Mowing ?

[Football Hunter]

I dont really get how mowing my plots will reduce grass growth.Im gonna do it,but just wondering the "science" behind it.

I mow my yard,and the grass keeps growing

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I think mowing does more for broadleafs than grass. Just my experience. Though I do like to mow, get a little new growth on grass, then spray it. I really need to mow my clover patches right now but just cant with this dry weather!

 

[Football Hunter]

Same here,waiting on some rain,my clover is 12 to 16 inches high

 

[Trapper John]

Stress? I do know I'm mowing my fields this week to take advantage of the lack of rain. I'm going to stress the weeds and grasses as much as I can and then as soon as it rains I'll be watching for new growth with a sprayer wand in hand.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Problem is that alot of weeds and grasses are more drought resistant than clovers. Ive seen nice clover fields wiped out from cutting hay off of them at the wrong time.

 

[BSK]

I dont really get how mowing my plots will reduce grass growth.Im gonna do it,but just wondering the "science" behind it.

I mow my yard,and the grass keeps growing

Mowing generally increases grass competition over the long run while decreasing broadleaf competition.

 

[Football Hunter]

I dont really get how mowing my plots will reduce grass growth.Im gonna do it,but just wondering the "science" behind it.

I mow my yard,and the grass keeps growing

Mowing generally increases grass competition over the long run while decreasing broadleaf competition.

So mowing "increases" grasses?I dont give a crap about Weeds,"forbes" deer eat those things.

 

[Football Hunter]

WHERE IS QUAILMAN????

 

[BSK]

I dont really get how mowing my plots will reduce grass growth.Im gonna do it,but just wondering the "science" behind it.

I mow my yard,and the grass keeps growing

Mowing generally increases grass competition over the long run while decreasing broadleaf competition.

So mowing "increases" grasses?I dont give a crap about Weeds,"forbes" deer eat those things.

If your looking at the ratio of grass versus broadleaf competition, mowing drives that competition far more towards the grass end of the scale, simply because grasses can thrive through multiple mowings while broadleafs generally cannot.

Didn't mean to imply that mowing increases the amount of grass in the plot, just that it won't decrease grass competition while it will decrease broadleaf competition, leaving grasses as your primary competitor.

 

[Quailman]

WHERE IS QUAILMAN????

Have to head over to the Land & Wildlife Expo property for a couple hours to meet with TDF, but I'll chime in when I get back this afternoon. Guess this is a good topic for discussion.

 

[Quailman]

WHERE IS QUAILMAN????

Have to head over to the Land & Wildlife Expo property for a couple hours to meet with TDF, but I'll chime in when I get back this afternoon. Guess this is a good topic for discussion.

 

[Quailman]

If we are talking about mowing clover plots, I typically only mow mine 2-3 times per year, depending on the amount of rainfall we receive. I normally mow aroung the first of June and then once again around the first of September. However, I only recommend mowing your plots if you have problems with weed and grass competition. If it is only clover growing in your plots with a few annual broadleaf "wildlife friendly" weeds, then why mow? You are only reducing the amount of available nutrition (by volume) in that food plot.

The only reason I mow clover plots is to keep competition plants from shading the clover or from producting seedheads.

On a side note, you will want to mow your clover plots if chicory is added to the mixture. You want to keep chicory from "bolting" because the plant will create more stems and be lower in nutritional value.

If you have excessive grass competition, mowing will help somewhat, but you will eventually have to spray with herbicides or simply replant.

 

[BSK]

On a side note, you will want to mow your clover plots if chicory is added to the mixture. You want to keep chicory from "bolting" because the plant will create more stems and be lower in nutritional value.

EXCELLENT point. Glad you mentioned that.

 

[Football Hunter]

Grasses are my problem,goona get a wick bar,but dont think that will help with nut sedge.Saw something in Home Depot for nut sedge,not sure its effects on clover.

 

[JAD]

I was somehow invaded by annual ryegrass this past fall. I've mowed 4 times this spring,trying to prevent the seed from developing. The stubble of grass is again trying to form seed, so I'll mow again in a few days. In a 1/4 acre plot that holds moisture, the grass seems to be dying out as the Durana clover covers like a carpet. On a different 1/4 acre plot thats much drier, both clover and grass are dying out, but the clover seems to be getting the worst of it.

 

[Boone 58]

if you have clover , mowing them helps promote regeneration growth and cuts down on the weeds completely taking over in some cases. i like to leave it 6 to 8 inches tall