Another mowing question...

[VTbowman]

I plan to plant my food plot soon. Hamms Farm mix. (Clover trefoil, etc.)
I assume the deer will keep it mowed down as it is but should I mow it to promote new growth or thicker growth closer to the hunting season?
Or should I just let it go and grow as high as it can get?

[dogdoc]

you probably won't really need to mow the clover this year if your planting now--but if you get weeds and grasses then keep them mowed back to prevent them from seeding.

In future seasons as the clover and trefoil are fully established then mow it when it starts to flower to keep young growth available. If you are wanting to thicken it up a little you can mow after the flowers mature and produce seeds--this way you get free seeds but you lose nutritional value of the plants.

todd

[VTbowman]

Luck for me the only other fields that would/could contaminate the food plot with weeds are planted in clover, alfalfa, and rye grass.. Those fields have been planted about 5 years ago now and are hayed 3 or 4 time per year. I assume they have lost a bit of there "sweetness" to deer but still have some...
The golden rod is the only thing I am really worried about coming back since thats all that really grew in this spot for years....
With all this blasted rain we have have in the last 12 days, I have not even begun to get it harrowed or tilled..
Once thats done I want to wait and spray what comes up before planting the seed.
It still may be a couple weeks before the plot seed hits the soil...

So what your saying is do not mow this year but maybe next if I get weeds in there or want it thicker.

Thanks for the info...

[VermontHunter]

This has nothing to do with mowing Shawn, but be sure to put out a growth cage when that plot is planted,, this way you will be able to tell of how well the deer are hitting this plot when it starts to take...

[VTbowman]

Already on top of that but thanks for the heads up...

[anderson3]

VTBowman,
A supply of weed seeds is already in the soil, so you are likely to have some in there this year. That goldenrod will probably try to come back after you spray. Once the clover is established, it will help choke them out. Spring seeded clover grows pretty slow the first year, so we usually mow at least a couple times to keep the weed growth under control.Sometimes new fields of clover or alfalfa look really awful for most of the first summer due to annual weeds such as ragweed and pigweed...but if you clip the weeds off every month or so as needed, the stand will improve a lot from Aug to October when your legumes will grow but most weeds quit germinating.
There should be an article on mowing in the June issue of 'Quality Whitetails' magazine, if you are a QDMA member.

[wtnhunt]

I had to mow our grower plot I think twice the first year we planted it. We had our seed in the ground a little earlier than this though.

I would suggest waiting and seeing what it is doing. Might also not hurt to ask Martin.

[VTbowman]

I admit this food plot planting is very new to me but also must state I am not getting hardcore about it.
I am 50:50 on if I need to spend the time and money already with 40+ acres of clover and alfalfa everywhere now. If the seed had not been given to me I would not be doing it. LOL
I want it to succeed of coarse but I am not going to go crazy over it.
Its getting a good spray of round up and then harrowed and tilled by my neighbor, maybe another good spraying before I plant.
Once the seed is down its done in my opinion. LOL
I may go mow it if that will help but I am not stressed over it.
I know whatever grows there now will be better then was once there and the deer will pound it being new growth.
Thanks for all the help guys and gals...