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Question about Overseeding and Keeping My Clover

JoeDeer

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Joined
Oct 29, 2003
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494
Location
Memphis
we have a few foodplots that we planted with a variety of grains....we also mixed in clover....how can keep my clover from dying....what do i need to do to keep it healthy....and to keep weeds out....

in the areas that have grains...can i overseed that with clover?...if so....when is the best time....

trying to make it to where we have our foodplots year round...

thanks for the help in advance
 
an old timer once told me the best time for seeding clover was on top of a snow. i have since heard this many times. maybe between now and spring we'll get a wet snow. all its going to cost is the seed and a little time.
 
Joedeer, Google - growing and managing successful food plots in the midsouth. There is a wealth of information on the web. The university of tennessee's material on the web has helped me out tremendously. Makes for good reading
 
There's a food plot book by a guy in Michigan named Ed Spinnazola, I think it's called "Ultimate Food Plots". At any rate he is a big advocate of "frost seeding" which is basically what you're describing with a late snow. I guess the snow kills the competion and the clover comes up strong. I'm pretty new to the food plot game, especially spring planting. Is it correct that once you establish a spring stand of clover you can maintain it & control weeds w/ periodic mowing over the summer?
 
It is best to plant perennial clover plots during the fall of the year. There is much less weed competition at this time, and clover will be well-established going into the spring growing period.

However, frost seeding is a good method for improving existing plots that have been browsed heavily by wildlife, or had poor germination during initial establishment. This can be accomplised during February-March. It is a gamble though. If the clovers germinate and sprout, and then we have a heavy freeze, it can kill the young plants. However, I normally take that gamble if I have the seed available.

MFBAB, you have to be careful with spring plots of clover because of the weeds. If you have competition from a weed species such as poorjoe, you will have little success from mowing, with selective herbicides being your only option. This can become very costly.
 
applying the correct herbicide to rid food plots of unwanted vegitation is in the long run cheaper than any other means

will probably not spend over $10.00 per acre for chemical you will just have to buy chemical in bulk quantity 1 to 2.5 gal
 
That all sounds like good advice, I've done only fall plantings the last two seasons and I'm planning to try a spring plot this year. I have some existing clover areas that can be overseeded so hopefully I'll have a headstart on the weeds there.
 
do a google search type in "weed grass control in clover" they list plenty of chemicals that will greatly help keep your plot cleaner time of application and correct rate of chemical is very important. i use these type chemicals all the time as many others on this site any of us would be glad to help
 
chaneylake said:
applying the correct herbicide to rid food plots of unwanted vegitation is in the long run cheaper than any other means

will probably not spend over $10.00 per acre for chemical you will just have to buy chemical in bulk quantity 1 to 2.5 gal

chaney, this can be true in many cases. However, if trying to spray a clover/chicory plot that is choked with poorjoe (a common summer weed), one of the few options you have is to spray with Pursuit @6 ounces/acre. Pursuit, in the past, could only be purchased in 1 gallon minimums. The price was/is $538/gallon. This can definitely hurt your wallet!

You can normally limit weed competition the first 2 years by proper establishment the first time. Spray with a typical burndown herbicide (Glyphosate) prior to planting in the fall. If you have good germination, you can normally get by with mowing 2-3 times per year to control weed competition. After the 2nd year, you normally have to use herbicides from this point on to control competition.
 
I'm going to give it a shot with the mowing this spring/summer, it's good to know there are some chemical options out there for clover but the $500 a gallon doesn't sound so nice, I wonder if you can put that on layaway and get out 6 OZ. at at time.... I have a couple of decent clover plots to start with, I've just been letting them grow over in the summer and reseeding in the fall each year so it will be fun to try and keep it going all year this time.
 
the imperial arrest products or just something similar from the co-op will do great! 50 bucks will get you what you need!
 
prowl or poast might do the same as pursuit, have never used pursuit before will use it this summer on clearfield sunflowers if needed look at "weed grass control in sunflowers" doing a google search. i know that pursuit is expensive i have used prowl and poast is the past and applied properly, they work great and the cost per acre is approx 5-10 dollars per acre depending upon rate. the only down side to these type of chemicals is the initial size container 1 or 2.5 gallon
 

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