I have a new plot that was cleared this winter. I have not tested the soil but the soil is sandy. Previously the area was a mix of oaks, tag alder, dead ash and red cedar. I am assuming ph is low but will need to confirm with a test. I am wondering what would be a good cover crop to establish this spring to hold me over to the fall when I want to try to establish a clover/chicory plot.
Establishing new plot in spring
- Thread starter swampbuck
- Start date
You could plant a mix of oats and field peas early in the spring and it would be a good combo to smother some weeds while also providing food for wildlife. That mix will get pretty tall and produce a lot of organic matter, which is always a good thing for sandy soil.
omicron1792
5 year old buck +
There is no better plant than cereal rye to help transform dirt. Plant it heavy and often.
Diesel5610
5 year old buck +
Buckwheat and follow up with rye as a cover crop for the clover/chicory in the fall.
TreeDaddy
5 year old buck +
jsasker007
5 year old buck +
Every answer you got would be good choices. Are you going to overseed what you plant in the spring or use the spring planting as a green manure for the fall planting?
jsasker007
5 year old buck +
I think the peas and oats would be the best thing to also attract deer to your plots. jmo
jsasker007
5 year old buck +
You could plant clover and chicory with the other spring plantings and then just overseed more clover and chicory as needed in the fall to fill in any thinner spots. I'd throw some cereal rye on top of the clover and chicory also in the fall but not so thick that it smothers. jmo
bigboreblr
5 year old buck +
You mentioned oaks. Is the ground heavily disturbed, like removing large stumps. Many places have a relatively thin topsoil section, and lesser quality stuff down deeper.
Rye is a great plant for low quality soil sites, if your site is one. Rye grows taller than other plants. You can use that tall stuff as a trellice for viney plants. Hairy vetch is good for sandy soils. Peas will climb up the rye too.
I always put legumes in any planting. Helps make nitrogen. Keep it simple with medium red clover. I am still researching clovers for sandy soil myself. But medium red does ok.
If you suspect your going to have deeper soils sruface to the top, get that soil tested. Keep in mind sandy soil takes alot less to steer it around than clay soil does. Top raise soil pH or add nutrients like potassium or phosphorus, the sandy soil doesn't hold alot. Got to go slow with sandy soil.
Get a deep layer and get a topsoil one. Stirred up soil is going to be a mix.
Ive seen good spots turn almost barren with a good stir of a bulldozer.
Rye is a great plant for low quality soil sites, if your site is one. Rye grows taller than other plants. You can use that tall stuff as a trellice for viney plants. Hairy vetch is good for sandy soils. Peas will climb up the rye too.
I always put legumes in any planting. Helps make nitrogen. Keep it simple with medium red clover. I am still researching clovers for sandy soil myself. But medium red does ok.
If you suspect your going to have deeper soils sruface to the top, get that soil tested. Keep in mind sandy soil takes alot less to steer it around than clay soil does. Top raise soil pH or add nutrients like potassium or phosphorus, the sandy soil doesn't hold alot. Got to go slow with sandy soil.
Get a deep layer and get a topsoil one. Stirred up soil is going to be a mix.
Ive seen good spots turn almost barren with a good stir of a bulldozer.
Natty Bumppo
5 year old buck +
New plot, sandy soil, former forested site is almost certainly going to be low in pH and low in nutrients. Until you can get your soil tested and bring the OM and pH up I would do rye and/or buckwheat. If it's a small plot and you want to try clover in the late summer it can't hurt. But if it's a large plot I think you'll just be throwing money away.
Lots of good stuff in here. Thanks. I ordered oats, Peas and am going to incorporate Crimson clover for the spring planting. Hoping it takes and then I'd likely terminate and had planned on putting in winter rye with a perennial clover mix in the fall to hopefully get a head start on clover for the next year.
bigboreblr
5 year old buck +
IF you don't have good soil I do think crimson cover can help you. However, guys on here says it can take over your plot. I do believe you should plant some stuff deer don't like to eat, to promote soil health over time from residue / roots. However, most guys on here report deer don't really eat crimson clover much.
If your the type that doesn't like spraying things dead, I'd lean toward medium red clover instead. Also, I have not had any luck frost seeding crimson clover. Make sure you plant it after the frosts are done. Medium red is fine to frost seed.
IF you can't get the area read in time, atleast plant a small test site.
How long has the site been harvested / stumps removed. ID anything growing there in its place? Usually predominate growth can help dictate soil condition.
I am in a hunting club in the adirondacks in NY. My club rents about 650 acres. I plant in old log landing spots, snowmobile trails, and any openings I can clean up. Sandy low pH soil. Organic matter is very variable. One spot that stuff washes down the hill is like potting soil. Some spots are like quarries. Can have 2 extreme's 100 feet apart sometimes. IF you would like to get into apple trees, anty rootstock seems to like my soil.
Got some high tannin water, probably from all the tree decomposition. Water is like red clay tinted. I am suspecting it does something to the taste of clover. Deer don't like it a ton, snowshoe hare love it though. And it's good for the soil. Fertilizer is epxensive, but more importantly I only have a 1/2 ton pickup already loaded with junk. So it's hard to bring a ton of stuff with me.
If using lime or fertilizer. Sandy soil can only hold a fraction of the nutrients clay can. I use 500lbs/acre a year of lime in my better spots. I use 60-80 lbs / acre of triple 12 or 6-24-24. IF trying to make a bumper crop, fertilize small amounts twice. I try to avoid fertilizer, but realise I need to make organic matter over a few years in some of the poorer spots.
You may need to spot treat spots too because the soil may not be uniform. I have a plot that one side need help and the other side is good. IT's only a 1/3 acre spot too.
If your the type that doesn't like spraying things dead, I'd lean toward medium red clover instead. Also, I have not had any luck frost seeding crimson clover. Make sure you plant it after the frosts are done. Medium red is fine to frost seed.
IF you can't get the area read in time, atleast plant a small test site.
How long has the site been harvested / stumps removed. ID anything growing there in its place? Usually predominate growth can help dictate soil condition.
I am in a hunting club in the adirondacks in NY. My club rents about 650 acres. I plant in old log landing spots, snowmobile trails, and any openings I can clean up. Sandy low pH soil. Organic matter is very variable. One spot that stuff washes down the hill is like potting soil. Some spots are like quarries. Can have 2 extreme's 100 feet apart sometimes. IF you would like to get into apple trees, anty rootstock seems to like my soil.
Got some high tannin water, probably from all the tree decomposition. Water is like red clay tinted. I am suspecting it does something to the taste of clover. Deer don't like it a ton, snowshoe hare love it though. And it's good for the soil. Fertilizer is epxensive, but more importantly I only have a 1/2 ton pickup already loaded with junk. So it's hard to bring a ton of stuff with me.
If using lime or fertilizer. Sandy soil can only hold a fraction of the nutrients clay can. I use 500lbs/acre a year of lime in my better spots. I use 60-80 lbs / acre of triple 12 or 6-24-24. IF trying to make a bumper crop, fertilize small amounts twice. I try to avoid fertilizer, but realise I need to make organic matter over a few years in some of the poorer spots.
You may need to spot treat spots too because the soil may not be uniform. I have a plot that one side need help and the other side is good. IT's only a 1/3 acre spot too.
