Why plant Clover in a food plot?
Of course, clover also adds nitrogen back into the soil through its root system, but a stand of pure clover in a food plot can benefit deer and turkey in ways that many planters might not realize. Land managers and landowners usually have a good relationship with their local seed stores.
Is Clover good for deer and turkey food plots?
Even though clover is thought to be the best choice for deer and turkey food plots, you should consider planting a mix. The ideal clover food plot will have many types that can attract the animals you’re looking for. Each seed mix is covered with a starting nutrient for speedy early growth.
What is the best Clover for deer hunting?
Frosty Berseem clover was shown to be the best clover for deer at the Mississippi Deer Lab, outperforming every other clover available. This perennial clover is a hybrid created with food plots in mind. It provides exactly what deer and turkeys require in an easy-to-seed clover.
What are the advantages of clover seed?
Learn about clover kinds, when to plant them, and which clover seed is ideal for your food plot. Just like using mineral blocks for deer, clover has several advantages, including being low-cost to grow, low-maintenance, and appealing to the sight. After the initial outlay of purchasing seed, their ongoing expenses are negligible.
Is clover the best food plot?
Clover is probably the best all-around food plot plant there is. There are several varieties of it, but the most popular types, like ladino and crimson clover, are attractive and nutritious for deer, turkeys, rabbits, and pollinators like honeybees.
When should you plant a clover food plot?
Broadcasting clover seed over these loose soils in mid to late winter (late January - early March) allows for excellent seed-soil contact. There are several advantages of planting clover by frost seeding. It is easily done without expensive or complicated equipment.
Do deer like clover plots?
Clover is relatively easy to grow, is loaded with nutrition, and whitetails simply love it. A good clover plot will produce 2 to 4 tons (per acre) of easily digestible plant matter and give your whitetails a shot in the arm when it comes to nutrition.
How long will clover food plot last?
Bill Responds: Generally, I will leave my spring planted clover plot in clover for the fall. In fact, clover will last three years if maintained correctly (mowed at least once per year, possibly sprayed for grasses annually and fertilized annually).
Does clover come back every year?
Annual or Perennial Once established, perennial clover comes back reliably, making it more suitable as a ground cover than annual species that usually need reseeding each year. Perennial clover will self-seed too, but it spreads consistently through its creeping root system.
Can you plant clover without tilling?
If you must till or plow the soil before planting, be sure you wait 4 to 6 weeks for new weeds to emerge so you can kill them before planting the clover seed. You may also use the no-till method.
Should you mow clover food plots?
“It's a myth that you have to mow in order to have a nutritious clover plot,” said Craig. “That's just wrong. If the clover is doing well in May and June and deer are eating it, let them eat it. Don't mow it!
Can you put down too much clover seed?
Set the spreader low and cover the same area 3 times if need be, but don't lay it down too thick as you will run out of seed, and the areas you over seed clover in will choke themselves out. Over seeding in clover food plots for deer is one of the easiest food plots for deer you can plant.
What is the easiest food plot for deer?
Red clover is the Easiest Food Plot for Deer. Spread the seed and spray the grasses to act as a mulch for the clover, or spray in the fall and frost seed in late winter right on top of the snow. The freeze thaw patterns of spring creates cracks the seed falls into to germinate.
Does clover grow back after mowing?
It requires reseeding. Clover is a short-lived perennial so many pure clover lawns may require a new round of seeding every two or three years. In mixed-grass lawns, though, clover will reseed itself easily and does not require any additional help.
How often should I cut my clover food plot?
How often and how frequent perennials should be mowed is more of an art than a science; usually at least three times during the growing season will suffice. White clovers will do well when mowed aggressively and often during the cooler periods of the growing season or when ample moisture is available.
Does mowing clover spread it?
With a thick grass coverage, eliminating empty areas or patches, the space needed for white clover to germinate and spread is unavailable. When mowing, leaving lawns higher rather than short cropped grass, makes it so that light is unable to reach the seeds.
What clover Do deer like most?
Because Imperial Whitetail Clover contains the only clover genetically designed for whitetail deer. Imperial Whitetail Clover has an extremely high protein content – critical for antler, muscle and bone growth and thrives in extreme cold as well as warm, dry climates.
How do you start a clover food plot?
2:4520:42How To Plant Clover Food Plots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe get a soil test you need to make sure that you amend the soil. With clover just like with anyMoreWe get a soil test you need to make sure that you amend the soil. With clover just like with any other food plot. Most clovers do well anything from you know 6.5 to 7 ph.
Can you broadcast clover seed?
Broadcast red clover seed on newly tilled ground anytime from spring through fall. Soil pH of 6.2-6.5 is ideal. Sow the seeds at a rate of a half-pound per 1,000 square feet or eight to 16 pounds for each acre.
