Powerline Foodplot ?

[Wanabhunter]

I have a powerline than runs on the one side of my property. Is it possible or has anyone ever planted on the powerline? Thinking of keeping it simple as I would do it all by hand, “a throw and grow”. Currently it’s just canary grass and weeds and maybe some cattails.

Figured I would rent a brush hog after the season and knock it all down, then in the spring spray it with glysophate to kill all the grasses and maybe mow it down and then throw a seed?

This area is fully in the sun so I should get some good light.
Open to idea of what to plant or strategies on how to even start this idea! It’ll be long a narrow, maybe between 10-20 yards wide at parts and 100+ yards long. Possible I could get an ATV to do some of the work too.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

I've thrown some clover and some PTT's in one, but never did any prep to it, never spent any time on it. Lots of reasons, not my land, other people hunted it as well, owner mowed it, owner and others drove on it, utility company drove on it....

 

[gjs4]

A couple things-

they attract attention as they stick out on aerials and lazy hunters (atvs, horses) love ROWS

Another- veg management folks spray some nasty stuff and do dumb things all the time. I work for a utility and own a couple ROWs...... theyre often idiots. Mowing corn, spraying plots, clearing on opening day of gun, walking in/around to "survey-inspect", removing boundary and/or property markers. I would suggesting installing "NO SPRAY NO MOW" signs at every point of access.

 

[BenA]

Down here, pipelines and powerlines are often the only places to plant foodplots. Generations of hunting club members have been planting these. Box stands on them are common. As long as it doesn't stay flooded for prolonged periods during the hunting season, I'd think you'd be fine. Maybe things are different up north. You may want to contact the power company, but utility ROWs cross yards, crop fields, and pastures all over. Those are planted.

 

[TreeDaddy]

I have 6 acres of pipeline ROW through my place

I lime ,mow, spray, then drill a clover mix with rye

Its a "gimme" ,already cleared spot

ROW folks seem happy because its 6 less acres for them to maintain

bill

 

[Telemark]

Sounds like a great plan. I'd focus on a perennial clover blend with some chicory, plus a bunch of other stuff for the first year. The spots left by dead annuals should fill in, but you can overseed with more clover and grains the next year. Easy, low-maintenance, nutritious for deer and other wildlife.

 

[Mike]

Having a cleared area like that would sure be a nice start to any foodplot. You say all you have access to is hand tools so that might make things a lot more difficult. Sounds like you need to ask around and see if you can borrow an ATV with a tank sprayer or small tractor, that would be a game changer. If so i would brush hog and then spray a couple time this next summer. If you can get a soil test and then use next summer to spread some lime even better. Late next summer plant an annual cereal grain maybe Oats and Wheat (have never had cereal grains fail me when planted early September here in Michigan). That will give your lime and any fertilizer you put down with your grains time to work. The following year I would do Cereal grains but add a white clover mix at the same time. That clover blend should come in the following summer and should be mowed a couple times each summer. As for planting implements all I have ever used is a spring tooth harrow. I have had good luck finding them for sale at old farmsteads or garage sales. Might even find an old one laying in the weeds somewhere. As long as the site has been prepped (sprayed) earlier in the summer its usually bare enough to just drag a spring harrow behind an ATV to work the top layer of soil enough to plant. The good thing is you have lots of time between now and spring green up so I would spend that time trying to gain access to the ATV and spray rig or small garden tractor for this as well as a spring tooth harrow.

 

[bigboreblr]

Some ROW agreement say you cant plant or till the soil. Mainly ones with buried stuff. gas lines fiber optics even buried power lines.

keep edges brushy and use seeds that make it look like a regular meadow. Keeps the nosy folks away.

You can work on it now. Removing branches, triming brush, spreading lime, getting a soil sample.

Soils can be variable from building the right of way with bulldozers. Dig in a few spots and compare what you have.

Perennial crops are an option too. Like crown vetch, clovers, chicory, and other wild plants they enjoy.

 

[Wanabhunter]

Having a cleared area like that would sure be a nice start to any foodplot. You say all you have access to is hand tools so that might make things a lot more difficult. Sounds like you need to ask around and see if you can borrow an ATV with a tank sprayer or small tractor, that would be a game changer. If so i would brush hog and then spray a couple time this next summer. If you can get a soil test and then use next summer to spread some lime even better. Late next summer plant an annual cereal grain maybe Oats and Wheat (have never had cereal grains fail me when planted early September here in Michigan). That will give your lime and any fertilizer you put down with your grains time to work. The following year I would do Cereal grains but add a white clover mix at the same time. That clover blend should come in the following summer and should be mowed a couple times each summer. As for planting implements all I have ever used is a spring tooth harrow. I have had good luck finding them for sale at old farmsteads or garage sales. Might even find an old one laying in the weeds somewhere. As long as the site has been prepped (sprayed) earlier in the summer its usually bare enough to just drag a spring harrow behind an ATV to work the top layer of soil enough to plant. The good thing is you have lots of time between now and spring green up so I would spend that time trying to gain access to the ATV and spray rig or small garden tractor for this as well as a spring tooth harrow.

I probably can get my hands on an atv with a sprayer and maybe a harrow.

Say I am able to get the atv and tools… I’ll go out and brush hog the tall grass and little shrubs, then spray it, would I use the spring harrow to remove the dead thatch and other stuff I cut down with the brush hog? Or is the harrow used to only rough up the top layer of the soil?

I’ll also get a soil sample.

 

[Mike]

A spring tooth harrow is just an implement for roughing up the first couple inches of soil. Then after spreading your seed it can be used to drag over the soil and cover the seed. Any woody debris that is there after you brush hog will have to be removed by hand or burned. Spraying will be needed after spring green up to kill the new vegetation next spring and summer. It will defiantly take some work that first year but will be well worth it once you get things under control.

 

[KY wild]

The pipeline that comes through my county gives the land owner seed if they will plant it. May be worth checking into, couldn't hurt to ask.