on identifying these weeds that commonly take over food plots and other forest openings in summer. At times, I've waffled between identifying it as a plant in the Eupatorium (boneset) family (most likely purple eupotorium) to possibly even a member of the low-shrub Viburnum family.

But one thing I DO know is they can grow 5-6 feet tall and absolutely dominate small food plots, especially partially-shaded bottomland food plots. Deer don't eat the plant much, but I've found fawns hiding in thick stands.

 

[Football Hunter]

Looks like maybe some mint,which deer dont eat,and I have plenty of They dont eat all forbes.

 

[FLIPPER]

I let my fall/winter plots become whatever plots in the summer and the deer wear them out.

There are 3 does and 6 fawns in the small plot here at the house right now.

 

[BSK]

Looks like maybe some mint,which deer dont eat,and I have plenty of They dont eat all forbes.

I finally identified the plant I commonly see take over many bottomland plots (especially those with mixed shade), and it is in the mint family. It is Beefsteak Plant, also called Rattlesnake Weed because the flowers, when dried in later fall and winter, "rattle" when you brush against them.

Although I'm not positive some of the weeds in Deck78's second picture are Beefsteak Plant (as some of those plants display a triple-lobed mappleleaf pattern, and Beefsteak Plant usually doesn't), I'm positive the plants in his third picture are Beefsteak Plant. Beefsteak Plant also commonly forms dense colonies like depicted in Deck78's pictures.

And as Football Hunter mentioned, deer rarely eat plants in the mint family, although the do make good fawning cover.

 

[Football Hunter]

Looks like maybe some mint,which deer dont eat,and I have plenty of They dont eat all forbes.

I finally identified the plant I commonly see take over many bottomland plots (especially those with mixed shade), and it is in the mint family. It is Beefsteak Plant, also called Rattlesnake weed because the flowers, when dried in later fall and winter, "rattle" when you brush against them.

Although I'm not positive some of the weeds in Deck78's second picture is Beefsteak plant (as some of those plants display a triple-lobed mappleleaf pattern, and Beefsteak plant usually doesn't), I'm positive the plant in his third picture is Beefsteak Plant.

How come the weed that grows most readilly is one that deer dont eat

 

[BSK]

How come the weed that grows most readilly is one that deer dont eat

Actually, often it's not a matter of best growth, but the fact deer don't eat it. That which they eat gets whiped out allowing only what they DON'T eat to take over.

 

[Football Hunter]

How come the weed that grows most readilly is one that deer dont eat

Actually, often it's not a matter of best growth, but the fact deer don't eat it. That which they eat gets whiped out allowing only what they DON'T eat to take over.

good point

 

[TheLBLman]

How come the weed that grows most readilly is one that deer dont eat

Actually, often it's not a matter of best growth, but the fact deer don't eat it. That which they eat gets whiped out allowing only what they DON'T eat to take over.

A good reason to mow those "native" food plots at least once in April and at least once about now. I'd bet a good mowing of Deck78's native food plot would cause some young ragweed to appear.

I couldn't ID a couple of these broadleafs and wish this was a foodplot and not a weedplot!

That right there my friend is better habitat than any food plot you could ever put in. To wildlife, ugly is beautiful.

I agree with BGG in that many "weed" plots are better for both cover and food than many expensive cultivated "food" plots. Call it what you want, but THAT above is a "food" plot, even if most of the currently visible plants are not preferred ones by deer.

Just like what are usually referred to as "food" plots, a little "management" can go a long way. The above is little different than a clover plot that has turned into a grass plot ---- mow it for some instant improvement.

I commonly prefer to mow in stages as opposed to the entire plot at a single mowing, such as mowing 1/3 this week, 1/3 next week, and that final 1/3 maybe even a month or more after the first third. Staging the habitat alteration will provide more consistent new growth, more habitat diversity, without as much sudden change. If that spot is being used for fawns to hide in, by only mowing 1/3, you're giving those fawns a little more time to find some alternative bedding/hiding areas.

 

[BSK]

Great advice Wes.

 

[Deck78]

Thanks everyone for the insight! I am definitely in agreement on the natural habitat as I have jumped fawns out of this patch this year while mowing. Dad and I are taking Wes' advice and mowing this in 3 different cuttings to see how that works out. I can't wait for deer season. This year has been one of the best for deer sightings in our area and we got more fawns than I can count. Neighbor got twin fawns on camera last week!