Can you plant clover in February?
Both types of clover are often planted from mid-February to mid-March, with mid to late February being preferred. The two most common recommended methods of planting are frost seeding or using a no-till drill.
What is the best clover seed for deer?
Here are profiles of a few of those complementary species, as well as an article with a few suggested clover seed blends. Cereal Rye – Cereal rye is a cool-season annual cereal grain that germinates very quickly, is highly preferred by deer, and has excellent resistance to grazing pressure. Wheat – Wheat is a cool-season cereal grain ...
How long does Ladino clover last?
In the proper growing environment, ladino clover can persist for four to five years, particularly in northern climates.
What is the best grain for deer hunting?
Wheat – Wheat is a cool-season cereal grain that is easy to establish, quick to germinate, and a great choice for fall hunting plots, especially when mixed with other species such as clovers. Chicory – Chicory is a tough cool-season perennial crop that is a preferred deer forage.
What grain is good for hunting in the fall?
Wheat – Wheat is a cool-season cereal grain that is easy to establish, quick to germinate, and a great choice for fall hunting plots, especially when mixed with other species such as clovers.
Is Berseem Clover a cool season annual?
Berseem Clover – Berseem clover is also a cool-season annual. It has oblong-shaped leaflets that are fairly large relative to other clovers. While tolerant to a variety of soil types, it is known for being a poor re-seeder and not winter-hardy.
Is arrowleaf clover a good forage?
Arrowleaf Clover – Arrowleaf clover is a cool -season annual that is highly productive in fall and spring and a top-choice forage for whitetails. Though it’s an annual, arrowleaf clover is a heavy re-seeder – with the right management, you can get several seasons of production out of one planting.
Can deer eat clover?
Clover Mixes. While stands of pure clover can serve as excellent deer food plots, clover is often incorporated into a seed mix with other species. These other forages can provide white-tailed deer with a food source while the clover is becoming established or – in the case of chicory – during the warmer months of summer when clover isn’t producing ...
The Advantages of Clover Food Plots
Clover has several advantages, including being low-cost to grow, low-maintenance, and appealing to the sight. After the initial outlay of purchasing seed, their ongoing expenses are negligible. Because clover is a perennial, it can live for several years before being reseeded. The bunnies and quail that will flock to it are an added bonus.
Clover Plot Planting
Although planting clover is very simple in comparison to other plants, there are a few considerations to keep in mind before you begin:
Types of Clover
Clover comes in five different varieties that appeal to both deer and turkey. We’ll go over each one in detail below.
Deer Clover Seed of the Highest Quality
Even though clover is thought to be the best choice for deer and turkey food plots, you should consider planting a mix. The ideal clover food plot will have many types that can attract the animals you’re looking for. Each seed mix is covered with a starting nutrient for speedy early growth. Here is a list of five clover mixtures to think about.
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Clover Food Plots for Deer and Turkey
Ladino Clover is a specific clover designed to plant in food plots. It provides the nutrients that deer and turkeys need. You can plant it in the spring or early fall, making it one of the best choices for both species.
How long does a clover plot last?
As I have learned first-hand, just because perennial clover has the potential to live for five years or more, doesn’t mean this lifespan is automatic. Many factors that are within our control (like weeds and soil fertility) can bring an early death to a clover plot.
What weeds are in clover plots?
This includes cool-season weeds (chickweed, henbit, speedwell, purple deadnettle, to name a few of the worst) and warm-season weeds (curly dock, horsenettle, marestail, thistle, and others). If only one group is controlled, or if either group is inadequately controlled, weeds will spread, steal nutrients and space from the clovers, and eventually overrun the plot. Post-emergence herbicide applications are necessary to control weed pressure and extend the life of perennial plots for several years.
How to keep clover plants alive?
preparing the soil properly before you plant and. implementing a sound selective herbicide regime you can. compete with the grass and weeds from your native seed. bank and lead your clover stand into old age. Many people plant clover plots, but few achieve the maximum potential lifespan of perennial forages.
Why don't perennial forage plots see year 5?
Of course, most perennial forage plots never see year five because they are overtaken by weeds long before then. If you don’t control weeds, don’t worry about year five.”. Craig recommends giving every plot at least one year off from perennial clovers when it’s time to renovate.
How to control weeds in all seasons?
The key to effective weed control in all seasons is spraying at the correct time and monitoring the plot closely. If you stay on top of weeds and use effective control measures before new seeds are produced, you will gradually reduce the weed seed bank in the plot, and weed control will become easier over time.
What does Craig do with food plots?
Craig has planted food plots and hunted the deer that use them, but more importantly he has put food plots through university-level testing to produce valid results that meet scientific standards. His work is helping weed out a lot of faulty food plot lore.
When is it a good time to mow a perennial plot?
