Planting Tips

Planting Recommendations

When to Plant

Optimal planting time in most southern locations is September 1st - November 1st but can be planted earlier in more northern locations.

Ideal applications are done 60 days before the first average frost date in the fall.

Soil testing

Soil test are recommended. A pH of 6.0-7.0 is desirable. It takes 1 ton of lime to raise the pH in an one acre foodplot.

Rates to Plant

Broadcasting: planting rate is 50 pounds per acre

Drilling: planting rate is 75 pounds per acre

Fertilizer

Fall

  • At planting:

13-13-13 100-200# per acre

  • 30-60 days later (critical):

Ammonium Nitrate or Urea 100-200# per acre

Spring (March-April)

Ammonium Nitrate or Urea 50# per acre

No-till Suggestions

Fair to Good Results

  • Burn down with Glyphosate or any other herbicide.
  • Bush hog as low to the ground as possible.
  • Seed through sod or use grain drill.
  • Fertilize as recommended.

Do not make these mistakes

Do not mix seed and fertilizer together in the hopper. (You could possibly burn the small seeds especially if they are left in the hopper for any length of time when it is hot.)

Do not cover the seeds too deep. Seeds should be lightly covered only 1/4" to 1/2" deep max.

Do not skip the pH test.

Do not skip on the fertilizer. (Especially 30-60 days after the plants start to grow.)

Excluders

We recommend using an excluder in each of the food plots. An excluder can be made by using 36″ dog wire. Cut a 10′ long piece and roll it to form a bin which is approximately 3″ in diameter.

Use tent stakes to keep it in place. Deer and turkey cannot feed inside the area. This will allow you to properly evaluate the performance of the seed mix.