Hay to Security Cover

[mtholton]

I've got a 2 acre field that was used for hay prior to me buying it. I'd like to add about a 1 acre food plot, and add as much thick cover around it as I can. I'm short on good security cover on that part of my farm. Just north of the field the adjoining property is hunted hard, and I'd like to give them a safe home... I sprayed it once last year to kill off the grass, but it seemed to bounce back. In other areas in this field and ones nearby, if I sprayed it hard multiple times (I did this for some tree plantings), it seems to turn more "wild" pretty quick.

My question, if I just desire thick cover (outside of planting trees etc), more natural habitat. Would you suggest I keep spraying a few times in the spring and let it go wild or should I have someone tillage then spray? Another option, instead of letting it go wild, do the above and plant some kind of mix? Again, thick security cover is my goal!

 

[BenA]

I'm not sure what kind of grass is there, but it sounds like when doing the one spray, it may not have been done at the perfect time. And, possibly, the multiple sprayings gave it the one, two punch. Either way, killing the cool season grass, by whatever means necessary, is most important to make way for what you want there. Disking has done well for me if done in the fall/winter. Spraying the grass (with a grass selective herbicide) in the spring after a light disking right now, would be the option I'd go with.