Frost seeding

[GOTTA B REALTREE]

What exactly is frost seeding? I have new property and am planning to plant a mixture of clover this spring. Durana for sure And maybe patriot with it for quicker growth. If frost seeding is a good success, I'd like to try it next month.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

You go out in the winter and broadcast your seed on top of the ground. The freeze/thaw action of the soil in Winter works the seed into the ground. I like to use it to thicken up thin spots in existing clover fields, works well for that. I have some Resolute Im about to do just that with.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

Frost seeding works great. Do it every year.

 

[GOTTA B REALTREE]

Does normal discing work or does tilling the ground smooth need to be done?

 

[Football Hunter]

No discing or tilling involved in frostseedeing

 

[muddyboots]

Just spread it. Matter of fact some of my best clover plots come this way.

 

[Jarred525]

Do you guys like to do yours as close to spring as possible or does it really matter?

 

[woodsman87]

What exactly is frost seeding? I have new property and am planning to plant a mixture of clover this spring. Durana for sure And maybe patriot with it for quicker growth. If frost seeding is a good success, I'd like to try it next month.

Im glad you asked this question and got responses because it answered some of my questions. I gotta try it out!

I like planting stuff for wildlife as much as I like hunting them.

 

[348Winchester]

I usually frostseed late February to early March on the Cumberland Plateau.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Do you guys like to do yours as close to spring as possible or does it really matter?

You want to sow with enough time for the freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw to work the tiny seeds into the soil. Wait too late, and the opportunity will be missed.

 

[Bone Collector]

When would you guys do it in Rutherford County? and am i hearing this right you just spread it on the ground, no tilling of any kind?

 

[muddyboots]

This morning would have been great here. I jsut spread it on any hard frost morning.

 

[Football Hunter]

When would you guys do it in Rutherford County? and am i hearing this right you just spread it on the ground, no tilling of any kind?

Yep.just right on the

 

[timberjack86]

Can you get pretty good results in a field with short grass still there?

 

[diamond hunter]

I dont know but Id personally round up the area before fall and sow it now,cant go back in time so you have nothing to lose by trying it out,let us know how it goes..

 

[landman]

You can roundup it today and over seed in 3 weeks and still be good

 

[GOODWIN]

I have a decent plot of durana clover but would like to fill in the gaps. What type of clover would be good for this as I'd like a cheaper alternative than durana. This plot gets a minimal amount of sunlight.

 

[Ballerski]

Besides clover, what else works well when frost seeding? I have some land i just cleared and would like to frost seed some WR or WW with clover to help hold the soil. Is WW too big to frost seed? Any thoughts?

 

[muddyboots]

Wheat and rye doesnt work well frost seeding. Any small seeds will work.

 

[Bucket]

I usually mix in some chicory with my clover when I frost seed with good results.

 

[Jarred525]

I was going to frost seed this weekend. I see the first subfreezing morning looks to be Friday. Should I try it then or wait til Saturday and see if I can do it with some snow on the ground? Looks like I am going to have a number of cold mornings after that, which is good.

 

[muddyboots]

Mine is up already!

 

[Hollar Hunter]

Top sowed my plots 2 weeks ago..,

 

[Jarred525]

I know, I am slacking But looks like we are going to have some cold weather for frost to work the seed in the ground for at least the next 2 weeks.

 

[AT Hiker]

A general rule of thumb is the last two weeks in Feb. But I would contact your UT County Extension Agent to get their advise in your particular area. We frost seed our hay fields and pasture about every other year with regal red and ladino white clovers at a rate of 6lbs,2lbs per acre. This saves us from applying much if any N fertilizer. The last few droughts have hurt us real bad, but we still get really good results. Just make sure the seed is able to contact the soil (which usually is not a problem this time of year).

 

[Jarred525]

How many lbs per acre you use?

 

[Jarred525]

How many lbs per acre you use?

nevermind, I see 2 lbs

 

[AT Hiker]

2lbs of white, 6 lbs of red...you could go up to 8 lbs of red if you wanted.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

I have some land that I had cleared by a dozer this week and want to plant some plots. What is recommended to plant right now? Just clover?

 

[AT Hiker]

I have some land that I had cleared by a dozer this week and want to plant some plots. What is recommended to plant right now? Just clover?

Alfalfa, chickory, and clovers are all pretty much ready to plant this time of year (with a early March planting date).

If it is bare ground you could even plant oats as a quick germinating grain, do not plant wheat.

These is specific to livestock management, but all of the above are great for wildlife too. Fescue, orchard grass, etc is great to plant early Spring too, but as you know are not wildlife friendly plants.

Here are some good sources, although these are research based guides it is still important to understand your needs will likely be different and your ground will truly be individual. Basically it is OK to "experiment" within logic. For example, we cattle farm but love to hunt...so we have found a middle ground that works for us. We establish heavy red/white clovers in our hay fields, in return we use less N, have better quality hay, and the wildlife are attracted to our "cattle" hay fields (specifically deer/turkey).
http://forages.tennessee.edu/Page%204-% ... /pb378.pdf
https://utextension.tennessee.edu/publi ... PB1769.pdf