When perennial plots are badly stressed during hot summer weather, it is a good time to mow if you have weed pressure.
What is the best clover to grow in the Deep South?
In the Deep South, red clover performs more like an annual. Some of the more common improved varieties of red clover that perform well are Red Gold, Redland III, Bulldog, Kenland, and Cherokee. Cherokee is generally best suited for food plots in the Deep South.
What is the color of clover?
Many confuse red clover with crimson clover, which produces red/crimson flowers. The leaflets of red clover are oval-shaped and most are marked with a white “V.”. Red clover is widely adapted to different soil and climatic conditions and is fairly tolerant of soil acidity.
How tall does red clover get?
Where overgrazing is not an issue, red clover can reach 2- to 3-feet tall during summer. One of its distinguishing characteristics is the leaves and stems are hairy and it produces a pinkish flower/seed head in the summer months. Many confuse red clover with crimson clover, which produces red/crimson flowers.
How much protein is in red clover?
Crude protein levels in red clover typically range from 20 to 30 percent depending on soil quality and the time of year. It is very attractive and preferred by deer compared to other forages, and its resistance to grazing pressure would be considered very good.
Is red clover good for cattle?
Not Just for Cows. Some have associated red clover with cattle due to its use in pastures for grazing and hay production. This association resulted in red clover being perceived by some hunters as more of a “cattle clover.”. However, I consider red clover to be one of the top clovers for deer.
Is red clover a legume?
Red clover ( Trifolium pratense) is a cool-se ason legume that is classified as a biennial with a two-year lifespan, but with proper management it can persist for three or more years in the mid-South and northern states. In the Deep South, red clover performs more like an annual. Some of the more common improved varieties of red clover that perform well are Red Gold, Redland III, Bulldog, Kenland, and Cherokee. Cherokee is generally best suited for food plots in the Deep South.
Can red clover be planted in seed?
Because it is a legume, red clover should be inoculated with Strain B inoculant prior to planting unless you purchase pre-inoculated seed. If broadcasting seed, be sure to prepare a smooth, firm seedbed to ensure optimal germination and seedling establishment.
Why is clover important to wildlife?
Clover food plots can be a valuable tool in a wildlife management plan. Clover grows quickly and becomes palatable early during the spring. Minimal acreage is needed of clover because it produces a lot of tonnage per square acre. How do we take care of this great tool?
What is the best way to control clover?
When managing clover there are two important things to remember, the first being that clover requires a lot of fertilizer . Secondly, weeds and grasses can choke clover out relatively easily so weed control is very important.
How to keep clover from overtaking?
Use a cultipacker, drag or simply run over it with ATV/vehicle tires to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Mow the area one to two times (to a height of five to six inches) during the spring and summer to prevent weeds from overtaking the clover.
What is the best food plot for deer?
What Is Your Preferred Food Plot Seed Option? Have you ever planted white clover for deer? (Bill Konway photo) White clover just might be one of the best all-around legume food sources for deer. It’s highly nutritious, fairly hardy, and is often overlooked due to other clover variety options. Nonetheless, white clover has earned its spot in ...
How to grow white clover?
Next, take a soil sample. White clover prefers a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. Lime and fertilize as needed. Now it’s time to break ground. Prepare a good seedbed by disking up the desired area.
How long does a safflower seed last?
This high-protein seed option requires less maintenance than most varieties, too. It can last anywhere from three to five years with minimal maintenance. Not to mention its high rating as a disease-resistant plant. Furthermore, it does well tolerating heat and tougher conditions that other plants might succumb to.
Does white clover grow well with grass?
While I’m not a big fan of seed mixes (much different than planting different things adjacent to one another), white clover grows decently when planted with non-broadleaf grasses.
Step 1 - Soil Test (May)
This is the most important step and one that a lot of hunter’s overlook. I took 3 soil samples from this field in May and all three had slightly different results. Soil tests are easy and free and they will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Step 2 - Apply Herbicide (June)
While the field was actively growing in early June, and before my soil tests were back, I did a tank mix of Glyphosate at 3oz per gallon, mixed with 2-4D Amine at 1oz per gallon. This is definitely a hot mix and I made sure I applied evenly across the growing vegetation. One month later everything was yellow and dead.
Step 3 - Tilling (July - post rain)
Five days after a good soaking rain I disked the soil until it was soft and fluffy. I have sandy loam soil so this was easier than if it was clay. You may need to plow first if the ground is really dry and hard.
Step 4 - Fertilize and Lime (July)
With my soil test results in hand, I followed the instructions provided by the soil service with one exception -Â I increased the lime recommendation by 50%. I broadcasted the amendments with a cyclone spreader right on top of the tilled soil. Immediately after applying the lime and fertilizer, I disked once more. This accomplished two things.
