I have the option of putting a food plot at inlaws camp. It is about an acre area that is overgrown with weeds. I have access to a 4 wheeler and a disc. Is that enough to put a plot in or do I need more. What would be the best route starting when weather breaks?
Food plot
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That Equipment will work + sprayer...might be nice to find an old bed spring or chain link to drag over after seeding. Or if you want to spend a little to have a great peice of equipment get a chain harrow , a couple hundred bucks, I use mine more than anything else.
I do most of my new plot clearing right after the snow melts, you will not find a better time as everything is matted down to the ground and all your unmowable woody stems and stumps are highly visible for removal. I go after them first.
Obviously you will have a strong weed problem without spraying, if you are planning this to be an annual fall hunting plot you won't need seed in til early August, so I would mow this area after green-up, then wait a few weeks but before it grows back to height and spray it...
Then disc ALOT...you should be ready for fall.
If you plan to do a clover plot, takes a little different approach. I am finding that clover and chicory is a hard mix to beat and worth the time.
WHere is your camp? If close, i would be more than happy to share equipment and even a days work. I enjoy it, and am just plain out of blank canvas up here.
Just don't get discouraged as, It is possible to go from this to this in a short period of time…even if the spraying step is missed the first year , if you time it right. If you go with an annual it is easier in year 1.
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Every year the soil gets better...personally I like to wait a year or two before making it a Perennial plot of clover,etc..
STAY AWAY from the bagged annual mixes with ryegrass, they will cause problems later.
I do most of my new plot clearing right after the snow melts, you will not find a better time as everything is matted down to the ground and all your unmowable woody stems and stumps are highly visible for removal. I go after them first.
Obviously you will have a strong weed problem without spraying, if you are planning this to be an annual fall hunting plot you won't need seed in til early August, so I would mow this area after green-up, then wait a few weeks but before it grows back to height and spray it...
Then disc ALOT...you should be ready for fall.
If you plan to do a clover plot, takes a little different approach. I am finding that clover and chicory is a hard mix to beat and worth the time.
WHere is your camp? If close, i would be more than happy to share equipment and even a days work. I enjoy it, and am just plain out of blank canvas up here.
Just don't get discouraged as, It is possible to go from this to this in a short period of time…even if the spraying step is missed the first year , if you time it right. If you go with an annual it is easier in year 1.
Every year the soil gets better...personally I like to wait a year or two before making it a Perennial plot of clover,etc..
STAY AWAY from the bagged annual mixes with ryegrass, they will cause problems later.
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burn it off now
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I just was wondering. what is wrong with rye grass.
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Nothing the first year...it is tender, greens up great and the deer dig for it well into the winter. In that picture I show above that is a mix of "shot Plot" brassicas and " throw and grow" which has a large ryegrass component. That pics was taken in 2007 and 2008 I planted straight brassicas and it still looked simialr to that, and now that I changed plans for that plot all together , that ryegrass from 2007 still gives me trouble, even though I have sprayed it twice. It does not come back tender like year 1 either...it comes back a bit course which i do not think deer like and with a one track mind of reseeding itself. I have another picture to self explain that..but can;t get it from here.
Turkeys love to pick thru it, but I don;t think anything wants to eat it now. If i could do one thing over....
This is all just from my experience...you may get 10 guys disagreeing with me on that, but i will NEVER plant it intentionally again, killing golden rod is ALOT easier.
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winter rye is what is in my plot.
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