I had clover planted in my food plot for several years & although I've treated the field with Imox the weeds won. So, in the spring I'm going to turn the field under & go through the disk, rake, & nuke the field. Because I've had clover planted for years, I'de like to plant something else for a season or two & then go back to clover. I can't plant corn or beans because the deer mow it down before it matures. So, I'm looking for suggestions as what to plant. I did a soil sample last year so I think I'm ok there. Any suggestions as to what I should plant? The plot is 3 acers.
Winter Wheat and Rye in fall/winter/spring, followed by a mix of sunflower, chicory, millet, sorghum, buckwheat, and beans in the summer. These plants will help build your soil and take up the nitrogen that your clover fixated. Your weeds love nitrogen and if you don't have something scavenging it up in a clover plot your weeds will show up and do it for you.
I'm curious (because I'm on like year 4 of my clover plot) but did you mow it at all to help maintain it and keep the weeds at bay? I had just built a mower and mowed mine. I've had the same problem that you've described trying to grow anything other than oats - the deer just mow it flat. The clover seems to be something that can withstand the browsing pressure that I get.
With some amount of labor you get this going for a couple years. There's vids that show how to broadcast the seed and crimp with a 2x6 and rope. If it's 1/4 acre or under it should be very doable.
Thought-out the life span of my clover plot, I mowed it when the clover flowered out. Its too late in the year to replant at this time. There is still some patches of clover intermingled in the weeds & deer are still feeding on it. My deer season opens in a few weeks so replanting at this time will not work.
However, in the spring, I will turn the plot under and plant something. I'm just not sure what would be best....
C5ken - If you're plan is to kill it next spring in 7 months - Spray it today - right now, with 2qt/acre glyphosate and seed 150-200# cereal rye/acre and your perennial legume(s) of choice.
Never take a 'bad' plot into the season.
Kill it all, weeds and weak legumes. The following is a plot that was coming in very weak late summer '20 right about now. Thatch was heavy from killing the weeds and grasses but just run it over with a chain or light harrow or any drag - no disking.
This is the bottom winter of '19-'20 I took a bad into the season and that corner of the land just didn't draw movement like it should in '20-'21 I got in front of it and am taking a great plot into the season.
