Late food plot weed question

Royse

Well-known Member
I tilled a food plot for a young couple next door late this spring, didn't think much of it after that.
It was cool at the time, because I used to till the land when it belonged to my father, so I did it for the memories.
And of course it let me get some seat time!
Took a ride down there tonight to see how it was doing.
They sowed clover in it, and the clover is growing. Kind of surprising considering the lack of rain, but it is.
Problem is the weeds and grass are out growing it by far. (nothing over 8 inches at this point)
Is there a spray I could use that would water and weed at the same time without killing the young clover?
I haven't done any farming for 35 years unless you count a garden, so help would be appreciated.
They're a really young couple, early 20's with a 18 month old, so if I can find something to spray reasonably I'll just foot the bill and hopefully reinforce what a country neighbor is like.
Thanks for the help!
 
Cant think of a way to spray anything that wont kill the clover.

What is the foodplots purpose?

Most wildlife would rather have a weed patch than something you plant anyway. Especially quail. Quail love foxtail, partridge pea and other weeds. Nice, clean plots please humans eyes, but are not really what wildlife prefer.

That is why back in the 50's and 60's, the old rattiest and most poorly kept farms had the best hunting.

Gene
 
He's hoping to hunt deer back there Gene. The deer will be there anyway.
I've never planted anything to attract them other than what the farm was planted in since we moved here in 1970.
The deer still come.
I was just hoping to help them out if that's what they wanted to do.
First year for top spread clover rolled in with an old oat roller, it will probably get better next year?
The clover itself is a little thin, but anywhere from 2 to 4 inches tall.
 
You would have to check the labels, but 2-4db (butyrac) wont
kill legumes like clover but it will kill other broad leaves. You
could tank mix in some clethodem to kill the grasses. That's all
I can come up with.
 
Brush hog held up in teh air 4 inches high and top teh grass and weeds. With our lack of rain, it will kill it all.


Lime is your best defense against weeds. If you put down high calcium, high magnesium lime, it will make teh weeds go away when the healthy seeded plants take over. I'm sure you knew that already.
 
GeneMO is spot on. Deer browse ragweed, lambsquarter, and other weeds. Weedy fields offer more protection for pheasants and quail. That's why hunting was so good in the 50s and 60s before the widespread use of RR crops.

Larry
 
(reply to post at 20:20:26 07/03/12) [/quot

I'll second John PA mowing. Weeds are just a fact of life in spring time seedings. Mow before weeds go to seed and few will come back, but the desired grass and clover will. There will still be plenty of weeds for the birds.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top