food plots

[merlebo05]

What are your favorite mixtures for deer food plots? Do most people replant every fall or do you plant something that will keep coming back? This is on private land right beside my house so I will be able to keep it maintained year round...

[SB]

It is hard to beat ladino clover. It does need some maintenance through the year...spraying for grass, clipping a couple of times, and some 0-20-20 fertilizer. A good protein source the deer will use year-around.

MS Blend - wheat, oats, crimson clover and Austrian winter peas is another good fall - spring mix. It will last 9 months out the year. With a little TLC the clovers will come back 4+ years.

[donia]

finally got clovers re-established from last year's drought and where clover isn't planted (or didn't make it) i'll put iron clay peas/sorghum for summer and then a mix like sb described for winter.

[merlebo05]

SB- you talk about the ladino clover, why could you not substitute the ladino clover for the crimson clover in your mix??

[Wingman]

I'm going to replant some durana this year. It lasted 7 years before playing out in a couple of my plots. In other plots it's still doing great.

[mshunter77]

What exactly are you guys doing to keep your clover coming back? When are you clipping? How low are you clipping? What are you using for grass control. If you can get 4-5 years out of clover with a little maintenance it seems it is very economical.

[Wingman]

Clip on or around Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Clip about 6-8" high. You'll reseed it by knocking the heads off and you'll reduce weed competition.

I spray clethodim (Select) for grasses.

I limed 2 tons/acre 7 years ago. I plan on topping it off this year when I replant a couple of my plots.

Hancock Seed has the best price I've found on clover seed.