Need quick help regarding weeds new clover plot

[Mr. Hawk]

I am a newby to food plots. I got the quality deer management food plot book that all you recommended and put my first plot in this March with clover/chicory. I live out of town and just had a chance to check on it yesterday and the pics show what is going on. My question is: do i just need to mow down the weeds so that the clover can compete or should I spray, or both? There is lots of clover and chicory but the weeds are much higher. Also, not real sure how to upload the pics?

Photos from photo bucket

 

[spoon]

If the grass is too high for spraying, mow high wait 2 weeks then spray

 

[muddyboots]

What ahall said. Also next time u do clover it does much better for me to plant in fall. I always roundup the area 2 weeks before planting and it makes a world of difference for weeds.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

Well it was cleared with a dozer prior to planting but i probably should have sprayed. So you think it's best to definately spray after mowing?

 

[muddyboots]

Yes u need to do away with those weeds.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

What is the best spray for clover and chicory?

 

[muddyboots]

clethodim

 

[spoon]

clethodim

Yep, what he said

 

[memfuzz]

And don't forget the crop oil to mix with it.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

Crop oil?

 

[spoon]

It helps the Clethodim stick to the leaves. It's not expensive

 

[Boll Weevil]

Or Dawn dish washing liquid. A surfactant will help the herbicide adhere to the plant.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

Can I spray right after mowing or must I wait?

 

[Boll Weevil]

No need to wait...you should get a good kill either way if your mix is hot enough. I've done it both ways with good success.

 

[memfuzz]

I would give it a week of new growth. The grass will readily take up the chemical then. Mowing will actually cause shut the plant down for a few days from the mowing, which the plant sees as an injury.

 

[tellico4x4]

also need 2-4-D-B + surfactant for the broadleaf. Make sure you get the "B" as regular 24D will whack the clover too!

 

[memfuzz]

Yes, clethodim will do nothing to broadleaves, only grasses. If you have both types I would suggest two separate applications also.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

Could you tell what type of weeds I have from the pics? So I need to put down clethodim and 2-4-d-b plus surfactant? Can that be mixed? Can I get at co-op?

 

[spoon]

Don't need mix the two. I would start out with Clethodim from your local co-op

 

[PickettSFHunter]

If its grasses, spray clethodim. If its broadleafs then you must make a decision. Mowing may keep broadleafs under control well enough and mowing will not wipe out your chicory. If you spray 24DB on a clover/chicory mix, your chicory will get killed. There are options that wont kill your chicory, like Raptor, but its 500 plus dollars a gallon. You only use 4-6 ounces per acre but still dang.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

Will clethodim kill chicory?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Will clethodim kill chicory?

No, clethodim is a grass killer.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Yeah, chicory being basically a broadleaf weed is a problem I've had repeatedly with my Alfa Rack field (Whitetail Institute product). I reseed lightly every year and get some chicory as it is about 10% of the mix - then get a new crop of broadleaf weeds and have to spray and there goes my chicory.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

Someone told me I shouldn't spray since the plot is only a couple months old that it would hurt the clover