Project Portfolio: 1.6-Acre Clover Food Plot Establishment & Maintenance
We planted this food plot in Spring 2024. This article details the various actions we took to achieve and maintain a healthy first year clover food plot.
Note: This is not the first time the soil has been worked here for a food plot, but the first time a clover plot was established. This year is the fourth year the plot has been planted/utilized. The soils are in much better shape now, after annual soil tests and adjustments, as well as breaking up the soil many times. Successful, healthy food plots (usually) take a lot of time, patience, and regular maintenance.
Late April/Early May 2024: Soil Preparation
Soils were prepared for planting by mowing off the weeds and remnants from the previous year’s fall brassica planting. After mowing, the plot was sprayed off to the kill the existing vegetation.
Soil samples were collected and submitted to analyze the soil’s nutrients. A custom fertilizer blend containing the recommended amounts of DAP, potash, and pelletized lime was purchased to adjust the soils to nutrient levels ideal for clover establishment.
May 8, 2024: Spread Fertilizer and Disc Soils
After the vegetation died off from the herbicide application, the fertilizer was spread and disc ‘ed into the soil.
May 13, 2024: Planted Seed Mix
With rain on the radar over the next few days, it was time to get the seed into the ground. Our custom seed mix contained a mix of clover species as well as buckwheat. The purpose of the buckwheat was to give the deer something to browse as the clover was establishing. Buckwheat grows quickly and is highly attractive to deer. It added a lot of forage mass to the plot rather quickly, within a few weeks.
June 5, 2024: Progress Photos
A doe walked into the plot for a snack while these photos were being taken with the drone!
June 18 & 27, 2024: Progress Photos
Buckwheat is tall and flowering! Ideally, with a clover food plot, it would’ve been ideal to begin top cutting the plot before the buckwheat got this tall and began flowering, but with the number of honeybees we noticed utilizing the buckwheat’s flowers, we decided to allow the flowers to finish their reproductive cycle.
July 2, 2024: Top Cut Buckwheat
Buckwheat is fully mature and is starting to crowd out the clover that is now established. The deer are no longer browsing the buckwheat either. The top of the buckwheat was cut just above the clover.
July 22, 2024: Top Cut Again and Sprayed Off Grasses
The clover is starting to get outcompeted by various grasses moving in. A grass selective herbicide was broadcast sprayed across the plot. Photos taken after mowing but before it was sprayed off.
August 16, 2024: Progress Photos
Clover is looking good; some buckwheat is starting to come back in since we previously let it go back into seed. The deer enjoyed the second round of tender buckwheat. The plot was then top cut again a week or two after these photos were taken. We waited to cut until the clover had seeded out and there was rain in the near forecast.
September 22, 2024: Top Cut Again
September 25, 2024: Progress Photos
Most recent progress photos below. Although it’s not as lush as we had hopped, we’ve been experiencing a severe drought, complete with burn bans. Considering such, the plot still looks good and rather healthy.
All set for hunting season to begin!
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