Step 5 - Final Tilling and Planting (August)
The last week of August I planted my perennial plot (ladino clover) along with a companion (nurse) plot of Daikon Radishes. I went heavier than the recommended rate for ladino clover and I went light on the radish seeding rate.
Apply 2,4DB herbicide (May)
This broadleaf herbicide can be applied directly over clover and alfalfa with no harmful effects. Apply 2,4DB at a rate of 3oz per gallon of water and spray early morning or late afternoon when there is no forecasted rain for 24 hours. You will notice some weeds twisting and dying right away, others may take up to a month before they succumb.
Apply Clethodim herbicide (May)
This grass herbicide takes a good month to fully work its magic but it will work if applied correctly. Apply a combination of Clethodim at a rate of .5oz per gallon of water and Crop Oil at .5oz per gallon of water, then spray early morning of late afternoon when there is no forecasted rain for 24 hours.
Why do people plant clover in their food plots?
Seed companies often mix clover into their wildlife blends because they produce high-protein forage throughout the hunting season, into the spring, and well into the warmer months. Of course, clover also adds nitrogen back into the soil through its root system, but a stand of pure clover in a food plot can benefit deer and turkey in ways that many planters might not realize.
How does clover help the soil?
By planting clover, the nitrogen level in the soil can be increased naturally and this reduces the need for costly fertilizer. Hand-seeders perform well in spreading the small clover seed uniformly. Clover seeds are very small and a little extra care in planting is required.
What clover is best for deer?
Yuchi is a type of Arrowleaf clover named after a Native Indian tribe that inhabited east-central Alabama. Gillium placed this variety high on his preferred list of best clover for deer because it grows well even in sandier soils and produces up to two months longer than crimson varieties. Even though it’s an annual variety, it can reproduce for several years with well-timed mowing & discing.
What is a Ladino clover?
Ladino and Kenland Red are two types of perennial clovers offered by WMS. Regal Graze, a ladino clover is a type of perennial clover that can persist for three to five years. It was developed for a larger leaf size and higher canopy than other white and ladino clovers. It is a great choice for food plots.
What herbicide kills clover?
Gillium recommended either Broadleaf or 24DB herbicide to kill any weeds that intrude into your clover patch. However, the longer that clover grows, the more its root system intertwines to form an extensive underground network that helps prevent new weed growth.
What type of soil does Balansa Clover grow in?
It can grow in sandy or waterlogged type soils. It can also handle dry soil and pH levels from around 4.5 to 8.5.
When does clover produce forage?
Various clovers produce forage throughout the fall and winter seasons. And they accompany other plants in the plot producing viable food into the summer months. But clover can be a top forage producer and wildlife attractor even in pure stands.
What is the best food plot plant?
Clover is probably the best all-around food plot plant there is. There are several varieties of it, but the most popular types, like ladino and crimson clover, are attractive and nutritious for deer, turkeys, rabbits, and pollinators like honeybees. Clovers are legumes, so they put nitrogen back into the soil instead of robbing it out.
How to spread clover?
Clover spreads by stolons, so the plants are pretty aggressive once established. But until then—as mentioned above—it’s slow growing. Give your clover every chance to grow by preparing a seed bed that’s as free of competing weeds as possible. Even if you spray a food plot with herbicide, disking or tilling will expose new seeds that can be just as problematic. If you have a drill, plant right into the sprayed field. Otherwise, it can be worth it to wait for weeds to germinate again, and then spray the plot again before planting. When broadcasting clover—a spreader mounted on an ATV or UTV works well for this—you need seed-to-soil contact.
How to monitor deer growth?
If the growth inside the wire is equal to the growth outside, that means little browsing is taking place. Deer are likely eating other browse or there just aren’t that many deer around. If the crop inside the cage is lush but everything outside is eaten to the ground, your deer have probably exceeded the property’s carrying capacity. Chandler Shewmaker / Heartland Bowhunter
When broadcasting clover—a spreader mounted on an ATV or UTV works well for this—you need?
When broadcasting clover—a spreader mounted on an ATV or UTV works well for this—you need seed-to-soil contact. Chandler Shewmaker / Heartland Bowhunter
How deep does a clover plant run?
But clovers are cool-season plants, and they spend their first weeks of life developing a taproot that will eventually run 5 to 8 feet deep into the ground. At this stage, clover is vulnerable. A “fall” planting when it’s still 100 degrees and dry is asking for failure.
What is the pH of clovers?
Most clovers grow best in a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5. If you have an acre to plant with a pH of 5.5, four bags of pelletized lime isn’t going to get you there.
When is it too wet for clover?
During the late summer and fall, it’s pretty dry and seems like a fine spot to plant. But it routinely floods in the winter and spring, and stays a sodden mess throughout the early summer. As badly as I want a food plot there, it’s just too wet for clover.
