Starting a plot in thick grass.

[Walleyeguy13]

We have about a half acre field on our property up here in Northern Minnesota on which we would like to start a food plot. The field is covered in heavy grass with minimal broadleaf weeds. I really would rather not till it up. Wondering about prep recommendations assuming we will do a clover/winter rye mix broadcasting seed starting late September with a second layer of rye a few weeks later. Should we just start spraying glyphosate in the spring to kill it, or should we keep the grass mowed though the summer and plan to broadcast seed late summer shortly before our final mowing and then mow one last time to help get the seed down to soil and have that grass layer to hold in the moisture?

 

[Telemark]

You'll have to kill it, and you'll probably need to harrow it.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I would get a couple good sprayings on it next summer. Broadcast the seed into standing nuked grass and roll with a cultipacker or mow.

I wouldn’t wait til late sept in northern mn though. Labor Day sounds better. Your clover is going to be near invisible planted that late.

 

[Walleyeguy13]

I would get a couple good sprayings on it next summer. Broadcast the seed into standing nuked grass and roll with a cultipacker or mow.

I wouldn’t wait til late sept in northern mn though. Labor Day sounds better. Your clover is going to be near invisible planted that late.

Ah ... I meant to type "late August". Thanks for the reply! I know that I can't keep the clover out of our lawn at home, so I figured it's worth a shot on this half-acre. I really would hate to till it up and disturb that nice top soil.

 

[Kdog]

You could also spray it, burn it, and do a minimum till (I used a link drag harrow) then seed. This was on a +30 YO horse pasture.

K

Thread 'Dove Plot - Soon to be Food Plot'

May 4, 2025

I planned on over seeding a portion of my lower pasture with clover last fall, but never did. This year I had planned to plant a dove field in the upper pasture, but changed my mind yesterday and began prep on the lower plot that will initially be a dove plot. Took soil samples then sprayed. Just going to plant millet and some proso for the doves, but will also begin preparing for the fall plot. I don't have a drill, so this will be a minimum till planting for the doves and the fall plot.

For the fall plot I plan on seeding as follows per acre.
75# Wrens Abruzzi Rye
10# Durana
5#...

• Kdog
• Replies: 58
• Forum: Foodplots

• 

 

[SwampCat]

I would bush hog in the spring as early as you can. Wait for new growth and spray. When you see a fair amount of more new growth, spray again. Keep that up until you plant. I believe your WR will do fine in untilled soil. The clover probably not so much. Just scratched up will help. First year plots, I do like to till if pissible

 

[bigboreblr]

Get soil test done?

 

[Walleyeguy13]

Get soil test done?

Probably will in the spring.

 

[davidhelmly]

Spray it a month or so before you’re going to plant and then spray again as close as possible to planting and then drill it, you will have a fine plot.

 

[rocksnstumps]

How level is the site? If any dips and potholes or unevenness that will bounce sprayers and planters around might want to consider a one time tillage just to level a new area. Doesn't mean you have to do it every year or ever again in the next 20 years but dealing with rough ground every year just to say tillage is bad is gonna be frustrating.

Same with herbicide. Do a couple sprayings up front spaced several weeks apart to get unwanted vegetation under control and can probably switch to a throw and mow after that if desired. New sites can take a bit more of an initial heavy hand but you can change up your approach in the future.