Which of these processes is best?

[Oleo]

I have a couple small food plots that I would like to plant in cereal rye and perennial clover this fall. Currently they have a mix of volunteer brassicas from last year‘s fall plot, and some other weeds.

Which of the poll options would give the best results when terminating the existing plants and seeding the new?

In the option that includes discing, note that I just have a compact tractor and a small disc that turns the dirt a bit, but there’s usually still a good amount of grass and thatch - doesn’t look like a farmers bare dirt field by any stretch.

 

[Oleo]

Thanks for the votes so far. Slight lead for killing the existing weeds, broadcasting into it, then mowing.

I’m curious if people voted for that option because the seed would get better soil contact by broadcasting before mowing or because people prefer not to disc.

 

[SwampCat]

I think some folks have an aversion to disking. I plant more without disking than with disking. I think the weed species would make some difference also. If you have a thick growth of weeds, and you spray them, they often lay over - protecting ground hugging weeds from the second spraying. The terrain also makes a difference - as do other aspects. But if I absolutely wanted a clean, most weed free plot possible - I would spray, disk, spray, and broadcast. That said, I dont very often do it.

 

[Catscratch]

What's your weather like? Can you count on a week of rainy days? Soil type; sand, black, clay? Any gly resistant weeds like p. Amaranth or marestail?

 

[T-Max]

If it were mine and really weedy, I would add 2,4-D to the first spraying if you have time. I would want at least a month after the 2,4-D before I broadcast my next crop.

 

[Oleo]

I'm in Eastern KS - so 4A I think. Certainly some clay to the soil, but not terrible. Last summer, these areas were mostly fescue. I killed that off with decent success before planting brassicas and clover last fall. Brassicas came up great, but deer didn't eat them much. Clover never showed up this spring - my best guess is that I got it too deep.

I'm shooting for late August planting, so I should have time for either method, including the 2-4d if it makes sense.

 

[Westwind]

I voted but gotta say this- i think one isn’t better than another. One thing really good farmers are better at is matching their conditions and practices to their situation. And sometimes you hit the middle of the ball and it goes over the fence and sometimes you hit the bottom of the ball and pop it up. Sometimes you hit the ball a little low and it’s caught in the outfield but a run scores.

 

[Oleo]

Looks like we’re all tied up. I’m glad to see that there isn’t an obvious answer since I’ve gone back and forth in my head….but also disappointed there isn’t an obvious answer.

 

[SwampCat]

I dont think there is an obvious answer because there are so many variables. I often plant millet in late May - the weeds where I plant are not that tall - I spray gly and broadcast millet the same day. But, if I was planting an area in Aug covered with johnson grass, I would spray, bush hog, disk, spray again, and plant. The johnson grass will form a thick mat preventing much of the seed getting to the ground. If I have a rumex problem, I need to do the same. If I am planting wheat in a long established food plot without a jungle of weeds as in un planted ground - I might even broadcast and then bush hog without spraying because impending freeze is going to kill most of the weeds anyway. It is hard to recommend a prescription without a visual of the existing area. I think the surest way without seeing it is spraying, mowing, and disking. But if I saw it in person, that might not be what I would do.

 

[Westwind]

Sometimes it comes down to art not science!

 

[jsasker007]

I voted for the first option because it will give you a little something on top of the seeds for moisture and cover from birds.

 

[SwampCat]

I voted for the first option because it will give you a little something on top of the seeds for moisture and cover from birds.

Might be another process to add - could disk plant and drag or disk plant and lightly disk

 

[Catscratch]

I'm in KS too. Fall rain isn't a guarantee. I've done the first option many times. When it works it works. When it doesn't then you're left with no winter green rye and the weeds in the spring.


Option 2 works more reliably in my opinion. Plant 10 or so varieties of clover/alfalfa/chicory. Include winter wheat with your rye. Disc, spread cereals, lightly disc, drag a gate or something over it, spread little seeds, drag again.

 

[Catscratch]

In my opinion option 2 is more reliable and less weather dependent. Last fall's planting as of today. Waist high rye and knee high legumes.

 

[Oleo]

Looking good Catscratch - I hope to see that level of results next year. Do you remember your seeding rate for the rye? Are you planning to mow the rye or let it be?

I’ve left a detail out so far. I have a Kasco Vari-slice seeder. I wasn’t planning to use it this year for a couple reasons. The first reason is that it is a little more than my little tractor can handle. The second reason is, I think it may resulted in clover being too deep last year. Maybe I should use it for the Rye and broadcast the clover?

 

[Catscratch]

I don't remember exactly. I think I threw out 50lbs of each (rye and wheat) on about an acre. Your rye will grow in your truck floors if it gets damp. I wouldn't stress too much about it.