Food Plots Frost seeding

[Mr. Hawk]

Does there actually need to be frost on ground when frost seeding? I am planning on broadcasting clover the last weekend of Feb as this is only time I can, what if it's warm weather?

 

[Boll Weevil]

No, frost isn't needed. It's the freeze, thaw, freeze of the ground that allows the seed to work into little cracks in the soil. Anytime between now and when things warm up you shouldbe good to go.

 

[348Winchester]

I usually do it in early to middle March.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

Thanks

 

[jard]

if a field has has been left to grow and has the old knee high weeds in it. Should it be disc'ed first before the frost seeding??

 

[timberjack86]

if a field has has been left to grow and has the old knee high weeds in it. Should it be disc'ed first before the frost seeding??

Yes. I tried this last year. Complete waste of money.

 

[jard]

Also, to properly Lime, do I need to lime after I disc the field?? immediately after like same day??

 

[Boll Weevil]

The lime needs to be in direct contact with the soil at a root level to actively affect pH and benefit your crop. Incorporated into soil through disking will encourage faster initial reaction. After that, just check pH periodically or add a little every year. Provided you soil isn't overly compacted, rain and gravity can help move the ever dissolving lime deeper into the soil column.

 

[Hunter 257W]

You definitely need to have a significant amount of bare dirt exposed that the seeds can fall on for frost seeding to work. In most places, this means disking 1st. I just did a field of Whitetail Institute "Alfa Rack" and I cut it up good before seeding. I start disking and cut around the field one time, make a judgement of what looks to be "good enough" then I put another "notch" of angle in the disk and let it have it good. It always looks like too much while doing it but later you find yourself wishing it were cut up more.