Food Plots Plot in the timber ?

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X-Tennessean

X-Tennessean

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Thinking a head for next year, I have an area in the timber that I have been keeping mowed and cleaned up and would like to plant something next year in it. Looking for suggestions on what to plant as it will not get a lot of sun and is probably less than a half acre ?

This is in select cut timber to which there is tons of browse and may get more sun than what I am thinking. I also plan on doing a cage to see the growth as I feel it will get hit pretty hard. Got a few more trees to remove (scrub) and then I will start the process. I may plant to logging roads going to it as well, I have to be selective because it is river bottom and the majority will flood to some extent during the winter.
 
I would do a mix of this for wet areas such as bottomland - 4 lbs Ladino, 5 lbs alsike, 2 lbs rape, and 25 lb oats (this ratio is per acre)
 
Thanks droptine ! This particular area does not flood (I dont think) but I have planted all the other logging roads and the two areas that were cleared out to load the trucks, which are about an acre and would make great plots, but it all flooded and drowned out....cost me a bunch of money!!

I will def give this a try tho, I am assuming this mixture will hold up to moderate moisture if it does flood ?
 
As long as you do not have long periods of standing water (multiple weeks) this mixture should hold up. Of all the clovers most people use for plots, Ladino and especially Alsike clovers perform well in overly wet conditions.
 
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I would be concerned with planting expensive perennial clovers in a small plot that might not get much summer sunlight. I would probably go with much cheaper seed, assuming it was going to be a fall/winter only plot.
 
I've done exactly what you're planning except my areas were straight up mature timber with no cutover. If you're planning on a next Fall planting I wouldn't be too concerned with mowing and leaf removal until Spring. The major thing to look for now is forest canopy... or lack of it. You'll probably plant before leaf fall and will want all available sunlight for germination and growth so open canopies are a premium. Once you pick a spot you can go ahead and do away with saplings that might be in the way. I always looked for small secluded areas (hidey hole spots) and tried making a winding planting as opposed to a square or rectangular planting. I'd take a tiller in and break the ground liming and fertilizing before planting. I usually planted a mixture of wheat, oats, white clover, rape, and Australian winter peas. The deer and turkeys will appreciate it. I killed a couple of decent bucks out of mine. I also never tried to plant in areas with the most deer sightings or sign opting for lesser areas...like where a solitary buck may hang out. You won't get the same growth rate as in the open and too many deer will anialate a small plot.
 
Thanks Mike, good info. Honestly the amount of use that Im expecting may prohibit the growth more than lack of sunlight. I plan on clearing a few scattered trees to open it up further and will keep a close eye on it starting this weekend checking the sunlight exposure.
 
Here is my canopied very little sunlight throw and grow adventure. We raked every leaf/stick/limb away from this old logging road. Walked up and down the trail with T&G. Covered the seed, wanted higher germination rate.

With a 52% annual rye content what else did sprout was grabbed by the deer near instantly. I never saw them eat the rye.

The sunny spot at the end is where the deer bed.

SAM_0122.jpg


I would recommend anything besides what I did.
 
Looks like you planted between pines or cedar trees. Cedars and pines are probably the worst area to plant...too much acidity and they don't shed their foliage to open up the canopy. You really need a much wider planting area when planting there and you still won't get the growth along the edges. You're better served planting in hardwoods.
 
Fall Oats planted a little after Labor Day. Plant 50 lbs per acre and fertilize with nitrogen 100 lbs per acre
 
I know ppl are down on these types of plots but I have had good luck with them in the past.sometimes it's amazing how just a little grass of some kind can get a deer stopped or into a shooting lane. I have had success with wheat, Grain rye , rye grass , oats, clover . Planted individual or mixed . I also had luck with the throw in grow in a few some areas.
 

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