The Throw n’ Mow Method
- Thread starter Crimson n' Camo
- Start date
Double Creek
5 year old buck +
What’s a good cover crop to plant now to throw and mow into this fall? Deep South. I was considering buckwheat?
Howboutthemdawgs
5 year old buck +
Yeah buckwheat. Dang stuff has gotten expensive for a cover crop. You could also try millet if you just need something to cover the soil that’s cheap and easy to grow
Double Creek
5 year old buck +
Thanks. I was planning on doing some millet as well for a dove field, but dove season will be in way before I can do a proper throw and mow and I will need to bushhog/mow some areas to hunt. I probably won't be able to plant that field until late October, depending on the moisture.
I'm dealing with the first year of AG being taken out of production and there wont' be enough natural growth for throw and mow this year. I'd rather disturb the soil now than when we hit our typical September/October drought.
I'm dealing with the first year of AG being taken out of production and there wont' be enough natural growth for throw and mow this year. I'd rather disturb the soil now than when we hit our typical September/October drought.
omicron1792
5 year old buck +
Milo. Millet. Sorghum Sudan. Sunflowers
In a pinch throw birdseed you buy in 50lb bags. Used that before and had a ton of biomass.
TreeDaddy
5 year old buck +
BenA
5 year old buck +
I didn't have great luck with buckwheat in the deep south (Louisiana), but iron and clay cowpeas worked great for me in both Louisiana and south Mississippi. The cowpeas put on a lot of biomass and are viny which shades the soil well. They start browning down in early fall. I've had some plots that were ready to seed in early fall without doing much of any soil disturbance with those.
jsasker007
5 year old buck +
Would oats grow where you want to plant? Buckwheat is good also. Maybe both?
Double Creek
5 year old buck +
I've never planted oats, but the previous owner had a small plot with oats and crimson clover. They seemed to do pretty good heading into the spring and have a decent amount of biomass in spots. I may try a little of everything and just see what does best.
Double Creek
5 year old buck +
I’m trying to figure out if there is a way to incorporate throw and mow when you also have dove fields. I would need to bushhog the dove plots in late August or early September but I would not be ready to plant my fall deer plots until October. Am I missing something?
Double Creek
5 year old buck +
I don’t know, maybe. I guess the easiest answer would be to wait and hunt doves until after I have spread my fall plots in October. I’d rather not be shooting them during bow season but that may be the only solution. My ground really could benefit from several years of building up the soil. Doves really prefer bare ground, so I’m not sure.
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
How m
How much rain do you get in the fall? We hay our dove fields, then burn the stubble. A good rain will turn it into a lush green wheat field if the burn didn't get hot enough to kill the seed. No thatch layer needed.
Double Creek
5 year old buck +
Very little the last several years. I won’t plant fall plots before mid October.
I’ll broadcast some wheat for the dove fields but it probably won’t make it unless we get some unexpected rain. Definitely not risking spreading expensive clover in August or September
I have a 3 acre field I am going to convert to a destination food plot. I intended to get it going this spring, but life intervened, so I’m trying to game-plan moving forward. It’s about 3 acres, pH 6.5, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium all decent levels. It was an old pasture that went without much care for a few years. Soil is clay, and I think I have some compaction/drainage issues. We’ve had a wet spring, but it is pretty consistently soggy especially in particular areas.
My initial plan was a no-till throw and mow this spring of rye and clover & to overseed in fall with brassica mix.
I’m looking for suggestions moving forward. I have been considering discing, allowing regrowth, spraying/seeding rolling. If we hit a dry spell I could certainly see it crusting over. I’m a little concerned that throw/mow may leave disappointing results due poor/seed soil contact and & thick thatch layer. I’ve attached some photos below, both of the field today, and earlier this spring when I took some core samples. Despite the issues mentioned before, the soil seems quite fertile & is loaded with worms. I realize a change of plans may be necessary but I’d love to keep the game-plan semi similar to the initial plan only because I have 80lbs of clover/chicory mix sitting in my garage waiting on me.
I’m sorry for the long winded post, but I would love some input.
My initial plan was a no-till throw and mow this spring of rye and clover & to overseed in fall with brassica mix.
I’m looking for suggestions moving forward. I have been considering discing, allowing regrowth, spraying/seeding rolling. If we hit a dry spell I could certainly see it crusting over. I’m a little concerned that throw/mow may leave disappointing results due poor/seed soil contact and & thick thatch layer. I’ve attached some photos below, both of the field today, and earlier this spring when I took some core samples. Despite the issues mentioned before, the soil seems quite fertile & is loaded with worms. I realize a change of plans may be necessary but I’d love to keep the game-plan semi similar to the initial plan only because I have 80lbs of clover/chicory mix sitting in my garage waiting on me.
I’m sorry for the long winded post, but I would love some input.
SD51555
5 year old buck +
What kind of equipment do you have? I get the residue problem. Would you be able to cut it and burn it late summer? That soil looks pretty decent for heavy clay. But if you take the iron to it, that sliver of topsoil will be gone, and that will turn into concrete.
I am breaking a similar piece of ground later this summer. I'm keeping it mowed to keep the residue from accumulating. I'll hit it with my lawn mower high as I can keep the deck each week. That will enable the residue to break down over the summer. Around 12 weeks before frost I'll stop mowing, 10 weeks I'll spray, 8 weeks I'm gonna have it tilled and i'll seed right behind the dude. That will get me past any remaining weed issues for this year, and I'll try to sew it shut with my super cocktail.
I am breaking a similar piece of ground later this summer. I'm keeping it mowed to keep the residue from accumulating. I'll hit it with my lawn mower high as I can keep the deck each week. That will enable the residue to break down over the summer. Around 12 weeks before frost I'll stop mowing, 10 weeks I'll spray, 8 weeks I'm gonna have it tilled and i'll seed right behind the dude. That will get me past any remaining weed issues for this year, and I'll try to sew it shut with my super cocktail.
I’ve got a 50hp tractor, brush hog, disc, ATV with sprayer. I can get my hands on a woods seeder for an afternoon if needed which I may do, my neighbor has one but I always feel bad calling in favors hahah.
I think you’re right on the clay, it’s not THAT bad but it’s not good either. If managed well, I think it’ll put out some great plots. If managed poorly, I’ll end up with a swamp in the spring and a concrete parking lot by July.
I don’t need the plot to be on a magazine cover, I’m sure if hit it with a couple rounds of gly and broadcast & mow I’ll have forage for fall. In that regard, I may be over thinking it & shouldn’t let perfection be the enemy of progress. Due to all the rain, I haven’t even gotten it mowed yet this year. I still have standing water in tire ruts from brush hogging last year
I gotta ask, what's the SD super cocktail?
I mixed up forb feast chicory, medium red, alsike, jumbo ladino, balansa, and YSC. Was planning on 2 bushel of rye/acre, and a brassica mix (timing dependent). I figured it would give a good mix this year and ultimately will likely become primarily clover field which I'm okay with unless I choose to keep tinkering with it (which I very well may).
