New Ground- how to manage a poor soil, but flat section and turn it into a food source

[Maddog66]

I admit going in that I followed none of the rules.

But it happened that there was some big steel available on my land one day, and a new food plot was instantly born from a recently clear cut maple/basswood logging. It’s actually a 1/2+ acre addition to an old micro plot.

In 4 hours stumps were pulled, holes were filled, the biggest rocks were moved off, and a rough grade was set. It was more compacted than I would have liked, but it was done.

I knew that day I had virtually no time to work the plot this year. #reasons.

But I had to at least get something going to prep for next year. So I plucked off all the wood and rocks I had time to mess with, drug it, and threw out rye, clovers, brassicas, and chicory* with 2 50# bags of 10-10-10. And walked away.

No lime, no boron, not even a soil test!!!!

I think my before/after pics once again prove out the timeless advice……”get your seed in the ground”

YMMV

 

[hillrunner]

I admit going in that I followed none of the rules.

But it happened that there was some big steel available on my land one day, and a new food plot was instantly born from a recently clear cut maple/basswood logging. It’s actually a 1/2+ acre addition to an old micro plot.

In 4 hours stumps were pulled, holes were filled, the biggest rocks were moved off, and a rough grade was set. It was more compacted than I would have liked, but it was done.

I knew that day I had virtually no time to work the plot this year. #reasons.

But I had to at least get something going to prep for next year. So I plucked off all the wood and rocks I had time to mess with, drug it, and threw out rye, clovers, brassicas, and chicory* with 2 50# bags of 10-10-10. And walked away.

No lime, no boron, not even a soil test!!!!

I think my before/after pics once again prove out the timeless advice……”get your seed in the ground”

YMMV

I know not all soils work the same, but I've never had a plot failure when I've had rain. This stuff often gets overthought.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Nice plot, Maddog!

 

[bigboreblr]

This is not my tire drag, but I have 3 tire one just like that. 265/70/17 tires off my old dodge. Perfect size for my 420 rancher ATV. Tractor could drag a 6 or 10 tire one just fine. I drag a 4ft-5ft tall field without weight ontop of the tires. IT knocks the plants down enough so I can spread seed by hand Then i go in the opposite direction with weight ontop of the tires. About 100-150lbs of 4-6 inch logs. Cut some holes in the sidewalls so you can ratchet strap some weight ontop of them. You could also attach pieces of metal pipe and add roundup sprayer nozzles to the back. Find a way t attach a 12v spreader to the front bucket and you got a one pass no till machine. I put about a dozen 2.5" long 7/16" bolts nuts and washers to make teeth. Uually get clogged up with grass too easily, but in prepped or well mowed areas, it does tear a bit of soil up. It does knock down high spots a bit too. But, would be a great impleent even without the bolt teeth. Can make a 7 tire drag 3 then 4 row for the front bucket too.

With weight the tire drag kills alot of plants like a crimper. Kiils 95% of golen rod with that light then heavy pass in the other direction. Thats without spraying. Several years at camp it was too wet to spray. MAde an ok enough foodplot without roundup. Rye, oats, clovers, and a small bit of brassicas.

IF its a log landing with rotting wood in it, spread some urea in it before it gets too cold. Even if its the only thing you do there this year. Nitrogen help balance the C-N ratio and get the bacteria going good.