Food Plots Starting a new plot

[MS_Strut]

I have a pipeline that runs behind my office on my property. The county comes through and bush hogs the pipeline once maybe twice a year on their way to property they own and cut.

They came through in June and trimmed it down to a manageable size to push mow and I did. I've kept it down since. It's mostly tall grasses and broadleaf and briar. A lot of everything except a good food source. I've killed a buck off of the pipeline so they already come in. Just trying to attract more.

I have about 3k square feet (small I know) that I have kept trimmed back and recently killed everything with herbicide and have added the Lime recommended from my soil test results. I know the lime likely won't take enough to make a big difference by the time we are ready to plant a fall plot in September.

I have bare dirt and dying grass/weeds. No equipment other than hand tools but September seems like a long ways away to have bare ground out there. Do I still just wait it out and let what grows back grow until closer to time to plant?

And since I am fully no-till and don't have any cover crop right now am I going to need to lay down some straw when I seed to retain moisture? I plan to get a deer mix a local co-op has that is no-till. Would like clover and may add some chicory. I've never done a plot before so I am expecting some failures and have already learned so much.

 

[Bucket]

Let it grow until you're ready to plant. I like the spray, throw and mow technique - spray everything with gly about a week or two before you want to plant, then before a rainfall spread your seed and mow everything close. The cut material will be a thatch layer that protects the seed, inhibits weeds, and retains moisture. I also recently had luck with spreading seed, mowing, then spraying all in one day. Glyphosate doesn't harm seeds, just growing plants.

 

[MS_Strut]

Yeah that was my plan. But, there's not going to be any "material" to cut to create any thatch. I have had to cut it to clear the ground the best I could and to apply the lime and also to keep it from getting out of control.

I may have a little bit but there was already a very thick layer of thatch that I've raked and removed and now have bare dirt to maximize seed to soil contact when the time comes. So would adding straw after seeding suffice for my lack of material to cut and protect the seeds I do put out.

I totally understand the concept of having a cover crop and can now plan to have that crop to lay down next year. I just got a late start on prepping this spot so I'm working with what I have.

Is straw going to be my best bet after seeding? Should I just broadcast and let it ride with no straw. This spot gets 8-12 hours of direct sunlight so I would be concerned with things drying out otherwise.

Here is what I have as of yesterday:

 

[Bucket]

I would plant buckwheat on that as soon as possible. It matures in about 60 days, then you could use it as your seed cover.

 

[MS_Strut]

Just broadcast it and watch?

I won't need to till it or cover it or anything?

 

[Bucket]

Just broadcast it and watch?

I won't need to till it or cover it or anything?

You might run some sort of drag or even a rake over it. Seed it heavy before rain and you should be good. I broadcast some about a month and a half ago and had it growing from my tractor later!

 

[MS_Strut]

You might run some sort of drag or even a rake over it. Seed it heavy before rain and you should be good. I broadcast some about a month and a half ago and had it growing from my tractor later!

Thanks. I just went and got 8lbs of buckwheat seed and went ahead and got some straw.

Next week or so looks like good planting weather if the forecasts are actually correct (which I doubt)

 

[348Winchester]

Get a few moe pounds of buckwheat to oversow the thin areas after your intial planting reveals where those thinner areas are.

Buckwheat really shines from now until it dies from frost.

 

[MS_Strut]

Yeah I got the 8# but not sure it is enough. I was planning on going to go get another 10# or so on my lunch break here shortly and just hold on to what I don't use for 1st round of spring planting next year.

Plan to do a tad bit more dirt work this afternoon and then I will sow and cover tomorrow afternoon. Will update with pics once I have it sown. Hoping for some good rain over the weekend and early next week.

 

[Ski]

Excellent advice given so far. These guys will steer you right.

You might give chicory a really close look. It has a deep taproot that draws moisture up & grows well in sun scorched soil. It grows well in shade too but really seems to shine on sun scorched or drought soil, and deer have always eaten the chicory I've planted. Even when they don't touch clover or when clover is dying back due to drought & heat, the chicory is still vibrant & moist and deer gobble it up.

 

[MS_Strut]

Excellent advice given so far. These guys will steer you right.

You might give chicory a really close look. It has a deep taproot that draws moisture up & grows well in sun scorched soil. It grows well in shade too but really seems to shine on sun scorched or drought soil, and deer have always eaten the chicory I've planted. Even when they don't touch clover or when clover is dying back due to drought & heat, the chicory is still vibrant & moist and deer gobble it up.

Chicory is definitely going down with the rest of my fall planting. I didn't know that about the deep tap root and dry soil. Even more of a reason to go with it in this location.

I am letting my local "co-op" steer me on a blend that they mix for the fall stuff. I haven't gotten into the details of what they use yet but will closer to time and will report back to see if it's worth my time.

 

[megalomaniac]

That spot has a lot of potential!

may want to discuss with the county to make sure they don't mow down all your hard work when they are out there bushhogging.

 

[MS_Strut]

That spot has a lot of potential!

may want to discuss with the county to make sure they don't mow down all your hard work when they are out there bushhogging.

I know! I've thought about that happening. I can't remember if they only cut it once or twice a year.

We'll find out I guess.

 

[timberjack86]

I'd contact the county and ask them not to bush hog your plot down next time the mow.

 

[MS_Strut]

Got all my buckwheat put out and covered with straw on Friday. Had a good rain Saturday and lots of sun yesterday. Got some rain just a little while ago that got everything good and wet again. Might get some more soon too.

Everything seemed pretty dried up when I walked back there earlier though. Not sure if that will hurt with germination or anytihng. Hopefully the straw does it's job and helps retain some moisture and I start seeing some growth later this week.

