Born2Hunt Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 This year has been a hard one on us to say the least. We planted 18 acres of clover , clover chicory and alfalfa-clover the first weekend in june and it is just starting to grow. The problem we have is the weeds are 6 inches to 2 feet tall and our crop is 2 inches or less. I called Whitetail Institute and they told me to clip the weeds and let nature take its course so we started to mow tonight. Has anyone been through this? If you have what do we have to look forward to? If we get rian will they grow well? This has been the driest year I can ever remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 The problem we have is the weeds are 6 inches to 2 feet tall and our crop is 2 inches or less. Think I would be a bit skeptical of what to expect if the weeds are that well established and you are in a drought. For that reason we will never plant clovers in the spring again. We are facing a decision here now as to whether to replant our 1 acre clover plot or to try and repair it. Mowing regularly while it seems to be helping some, is just not getting the kind of results I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RackBlaster Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Don't worry about it , i planted my chickory/clover plot the third week of may and didn't see any growth for three weeks. Then i checked it about 2 weeks later after a good rain and it was about 2-3 inches for the clover and about the same for the chickory. About 2 weeks ago i went to check it and i had to mow it. the clover was almost a foot tall and flowering and the chickory had 10 inch leaves. All you need is 1 or 2 good rains and you will be fine. Just mow the weeds down to get some light on the sprouts and keep the weeds from reseeding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 that is the exact reason I never plant perennial plots in the spring. It is just so hard for the new young clover to out compete the weeds. Just keep in mowed is your best bet. You could try spraying with some 2-4DB but this is for established perennial legumes. It might fry a new planting but don't know for sure. I usually start spraying and discing the plot in the spring and keep spraying until fall planting. This pretty much ensures and good clean seed bed with I plant in the fall. Yes--I still get some weeds/grass competition in the spring but the clover is so well established it usually outcompetes the weeds. Plus it handles mowings and herbicides just fine. best of luck todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 I was going to suggest mowing. I had a terrible crop of weeds in my clover a month ago. I mowed it and the clover came back great. Good luck guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest coydog316 Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Man I had the same problem. I was so disgusted with my 3 acres of chic-magnet. I was wondering if it would ever grow. Well I mowed it 2x and then we were blessed with 7 inches of rain over a 2 week period! Yesterday I sprayed Arrest on it because even though I was able to mow a lot of the weeds down, I think by spraying it, I should get a real good stand. By the way the chicory is 8- 10 inches tall! Rain at the right time cane be very crucial to a plot just planted in the spring. Fertilizing it without nitrogen is another key. Hope it works out for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born2Hunt Posted July 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 Thanks guys! We dont' have droughts up here very often and we plant clover in the spring because we want it established for our very hard winters. Yesterday we got 1 1/2 inches of rain hopefully that is just what we needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QDMAworks4me Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 Round up all of it so the deer end up on our sde of the swamp , jk, I know this has been frustrating for you guys but maybe the past few days of rain will help a little. If not you guys may have to invest in a way to water the field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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