Frost & clover

[trampledbyturtles]

Wondering how long clover and chickory will stay green and maintain its attraction after a frost.

Last night was only down to 30, but saturday they r talking low 20s for a prolonged period so that will be the killing frost.

Have a kill plot I hunted Tue and had a chance at a target till a doe littleraly blew it. (Bucks didnt spook, just feed for awhile and walked off the other direction after 10 min.)

Good front pushed through yesterday so the plan is to hunt either tonight or sunday with the wind I need. Was hoping to give it more of rest but will push things if need be.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Also as a kicker, the pheasant opener is this Saturday so that tends to stir things up a bit in the surrounding area.

 

[H80Hunter]

I'm curious about this too. For me, my clover plots seem to go dormant after we get several deeper freezes but it doesn't die off like, say, oats do. I've never paid SUPER close attention but I think it will stay green for quite a while after cold weather, but it may basically stop growing, and the deer will start eating it lower and lower.

 

[Rit]

Deer dig thru snow to get my clover. I would say at least into January it gets used by me (zone 6a). The issue is they eat it to the dirt and it doesn’t recover so I end up with large circles of dirt that weeds and grasses fill in the next Spring.

 

[Bill]

^^this.

it will be green for a while.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Clover stays green awhile and deer will paw thru several inches of snow to get at especially if they have already been using an area before cold weather sets in. My plots are usually getting covered with snow that sticks around by end of Nov and find they get some use till the end of the year. They stop after snow starts getting much beyond 8-10 inches.

No input for ya on the chicory

 

[FarmerDan]

I'm curious about this too. For me, my clover plots seem to go dormant after we get several deeper freezes but it doesn't die off like, say, oats do. I've never paid SUPER close attention but I think it will stay green for quite a while after cold weather, but it may basically stop growing, and the deer will start eating it lower and lower.

Correct. Most of the perennial clovers are very frost tolerant. Under freeze (as opposed to frost) conditions the tops of the plants will stay 'attractive' but essentially stop growing. The bigger issue is how deep the soil freezes. If there's a significant root mass, life goes on and, even in the winter (remember, I'm south of the Mason-Dixon and have never experienced the harshness of an upper midwest winter) some growth occurs. I'd guess when soil freezes solid in the soil layer where 80% of the root mass exists its over.
Having an abundance of green before that happens (cattle producers call it stockpiling) is a blessing and a good reason to keep your soil fertility at an optimum level.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Perennial white clover just keeps on trucking after several frosts. This pic from just a little over a week ago and had some gusty winds take care of a lot leaves on trees since.
The grouse shot a couple days ago another couple counties north (partridge to some folks) had crops full of green clover leaves. They had a low of 26F degs up there and gonna be in the teens tonight.

 

[jsasker007]

I think my clover always stays green---it just stops growing in the colder months and deer eat it to the dirt.

 

[Someday isle]

Perennial white clover just keeps on trucking after several frosts. This pic from just a little over a week ago and had some gusty winds take care of a lot leaves on trees since.
The grouse shot a couple days ago another couple counties north (partridge to some folks) had crops full of green clover leaves. They had a low of 26F degs up there and gonna be in the teens tonight.
View attachment 32313

Beautiful clover plot!