Weeds in the food plot

[RangerClay]

Hi everyone,

Yes, it's another food plot question, sorry

I have to deal with weeds in the food plot so I thought you might be able to point me in the right direction. First off it's been a very busy summer for me and I haven't been able to tend to the plot the way I should and now I'm paying the price.

I have a 1/2 acre plot that I sprayed with Roundup then tilled the soil well this past spring. Then I planted a variety of white clovers. Over the summer I had a bumper crop of ragweed and another broad leaf weed grow with the clover and in some places shade out the clover. I went out yesterday with the weedwacker and cut everything to clover height. Now the question is "what next?" Do I;

A: The clover seed was not that expensive. Kill it all after deer season with some Roundup and start over in the spring.

B: Try some of the food plot herbisides offered from the Whitetail Institute (but now or in the spring).

C: Your thoughts?

What do you suggest?

Ranger

[AaronS]

Re: Weeds in the food plot

I've seen other members here say that Poast will kill grass in a food plot without harming the clover, and 2-4-dB will kill the broadleaf weeds without harming the clover. I've not tried it myself, but I would give those two a try before replanting everything. They should be much cheaper than the Whitetail Institute products.

[bfletch7441]

Re: Weeds in the food plot

You're right INBowhunter. Poast won't kill clover and you should be able to find it at the local feed store.

Ben

[WaCoyote]

Re: Weeds in the food plot

Hey this is right up my alley. I spray lawns, pastures, trees and spiders for a living. How fun.

I have heard of poast and think that I'd stay away. Poast is to control certain GRASSES not broadleaf weeds. Sod farms up here use it to keep non desireables out of the sod. I want to stress the point that I have not used this product but as I was typing this I called my wholesaler. He told me that around here, anyways this would not be the product to use.

2,4-D WILL kill clover if conditions are right but conditions are rarely perfect. Typically clover takes 2-3 applications to eliminate it. SOOO, I'd go with

2,4-D as it is extremely inexpensive. Do not use an ESTER these are very "hot" formulations and you will damage non target vegetation this time of year. It is just awesome for broadleaf weeds early in the season though when temps are still cool. You want a amine formulation.

The one I prefer is called HI-DEP by (PBI Gordon. i think)Your talking 15.00 per acre and it will control broadleafs.

Do not use a surfactant. This is what we sprayers use to stick the product to weeds which gives better results. Plain weed control will "roll" off of clover. That is why it's hard to control.

I do a pasture once yearly for a customer to control dandes in his field. He wants to keep the clover. I always use HI-DEP without a sticker and after 5 years he still has plenty of clover.

Hope that helps.

[dogdoc]

Re: Weeds in the food plot

Poast is very safe on your clover plot but like stated it is a grass selective herbicide. If you having any problems with fescue or bermuda poast will take care of that. Like INbh stated you can use a product called 2,4DB--make sure it has the B--butyl compound. This will kill your annual broadleafs without harming your clover--it works best in the spring when the broadleaf weeds are young and actively growing.

My advise---spray everything with roundup and kill it! Replant with some winter wheat and brassicas. Then next spring disc under your wheat and brassica and spray with roundup 2 times during the summer--then next fall replant your clover. Perennials take a lot of maintenance--mowing 3 times a year and proper liming and spraying.

If you don't have the time to keep up the clover plots then I would stick with annuals.

good luck

todd

DO NOT USE 2,4D--you will fry your clover.

[bigbuckdown70]

Re: Weeds in the food plot

doc. hit it right on the head i mow my perinials (clovers and such) once a month it keeps the unwanted broadleafs from seeding and i spray twice a year with ARREST works great

[maddhunter]

Re: Weeds in the food plot

I'm having very good luck with Hy-Yeild grass killer and Butyrac 200/2-4-DB on my clover plot.

The Poast or Hy-Yeild $32 a pint, is kinda expensive but the Butyrac isn't to bad $37 a gallon.

I use a 1/2 pint per acre of the Butyrac and Hy-Yeild.

[wtnhunt]

Re: Weeds in the food plot

Best luck on clovers here have been fall plantings. I will never plant clovers in the spring again. If the weed growth is not too bad, you might just keep it clipped down and fertilize it. The clovers will continue to grow after most of the grasses have quit growing over the fall and winter.