Cutting clover?

rocksnstumps said:
I'm with some folks above who mow clover high but do it whenever I have to try and stay ahead of thistle and knapweed getting too far along and making seed. Mow somewhere around 9-10 inches but will scalp lower if weeds are really bad in spots. I had a spot I just wanted to roll down the rye in August which was planted with clover the fall before and get free rye reseed but weeds had other plans. First mowed just the perimeter and finally recently the whole plot a couple of weeks later.

Clover is a main part of my plots and utilized well from spring into mid summer and back again from fall into early winter and beyond if the snow depths are light. I think folks up north do not have to worry about mowing clover too much with good rains, I mow to keep thistlemania and junk from taking over but never get it all cause too many rocks and boulders outside the plot areas to rebuild numbers so a constant battle.

Another clover patch nearby has gotten lots of use from a bunch youngsters since April.

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You should enter that last picture in the trail cam contest. 6 deer = 3x the likes right? :emoji_stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
 
Mowed my clover and chicory last night along with some trails and an area that was supposed to be NWG but was growing up in thistle and reed canary grass. I'm hoping that mowing it off this time of year will stimulate the warm season stuff. We still have plenty of moisture here in S.E. MN. I set the mower to just take the weeds off and clip the tops of the clover chicory. I would guess I cut it off at about a foot tall.
 
I have had more success mowing clover then leaving it alone. I have a 3 acre plot of Chicory and Ladino. I mowed it just once last year and I would say it was just ok. I have been battling weeds for a couple of years. This year I mowed on Memorial day and then again the week after the 4th and right now my clover looks excellent, much better then last year at this time. A July mow here takes off the spent chicory flower stems which only turn brown offer no food source once spent. I intend to follow the holiday mowing schedule. Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day.

With all of that said had I done a better job of burning down my plots prior to planting clover I may be less in need of mowing to control weeds. Clover plots I have done since this larger ones are all fall plots. Gly to burn and Rye and clover mixed in the fall. Then mow once in the spring to terminat the rye and these plots have been much less maintenance.
 
rocksnstumps said:
I'm with some folks above who mow clover high but do it whenever I have to try and stay ahead of thistle and knapweed getting too far along and making seed. Mow somewhere around 9-10 inches but will scalp lower if weeds are really bad in spots. I had a spot I just wanted to roll down the rye in August which was planted with clover the fall before and get free rye reseed but weeds had other plans. First mowed just the perimeter and finally recently the whole plot a couple of weeks later.

Clover is a main part of my plots and utilized well from spring into mid summer and back again from fall into early winter and beyond if the snow depths are light. I think folks up north do not have to worry about mowing clover too much with good rains, I mow to keep thistlemania and junk from taking over but never get it all cause too many rocks and boulders outside the plot areas to rebuild numbers so a constant battle.

Another clover patch nearby has gotten lots of use from a bunch youngsters since April.

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Hey man some of us on here don't need to see these pics and were happy with our plots until we saw these pics!

haha great work!
 
My kunz rough cut mower will mow at a max height of 8". I've found 2 or 3 times a year has done me well. I also do a max arrest spray. As others have said, I think mowing early enough before competitive weeds seed out is more crucial than anything else.
 
S.T.Fanatic said:
Between the farm I hunt and two other bordering landowners that have been planting food plots there has without a doubt been an increase in antler size after we stared or plot programs than we had before we started plotting.
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I'm guessing there is another variable too, in that guys that spend all the money and time to plot are also more dedicated to hunting and generally that means passing smaller deer, they're more into understanding heard dynamics so they know when and when not to shoot doe.

I don't disagree that nutrition isn't important, but I'm guessing you guys are also not the joe blow brown its down group either, which will allow those bucks to make it year 3 and onward.

More telling, and maybe this is what you mean is that a 1.5 that is already a basket 6 or 8 instead of a spike or forky. However I've read more on this subject and lost count on the number of conflicting nutrition vs genetics articles lol.

All that mumbo jumbo aside, nobody can argue that good nutrition will ever have any negative effect. The question is just how much does it help and at what point does the time and money have diminishing returns?
 
Belo said:
I'm guessing there is another variable too, in that guys that spend all the money and time to plot are also more dedicated to hunting and generally that means passing smaller deer, they're more into understanding heard dynamics so they know when and when not to shoot doe.

I don't disagree that nutrition isn't important, but I'm guessing you guys are also not the joe blow brown its down group either, which will allow those bucks to make it year 3 and onward.

More telling, and maybe this is what you mean is that a 1.5 that is already a basket 6 or 8 instead of a spike or forky. However I've read more on this subject and lost count on the number of conflicting nutrition vs genetics articles lol.

All that mumbo jumbo aside, nobody can argue that good nutrition will ever have any negative effect. The question is just how much does it help and at what point does the time and money have diminishing returns?
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The money part doesn't bother me. With the about 2 acres of plots that we have I spend well under $500 per year. I'm looking into upping my soil amendment game to see if i cant get a little better attraction out of them. In a rich Ag area there isn't any shortage of food so the soil may have nothing to do with it but I'm planning on doing a better job at soil testing and amending in the years to come.
 
Belo said:
My kunz rough cut mower will mow at a max height of 8". I've found 2 or 3 times a year has done me well. I also do a max arrest spray. As others have said, I think mowing early enough before competitive weeds seed out is more crucial than anything else.
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Just letting you know this is a better option to Max Arrest for your clover plot weed and grass control. Imox controls grass and broad leaf weeds and has a very good environmental profile.

 
Belo said:
thanks, never heard of it. that's not cheap!
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With a mix rate of 4 oz per Acre a little goes a long way.
 
It usually takes "my" deer a couple of weeks after cutting before they are back on it. Always a good idea to leave some taller, rather than mow it all at once. I know the turkeys like my plots grown up more for the bugging and they seem to feel more relaxed in the taller stuff. Variety is key. Even if it's all the same food just in different stages. jmo
 
jsasker007 said:
It usually takes "my" deer a couple of weeks after cutting before they are back on it. Always a good idea to leave some taller, rather than mow it all at once. I know the turkeys like my plots grown up more for the bugging and they seem to feel more relaxed in the taller stuff. Variety is key. Even if it's all the same food just in different stages. jmo
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That’s different than what I see here in Minnesota. We cut clover &/or alfalfa & the deer are in there right away .
 
bwoods11 said:
That’s different than what I see here in Minnesota. We cut clover &/or alfalfa & the deer are in there right away .
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That is odd, I'm in central MN. No AG around me. Last couple of days the deer are already grabbing apples off of my trees by the house.
 
I can’t explain that , but we mow about 4-7 days before bow opener … if it’s warm and lush . The deer always go to the mowed area right in front of our stands!

Works very well for an early season doe, I’ve only shot one buck on opening weekend in Minnesota! Passed quite a few .
 
I wonder if it's the height that I'm mowing my plots? I mow it pretty short maybe 5" tall.
 
Catscratch said:
You all talking about cutting clover inspired me to hop on the mower. Cut a few swaths. Will see what it does, and if the deer spend any more time in one vs the other.
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Good idea, Cat. Let us know what the deer prefer. Interesting test.
 
No idea why people cut clover. Deer are browsers, not grazers
 
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