1. How much and what should you plant?

- 5-10% of property should be food plots

- 60-75% of that should be perennials (clovers, chicory)

- 25-40% should be annuals (brassicas, corn, soybeans)

2. Hunt Plots

- Small irregular shaped plots

- Deer feel comfortable here. There is plenty of cover on the edges and they can exit the plot in a few bounds if danger arises.

- The more edge to the food plot – the more deer (more irregular shaped)

- Logging roads and small openings are best

Food Plots - Perennials 1 acre often near bedding areas or thick cover.

3. How do you figure the size of a food plot?

- Acre = LxW(ft)/(43,560 ft²/acre)

4. Fertilizer

- 5-10-30

- The first number (5) represents the nitrogen content

- Second (10) represents phosphorus

- Third (30) represents potassium

- Clovers and alfalfa produce nitrogen on their own so the need little nitrogen and lots of potassium (5-10-30, 0-0-60, 9-23-30). Grass and weeds need nitrogen so this helps dwarf those as well.

- Brassicas, rye, rape, and turnips need nitrogen (13-13-13, 19-19-19)

- Work the fertilizer into the ground if possible. This will provide nutrients as the root system pushes deeper.

5. Planting with minimum tilling

- Spray area with roundup

Garden rake to rip up the ground.

Spike too drag behind an atv

- Frost Seeding

End of March to cover previously seeded areas

Spread over snow and the moister after it melts will germinate seeds.

6. Controlling Weed Problems

- Simply mow down to about 8 inches and fertilize with 0-0-60. This will encourage clover and alfalfa growth while simultaneously dwarfing weeds and grasses.

- Within 1-2 mows weeds should be completely gone.

Spread over snow and the moister after it melts will germinate seeds.

7. Proper Maitenance

- Mow when clover s 16-18 inches high or flowering. When clover flowers it is completely matured and represents almost no nutritional value to deer.

8. Most Common Mistakes

1. Planting the seed to deep. Seed must be less than ½ inch below the surface. If you are going to cover it drag something light over it, such as a chain link fence or mattress springs.

2. Ignoring Soil Tests.

3. Use the recommended amount of fertilizer. Too much fertilizer will burn plants. Also use the recommended amount of seed. It is not fiscally necessary to use more than that.

4. Plant during the season.

5. Shaded areas are difficult to grow in. Make sure there is at least 3-4 hours of sunlight hitting the ground.

6. Don’t use enough lime. Often you will need to use tons of lime (i.e. 12 tons per acre if pH < 5.0) – pellet lime is about half that.>

Last Tip: LOGGING ROADS ARE GREAT! Use Them!

 

(These tips were provided by "Planting Food Plots From A-Z," a dvd thanks to Antler King

Tags: Food Plot Planting

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