First try at no-till planting

[PRK]

I had about 1 1/2 acres that had never been planted and was solid grass. I mowed last fall when the grass was chest high and left a solid layer of thatch. This year when the grass was a foot tall I killed it off. Dragged a weighted chain harrow to scuff up the surface, fertilized, broadcast WR, oats, and some leftover brassica from last year. I dragged again with the chain harrow and a piece of chain link fence to cover the seed and flatten the grass. Two weeks after seeding I'm getting some pretty good growth. The firs pic shows what I started with. The second shows growth through the thatch/ dead grass.

 

[huthut]

Well done -- I would call that success. If the rye and oats are planted thick enough you should have good control of grass and weeds.

 

[PRK]

Thanks, I was really surprised how well it grew. I put down 3 bushels of WR and 100 lbs of oats. Do you think that's planted thick enough or should I broadcast some more?

 

[dipper]

It is really that easy, you are saving a lot of money in equipment and time. Looks like there is a lot of brassicas in there? It wouldn't be a bad idea to broadcast a couple pounds of some clover. No need to drag or culti pack. You won't see much of the clover until next year. It will find a way to grow, all these plants do one way or the other.

 

[dipper]

You can also spread some cereal seed or whatever in those couple bare patches before the grass of some other unwanted fills in.

 

[PRK]

Thanks Dipper I'll do that. Those brassicas were left over from last year. I put them in the thickest area of thatch to see what would happen not expecting much but they took off.

 

[sandbur]

Looks great! I appreciate the before and after pictures.

I'm curious, are the deer using it? Ignoring the brassica at present?

 

[PRK]

Yep, the deer are in there already. Last year I planted rye late and they kept it mowed down. Hoping to get more growth this year.

 

[dipper]

After you do this type of management a couple years, you'll gain confidence and not overdose on seed. One thing I do overdose on is cereal seed, but I do that when I conventionally plant anyway

 

[PRK]

I thought I would bring back this post and show what a summers growth did with my no till experiment. It's just a smorgasbord of oats, WR, PTT, radish, rape, rutabaga, and white clover. I think I'll be doing this again next year.

 

[sandbur]

Are those oats heads soft and are the deer using them?

 

[PRK]

Sandbur, The oat heads are soft and milky but the deer don't seem to be eating them. Someone told me the deer won't eat the oat heads? Any truth to that?