The Throw n’ Mow Method

[seadonist]

Looking real nice, Barbdog!

I hate that anyone has to go through hurricanes, especially one as bad as Irma, but south Mississippi this time of year is typically going into drought like conditions so I'm hoping we see some rain bands from the storm so I can get my throw and mow plots going. Prayers to the ones in the storm's path


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[S.T.Fanatic]

My brassicas are also getting eaten but it appears that grasshoppers like them more than my deer. What does everyone do for insect protection in food plots?

 

[Barndog56]

My buddy Zeke is wondering when there'll be turnip bulbs for him to eat........

 

[bueller]

^^^those look great. What date were they planted?

 

[Barndog56]

August 1st or 2nd. There's some yellow leaves here and there, but I don't fertilize as there's plenty enough for the amount of deer I have. So far they're just nibbling a rape or radish here and there, but eating all of the red clover and lambsquarter they find in the plot.

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[TreeDaddy]

Everyone needs an "ol Zeke" for a habitat companion

I can't imagine working in the woods/field without one

Best friend,indeed

bill

 

[Bill]

My brassicas are also getting eaten but it appears that grasshoppers like them more than my deer. What does everyone do for insect protection in food plots?

I had beetles in mine and sprayed permathrin on them because I had it on hand. Haven't been back to see if it worked. Not sure on grasshoppers. I usually ignore them. I seem to recall reading their tough to kill once they become adults.

 

[pointer]

I would normally quote/link previous posts from this thread to this as an update, but Photobucket's change in policy makes those posts a bit worthless without the pics. So, for a recap... I planted some plots in buckwheat last spring that got away from me with weeds due to lack of maintenance. So, on Labor Day I showed up to a mess. In an effort to make some "chicken salad" I did a throw, roll, spray into the jungle of weeds with WR into two plots and WR and clover in one. We had a very dry September, so nothing really grew. This pic shows the spray and gives an idea of the weed mess I was dealing with 3 weeks after planting.
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

I spread more WR on this plot and in January frost seeded some clover as it started to do what I wanted it to do. Fast forward to this May. I was very pleased with what I was seeing. Lots of WR with a good amount of clover underneath it!
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

I was finally able to make it down to the cabin on Labor Day weekend to spread some more WR, red clover, and chicory. Much to my surprise (dismay) I came back to a much weedier plot than I had expected! The astute picture looker will notice more than just WR and clover in the pics from May. This is what the same plot looked like in Sept...
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
The WR had completely laid over and the broadleaf weeds had exploded! I'm not too disappointed in the WR laying down as I'm hoping that seed grows, but I was shocked by the weeds. The weeds were less than last year and had a pretty good amount of desirable stuff growing underneath all the mess.
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

Not really having much of an option due to time I went ahead with plan of broadcasting the WR/red clover/chicory and cultipacking everything flat as I could. The plot closest to the ground blind also got 8# of sunflowers broadcast and a 50# bag of 26-6-4 (or something like that) spread on it. The others just got the seed and the packer. The three plots total about 3/4 acre; and I spread 100# of WR; and 6# of the red clover/chicory mix. I did not spray this time as I didn't want to take a chance of killing the good stuff that was there. So, right now I'm in hope and see mode. The plot is currently getting rain, but it really hasn't rained there in the past week, but may get close to 1" over the next few days.

My screen came in well! More on that in another thread...
Untitled by Tyler Staggs, on Flickr

 

[Crimson n' Camo]

That plot looks perfect to me pointer......I bet the deer see other desirable stuff in there than just the clover.

 

[pointer]

They are definitely using it and more than just the clover. The weeds are less than last year, so I'm hoping with continued annual seeding they'll keep getting less and less without having to turn dirt. Depending on how well this seeding does, I may try a round of 2,4-DB spray next spring/summer to help with the weed pressure.

The height of the weeds make it a bit problematic as we do not have an elevated stand over looking this plots. This is more of a problem for the September youth hunt. By the time gun season rolls around in Nov most of those tall things are dead and falling over. The cultipacker does a decent job of smashing things well enough to see, but a mower is high on my want list! As well as an elevated box blind. Just need the time and money (in that order) to make those things happen.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

I believe the 24 dB will kill your chicory but its pretty tough stuff so who knows. If you were able to mow this plot even once a year you would see a major difference in weed competition. All those weeds are also going to set seed for next year. The deer wont care if your plots are weedy but....

 

[pointer]

If the chicory establishes it very well may become a casualty of fewer weeds... My BIL's father lives next door to the place is usually looking for a reason to use his tractor and bush hog. Just need to get over myself and ask for his help.

 

[scott44]

On 8/16 I planted my LC cereal grain mix with the roll and spray method. I planted strips in 3 different plots.

This first one I had planted a buckwheat, oats and crimson clover mix this spring.

What it looks like today

A little taller grasses in this plot with clover on both sides, the first pic on the right is where I tried planting brassicas in July by rolling without spraying.... not hardly any brassicas but it released a really nice clover plot.

Today

And the last plot.

 

[pointer]

Scott- Your results are making me think I need to get over sacrificing some clover and do the throw, roll, spray thing. We'll see how this year goes as I didn't do the spray step...

 

[landlord]

Brought a smile

I couldn't imagine habitat work without my bull terrier and great pyrenees

plots,hinging,planting baby trees..... they never leave my side

bill

Ha... as soon as I grab a tool my lab heads for the cabin. I guess he is bored watching me work.

 

[trampledbyturtles]

Gotta say, loved the concept of thrown an mow. Results so far, have left a lot to be desired.

Sprayed 3 times, staggered out to clean up any missed spots,
Broadcast july 22, forecast called for 1in of rain, that missed, fast forward 10days we get our rain.
Rolled with a drag multiple times, then flipped drag over to flatten thatch

I wanna say my poor results are directly correlated to soil in which the seedlings were trying to establish.
Unlike in some locations that may scratch up easier. Or the roots may have an easier time penetrating the soil surface.

I believe our heavy sod like soil structure. So grass root bound from years of Big blue an smooth broom growth, paired with an insane thatch layer.
Limited the seedling chance of ever penetrating the soil surface.
Thus resulting in a sad, sad, looking patch of brown dead grass with a few tiny 3 inch tall ryegrass seedlings clinging to existence.

Planted rye, clover, radish, alfalfa mix.

Still have 4lb of seed mix left that I had planned on frost seeding.
But if things don't improve. I will be finding someway to turn over the ground to break things up next summer.
An start with a clean, soft seedbed.

 

[35-acre]

Has anyone on here tried Solu-Cal instead of lime?

 

[Crimson n' Camo]

Hurricane Irma blew through 9 days ago……Here's a time lapse from then to now.

 

[seadonist]

Great results. I was hoping for similar results from the outer rain bands of Irma but we were just south of the rain bands and got zero rain while she passed.


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[4wanderingeyes]

CC, that is some thick OM you have going there! Very impressive!