When establishing a perennial plot an annual seeding to relive grazing pressure or/and provide the emerging perennial some structure/shade is called a nursery crop. I did that in the fall of 2016 and followed it in the thread = http://www.bowsite.com/db/forums/thread.cfm?forum=4&threadid=462057&MESSAGES=61&FF=4 - I won't rehash that but for folks that haven't read it, it establishes the background for this discussion.
Now, 2018, I've got established perennial plots, mostly clovers with chicory and alfalfa that will be frost/winter burnt and done right around the rut in Ohio - 7 Nov. Last year, 2017 in mid Sep I planted an over-seed of annual winter hardy grasses, Oats, Cereal Rye and awnless Winter Wheat right on top of my perennials; 50# total /acre.
It was Fabulous. Magical. As the clover, chicory and alfalfa got blistered by the frosts my annuals came up and gave the browsers fodder that kept them fed, healthy and local thru the late fall/winter and early spring. Greening up thoroughly in mid-Mar 30 days prior to the woods popping or the perennials making much headway. (the Pic of Utilization is from 8 Apr 2017).
SO for discussion I'm planning of overseeding a mix of 50/50 Oats and awnless winter wheat and not plant cereal rye this year, 50# / Acre into my well performing and established perennial plots. This year I plan to let the Wheat bolt, mature and then cut about the 2nd week of June, giving the heads time to ripen and add to my management plan - mast producing goals. The oats are not winter hardy and will get zapped when the ground freezes below the roots - usually early Dec.
Looking for opinions or/and discussion: What am I doing wrong? What do I need to take into account that isn't laid out above? What do I need to add to the plan to help everything laid out? All plots perennials are N fixers, lime and fertilizers are on-track with plots soil analysis. This would be anyone that is considering or would now consider overseeding an annual into a perennial plot.
Best Regards, Stressless
That's the result here in SW Ohio. Couple years ago I top dressed 90 lbs of oats right before a heavy rain forecast. It didn't rain hard and 2 flocks of turkeys moved in and not one oat plant grew.
For me the grain would have to be drilled below the surface.
I plant oats as a fall crop every year but I roto till the soil, sow the seed and then use a drag to cover the oats. I did this 2 weeks ago and have a decent crop of oats coming up.
I am wondering if I do as you described above broadcast the wheat then maybe roll the seed in to keep the turkeys that are on me now from picking up the seed. Maybe roll it after a rain to push the seed into the dirt. It it would work then I would not lose the clover by discing it up. Would that work or anyone have any experience of doing it.
I planted winter wheat Sep '17 (Sunburst is the locally developed awnless variety) and you'll want to plant awnless: https://www.qdma.com/deer-prefer-awnless-wheat/ ... but the local farmer I have cut the plots prior to them maturing to a full grain. They were coming up great - that pic at the beginning of this thread is my plot grazed chin high first week of Apr '18.
In Sep '16 when I established my plots I planted cereal rye, and oats, that's the pic above, in early May. I used about 80#/acre in Sep '16 as a nursery crop for my clover, alfalfa and chicory. In Sep '17 I used about 60#/acre mix of oats and winter wheat. In '16 I rolled it, lots stuck to my roller, in '17 I just walked with handheld spreader - both worked just fine.
Winter Wheat will yield about 2,000# of great forage an acre and I believe it's what held significant turkey this spring, I killed two mature toms with a bow in two days.
This year I will plant in a long week, and not cut it until it fully matures 3rd or 4th week of June. and the fawns that bed in it are big enough to run from the brushhog, might still putt though each first to flush them with the bike...
So the pic above is from early May '17, rye and some oats that made it through the winter growing up through the clover.
My estimate, based on the way it performed last winter/spring, is Winter Wheat, will hold thru the winter, green in Feb-March, head in late May and ripen in early June. I'll cut in latish June to add compost to the plot and with ~ 4 acres add aprrox 3 Tons of great fodder to my management plan for about $130 and 3 hours of work. I'd fertilize (only P and K) and cut my plot in June so the only thing I add is walking the plots with seed in Sep. As stated no need to roll it in from what I saw last year.