Alfalfa seeding rate in a mix

[Brian662]

I planted RC BigRock this June with simazine and without. Both stands look just fine for first year stuff.

I have planted a 50/50 rate of alfalfa and clover and the alfalfa is holding its own several years later. Weed pressure is there and will try some Imox in the spring but overall its a nice stand that I've mostly only mowed and broadcast rye into in September to keep grasses down.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Thanks for the kind words BnB.

My alfalfa stands were still going strong after 3 years and I am pretty sure they would have gone strong for another 3 years but I terminated them to rotate into something’s else. I should probably say I “tried” to terminate the alfalfa/clover because, try as I may, I still have remnants of both in those plots. It is difficult to terminate for sure.

Thanks, Wild Thing, for the info. We'd like to plant an alfalfa plot that would hang on for 3 to 5 years to keep deer fed without having to re-plant things - at least for that one field. We have a number of other fields we can plant to other things - mixed crop varieties typically. A plot of alfalfa could anchor part of our critter cafeteria, if it lasts a while.

 

[Wild Thing]

Thanks, Wild Thing, for the info. We'd like to plant an alfalfa plot that would hang on for 3 to 5 years to keep deer fed without having to re-plant things - at least for that one field. We have a number of other fields we can plant to other things - mixed crop varieties typically. A plot of alfalfa could anchor part of our critter cafeteria, if it lasts a while.

Here is another twist on planting RR Alfalfa from Jake at Habitat-Pro-LLC, from a tip he got from Jim Ward. He plants RR alfalfa at a lighter rate so there is room to broadcast or drill annuals like brassicas or cereal grains into it in the fall to increase the attractiveness of the plot - especially into th later season.

I think there is a lot of merit to this strategy. I usually do drill some rye into my perennial plots in the fall anyway but it doesn't usually amount to too much in a thick stand of alfalfa. By planting at a lower rate, he gets very good stands of annuals along with the alfalfa.

Something to consider...