Food Plots Mowing clover

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southernhunter

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I got a real good stand of clover from last years plot . It's about 6 inches high and thick . But it also has a lot of trash growing in it 12" high or so . Should I run the bush hog over it or spray it first with a clover safe poison ?
 
If you think the weeds are thick, then mowing it would work. Just dont mow it too short, maybe enough to knock your weeds down (8-10"). I honestly think it is best to let the clover stand go through a complete growing season before you mow it, i.e. I planted one last fall (2012) and do not plan to mow it until late spring (2014). The weeds are not bad in mine though.
 
I tend to agree with AT Hiker and mow very little. When I do it's just enough to knock weeds/grass back and maybe a few of the flowers if in bloom. Depending on your deer density, grazing might keep it clipped enough that it continues to put on new leaf growth rather than get "stemmy" and less palatable.
 
The clover is thick but the weeds are too . . I planted the clover last fall . I ideally replant wheat /rye / clover each fall . But when I went to bush hog the area to spray roundup on it I noticed the clover was doing well . I was hoping to retain the clover and not replant this year .
 
You might could try a weed wiper too if the undesirable stuff is a little bit taller than the thick clover underneath. That way you could maybe get broadleaf and grass in one pass with gly in less time and money for fuel and chemical.
 
What is safe to spray on clover? I have some johnson grass, some purple mint, some buckeye, some who knows what. The red clover that I planted is mainly happy but the competition is hurting it.
 
tug said:
What is safe to spray on clover? I have some johnson grass, some purple mint, some buckeye, some who knows what. The red clover that I planted is mainly happy but the competition is hurting it.
Click to expand...

Clethodin.
 
its getting hot again, I'd wait if it was weeds, grass I'd spray
then clip the weeds in mid-sept.

This field was cleared and sown last August, while it was raining and staying cool we clipped it high in July, normally I wouldn't had done that

MFDC0505_zps5caaa2b9.jpg
 
tug said:
What is safe to spray on clover? I have some johnson grass, some purple mint, some buckeye, some who knows what. The red clover that I planted is mainly happy but the competition is hurting it.
Click to expand...

If you do spray, it is best to do so in the Spring when everything is a seedling.

And if you do decide to mow this fall, I would wait until we the clovers start growing again. This hot dry spell we are about to go in will stress the clover.
 
landman said:
its getting hot again, I'd wait if it was weeds, grass I'd spray
then clip the weeds in mid-sept.

This field was cleared and sown last August, while it was raining and staying cool we clipped it high in July, normally I wouldn't had done that

MFDC0505_zps5caaa2b9.jpg
Click to expand...
Landman curious as to what clovers you have in this plot? What if anything else did you plant with it?
 

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