 

[BSK]

Got all my buckwheat put out and covered with straw on Friday. Had a good rain Saturday and lots of sun yesterday. Got some rain just a little while ago that got everything good and wet again. Might get some more soon too.

Everything seemed pretty dried up when I walked back there earlier though. Not sure if that will hurt with germination or anytihng. Hopefully the straw does it's job and helps retain some moisture and I start seeing some growth later this week.

You won't believe what a difference that mulch makes. Last year, even with almost zero rain from early August until late October, the mulch captured enough morning dew that I had an OK stand of crimson clover by late September.

 

[MS_Strut]

You won't believe what a difference that mulch makes. Last year, even with almost zero rain from early August until late October, the mulch captured enough morning dew that I had an OK stand of crimson clover by late September.

Just walked out there to look around and I have Buckwheat coming up pretty good and soil still has a lot of moisture.

The straw made a huge difference but it has also made the weeds pop up all over too.

Do I just let those come in and let the buckwheat outpace them and shade them out?

 

[BSK]

Just walked out there to look around and I have Buckwheat coming up pretty good and soil still has a lot of moisture.

The straw made a huge difference but it has also made the weeds pop up all over too.

Do I just let those come in and let the buckwheat outpace them and shade them out?

Depends on the type of weeds. If they're broadleaf weeds, you're basically stuck with mowing the weeds and clover. But if they are grasses, Clethodim works amazingly well.

 

[megalomaniac]

Don't worry about the weeds! You aren't feeding the deer this summer with thatt plot. Just build soil, and kill the crap out of everything before you plant this fall

 

[MS_Strut]

Update after planting on July 17ish. Have really only had two decent rains including this past weekend. I over seeded last Monday in some of the bare patches but this weather this past weekend really did wonders back there.

Good germination from the over seeding taking place in the larger bare spots. That area in the center likely didn't and won't get good soil contact but this second round has much more germination than before so shouldn't stay totally bare for long. Will tend to that spot a little more in the offseason. It is what it is at this point in the game.

The more bare area closer to where i'm standing is on a slope and didn't get as much straw or seed the first application. Seems to be germinating better this second round but it may not be as thick but that's ok for now. Will probably have a little more weed competition up there but will tend to it a little better after the season.

Deer don't seem too interested in it. There is a salt lick less than 40 yards away that is getting hammered. They may graze in passing but nothing hanging around in it for long.

But, in the long run, I didn't plant the buckwheat to be much of an attractant. I already know they come through here and I'm at a funnel.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[MS_Strut]

Well, I went and looked back there yesterday after all the rain in Chattanooga earlier this week and the buckwheat appears like it was all at some point submerged in water. There was still standing water on the perimeters yesterday morning around 10am and most of it was wilted and heads drooped.

Went back there today and it has really taken a turn for teh worse. Not sure what to expect.

Hoping the sun today pulls a lot of the water out of there but looks like more rain in the forecast so not sure it will last have the chance to bounce back and be as strong.

Will probably just wind up with half weeds and half food plot.

 

[Bucket]

Mainly just a soil builder so I wouldn't worry too much about it. You've got plenty there to create a good thatch to protect your fall plot seeds when the time comes.

 

[MS_Strut]

I don't see this making it another month until planting time.

It's appears that about 80% of that is going to rot away so not sure how much it will actually provide for the soil. I guess it will some. It got about a month of growth.

It will be full of weeds again by the time mid-september gets here. Flooding and weed growth go hand in hand.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Is this a flood area? When you get a normal rain (say an inch), does it still have standing water? If so, I wouldn't have a food plot there. I'd just let it grow up naturally and just cut a couple times a year

 

[MS_Strut]

Is this a flood area? When you get a normal rain (say an inch), does it still have standing water? If so, I wouldn't have a food plot there. I'd just let it grow up naturally and just cut a couple times a year

It's the only spot I have to work with. No it's not prone to flood like that necessarily. Water can begin to stand after a very hard rain but it usually drains well.

Several areas in Chattanooga flooded that normally don't. We got 6" of rain in 2 hours and the following day it rained and was cloudy all day.

 

[348Winchester]

In about 5-6 weeks sow some winter rye into it. If it needs it, burn it beforehand.

 

[marty d]

I live in Chattanooga and yes we got a dumping this week. I agree with sewing in some winter rye. I bought a bag last year at the CoOp in Cleveland and that stuff grew everywhere it landed. Now honestly the deer like the Buck Forage Oats better but the cereal rye is cheap and grows well.

 

[MS_Strut]

So county came through and cut the cover that I used in early season but didn't touch what I had down. All that they cut was grown up from about 2 years of growth. Was over 6' tall.

I figured I can just double my plot size now so I've cleared it and it is currently bare ground ready for seed and should have plenty of direct contact.

Again, this will have to be no-till from lack of equipment and no chance i'm trying to bust all of this up.

But, we have zero rain in the forecast even on the monthly forecast (which can change quickly obviously)

I grabbed some of the no-till biologic from co-op but it's about 50% Wheat and 30% rye. Should I get some other type of mixed seed that is more attractive to deer and mix them in? Like some oats or chicory.

Also, will those even take with not being able to till? If laying straw down would help I don't have any problem doing that.

 

[BigAl]

Looks like that's going to be a good spot/plot. Just pray for rain.

 

[MS_Strut]

I've broken up the left side and tilled it. Just waiting on a solid forecast which next week may be the ticket. It's so dry though. I have a mix of seeds I got from local supplier here for the left side.

I'm struggling to decide how to handle the right side. It's about 50/50 buckwheat and weeds. A lot of poison ivy and I've had it on me for about a month now so I'm really not wanting to sling it all over myself again.

I may just mow it all down as low as I can and seed the hell out of it with chicory, clover, wheat, and rye and just see what happens.

Should I seed and then mow and let the thatch help hold moisture or mow it all low and then seed?