Food Plots Couple of Questions for the Food Plot Experts

[Bohuntr]

My clover plots this spring are doing great, they are lush, full, almost knee high, and are currently full of blooms. However, they do have some grass coming up through them that already have seed heads. I spray them with Clethodim every year to kill the grass but I've always wondered if the Clethodim also kills the seeds, or do they drop off and grow anyway?
Also, should I mow high and and cut the tops off of the clover and the grass before I spray, or just spray over the top of everything?
Thanks for the help!

 

[MickThompson]

Grasses that are seeding now are cool season. Clethodim doesn't kill seed. Spray earlier when the grasses are tiny and before the clover has canopied over. Save your clethodim until the summer grasses start popping out.

 

[Popcorn]

Mow your clover now wait 10 days and you will start to see a regrowth of grasses plus warm season grasses starting. Spray with Clethodim and 2-4-DB. Watch the clover for the need for a fall re-application. If the grasses in seed have ripened they are done, if the seed is green and not mature the grasses will regen and try again. I mowed last week for the same reason.

 

[wildlifefarmer]

Mow your clover now wait 10 days and you will start to see a regrowth of grasses plus warm season grasses starting. Spray with Clethodim and 2-4-D. Watch the clover for the need for a fall re-application. If the grasses in seed have ripened they are done, if the seed is green and not mature the grasses will regen and try again. I mowed last week for the same reason.

Popcorn you're right. I should have cut my firebreaks last week but turkey hunted with grandson now I need to put seeds for summer plots in the ground before I can clip n spray. I'm running late on everything this year!!!!

 

[Boll Weevil]

If you can wait til Memorial Day or later to mow you'll give your little turkeys and quail a leg up...maybe even spare a hen and her nest. Either that or walk the whole thing before mowing.

 

[nwsg76]

My clover plots this spring are doing great, they are lush, full, almost knee high, and are currently full of blooms. However, they do have some grass coming up through them that already have seed heads. I spray them with Clethodim every year to kill the grass but I've always wondered if the Clethodim also kills the seeds, or do they drop off and grow anyway?
Also, should I mow high and and cut the tops off of the clover and the grass before I spray, or just spray over the top of everything?
Thanks for the help!

I don't want to offend anyone but need to point out a few things.
Have you calibrated your sprayer to know how much water it outputs on an acre? If not, that is step one because all other information provided by everyone is useless. To have consistent output of water, you need consistent speed of vehicle, pump output, and pressure. Once you know how much water your sprayer can apply per acre, then you can add the correct amount of chemical for your field.
Next become familiar with reading herbicide labels.
Someone mentioned spraying 2,4d....its possible to spray a lower rate and white clover will not die. But if you haven't calibrated your sprayer....you have no idea if you actually applied a lower rate. All you know is that you poured less chemical into the sprayer.
Listen to guys like mic Thompson. He does this everyday and has plenty of research and experience.

 

[Popcorn]

Someone mentioned spraying 2,4d....its possible to spray a lower rate and white clover will not die.

This is incorrect!!!

I should have stated 2,4-DB. See the "B" for Butyrac.

DO NOT SPRAY 2,4-D on your clover in any amounts! It will burn it even at trace amounts.

Disclaimer; I do not know mic Thompson although I am from Cookeville but I assure you he is not the only person on this board or this thread that does this for a living.
There are folks on here that are far more wise than any of us that do this for a living.