Balansa overseeded w/ rye annually?

[Joe7296]

I have a small remote plot that I throw and mowed with winter rye last fall. Germination was pretty good, however the area I put it in is a bottomland area that is wet in the spring. The area is usually completely dry in the fall but can have some standing water in the spring after periods of fast snow melt or big rains because it drains slowly. This spring was particularly wet and killed the rye as it was trying to come back in. Without the rye, it was taken over again by the grasses and weeds that were there before. My original plan was to have rye in fall/ spring and buckwheat in the summer, however that doesn’t seem to be the option for this area.

I was wondering if anyone has tried balansa clover in a situation like this? I thought I could seed rye and balansa this fall, then hopefully mow the area in late spring/ early summer to help the clover and clean up weeds/terminate any rye that made it, then mow again in September and overseed with rye and clover (since balansa looks like it’s an annual). Any thoughts?

 

[Double Creek]

I’m trying a couple acres this year that sounds very similar to what you are describing. I’ve listened to several podcasts and they claim it does very well in wet bottomland. I think it’s worth a try. I have heard that balansa does not like much competition so be sure to terminate the nurse crop and and other weeds early. It also does not grow much in the fall, so don’t be alarmed if the stand looks week early on.

 

[356]

I have a small remote plot that I throw and mowed with winter rye last fall. Germination was pretty good, however the area I put it in is a bottomland area that is wet in the spring. The area is usually completely dry in the fall but can have some standing water in the spring after periods of fast snow melt or big rains because it drains slowly. This spring was particularly wet and killed the rye as it was trying to come back in. Without the rye, it was taken over again by the grasses and weeds that were there before. My original plan was to have rye in fall/ spring and buckwheat in the summer, however that doesn’t seem to be the option for this area.

I was wondering if anyone has tried balansa clover in a situation like this? I thought I could seed rye and balansa this fall, then hopefully mow the area in late spring/ early summer to help the clover and clean up weeds/terminate any rye that made it, then mow again in September and overseed with rye and clover (since balansa looks like it’s an annual). Any thoughts?

It sounds like you have a good native seedbed in there. What about focusing on maximizing the good native browse with selective herbicides to reduce grasses, thus promoting the forbs (weeds) that deer eat and are already in the soil. It sounds like you are almost working against nature with the current program of rye and clover.

If you are looking for a hunting season plot, consider a small burn to promote late season new growth. I was in some bottom land woods where a fire had burned about 1 acre and that was where the deer were in early November.

 

[Joe7296]

I’m trying a couple acres this year that sounds very similar to what you are describing. I’ve listened to several podcasts and they claim it does very well in wet bottomland. I think it’s worth a try. I have heard that balansa does not like much competition so be sure to terminate the nurse crop and and other weeds early. It also does not grow much in the fall, so don’t be alarmed if the stand looks week early on.

Cool, I’m glad to see that I’m not off in left field at least! I’ll see how it works.

 

[Joe7296]

It sounds like you have a good native seedbed in there. What about focusing on maximizing the good native browse with selective herbicides to reduce grasses, thus promoting the forbs (weeds) that deer eat and are already in the soil. It sounds like you are almost working against nature with the current program of rye and clover.

If you are looking for a hunting season plot, consider a small burn to promote late season new growth. I was in some bottom land woods where a fire had burned about 1 acre and that was where the deer were in early November.

The vegetation was mainly tussock sedge and swamp ferns with goldenrod. There was also some bush honeysuckle and meadowsweet mixed in. The food plot is a 10 to 15ft wide strip that’s about 200yds long. I’m essentially planting my shooting lane so that deer will pause for a bite (movement is perpendicular to the shooting lane). I’m working on improving browse in the area with dogwood and hazelnut, and some edge feathering.

If the clover fails I will likely do as you suggest. I also have some other areas on the property that are overgrown pasture that might benefit from a fall clethodem treatment.

 

[Joe7296]

That’s what I’m working with for reference

 

[356]

View attachment 81428
That’s what I’m working with for reference

The photo helps. While I still succumb to the beauty of a fall food plot during hunting season, I am becoming convinced that our deer will use native forbs just as much, and they are more resilient to weather issues (too much/too little rain). This year I have one spot by my main tower that I am not planting a food plot and focusing on native forbs.