Food Plots Clover question??

[wildlifefarmer]

This picture was taken June 2020. It was mix of clover and wheat planted fall of 19. Great crop with little weeds thru spring of 2022. Per soil tests, fertilizer n lime was applied each spring n fall with one spraying this spring for grass n broad leaf as well as bush hogging each year as needed.

The question is will the clover come back? I see NO clover now after this drought which turned 6 acres of these fire breaks brown brown!!! Only barnyard millet. What should I do? Start over, wait and see after this possible rain?

 

[tellico4x4]

If you are not seeing any clover after the recent rains, it may be toast. I lost two plots of it to the drought but the rest bounced back last month.

 

[wildlifefarmer]

If you are not seeing any clover after the recent rains, it may be toast. I lost two plots of it to the drought but the rest bounced back last month.

Our first rain of 1 inch was a week ago plus it's rained .50 inch this morning. By the way, I'm in one of the few areas of Tennessee that is still listed on the drought maps.

 

[Popcorn]

Our first rain of 1 inch was a week ago plus it's rained .50 inch this morning. By the way, I'm in one of the few areas of Tennessee that is still listed on the drought maps.

The seed should be there but an infusion of fresh seed (maybe different varieties) and some cereal grain now would really make a difference next year. I would kill the grass as it will rob what little moisture and nutrients you have and unless short will shade out your clover.

 

[wildlifefarmer]

The seed should be there but an infusion of fresh seed (maybe different varieties) and some cereal grain now would really make a difference next year. I would kill the grass as it will rob what little moisture and nutrients you have and unless short will shade out your clover.

that was one of my thoughts, kill with gly or what?

 

[JCDEERMAN]

If your broadcasting a new perennial clover plot, how much wheat or cereal rye should you also plant with it broadcasted?

 

[Popcorn]

To kill with glysophate you will kill any existing or emerging clover. Spray with clethodim and 2-4DB

Drilling clover in with cereal grains I usually run 35 lb per acre in existing clover and 70 lb per acre establishing new clover so I would do 70 lb if it's in tilled soil and 100 if no tillage is performed. Be aware that turkeys are champs at cleaning out wheat plots if spread (tilled or not) post haste. The trick is to spread it just before a rain

 

[wildlifefarmer]

To kill with glysophate you will kill any existing or emerging clover. Spray with clethodim and 2-4DB

in with cereal grains I usually run 35 lb per acre in existing clover and 70 lb per acre establishing new clover so I would do 70 lb if it's in tilled soil and 100 if no tillage is performed. Be aware that turkeys are champs at cleaning out wheat plots if spread (tilled or not) post haste. The trick is to spread it just before a rain

Thanks! We'll have to take a leap in one direction or the other.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Likely there is enough seed in the ground for the clover to re establish in the spring. I would probably plant winter wheat or rye grain now, then frost seed in clover in the winter.

 

[Clintos1980]

New member here. I'm doing my first clover plot this year. For years, I've seen people spray, then till a week or so later, then plant and culti-pack right after that. Is there any reason I should NOT follow that process and lime/fertilize based on soil test recommendations?

 

[deerhunter10]

New member here. I'm doing my first clover plot this year. For years, I've seen people spray, then till a week or so later, then plant and culti-pack right after that. Is there any reason I should NOT follow that process and lime/fertilize based on soil test recommendations?

We cultipack then plant with clover. On new plots we throw wheat or oats then cultipack then seed our clover. We only plant in the fall for clover.