Rem308 Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 I am just beginning on a food plot I'm wanting to setup in the woods...I'm just getting the trees and brush cleaned out now, but have lots of questions and would really appreciate any information this subject. I posted this on another thread, but wasn't sure if it was getting much attention, so I posted a new thread. Thanks in advance for any advice. I have a small amount cleared out and am working getting more cleared out. I know that being this late in the season, I won't have a plot ready for this winter...I'm still clearing out the area, but I am wanting to get some plots setup for next year. My questions for those who have some experience with this, is about my land. I am in some hilly ground with a lot of oak trees. As I clear out the leaves, I keep reallizing that the ground also has it's fair share of rocks, the way that lots of woods do. I am not sure how much I can do to tear up the land, maybe I can get my 4 wheeler back there and disc it up...maybe. What do you all think? If I rake out all the leaves and brush and get a fair amount of sunlight to the ground, will the plants take and grow? If it matters, there is a good amount of underbrush that has grown up (of course I'm clearing it out now) and a fair amount of ferns and undergrowth as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. (I am planning on taking my camera with me in a day or two, but for right now I'm working so much up on that hillside, I haven't had time to get pictures for the post.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 Thats a big undertaking!!! That ground will definitely need a soil test to begin with. When clearing, make sure the plot will get enough sun. What is the size of the plot +/- ? I recommend at least trying an atv or small tractor to do your innitial ground breaking. Take your time so you don't bust up your equipment. My experience with less than ideal soil had Whitetail Institute's No-Plow and Secret Spot doing pretty well. Their AlfaRack may work also. You will need something that does well in lighter, well drained soils. You may have to experiment for a couple of years until you find what works. Good Luck. I'd be interested in a follow up to see how it turns out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 soil in wooded areas usually have a higher soil acid level...so make sure you test the soil. You may want to try a controlled burn (if you can) when the plants die. Or you may want to spray a weedkiller to. The ground is definitely going to need disc taken to it...(believe it or not, I used a rototiller to put a wooded plot in once). But plants in general need good soil , water, and sunlight to grow... Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem308 Posted September 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 I really appreciate the info that you all have shared...keep it coming, it will all be put to use. I went back up there Wednesday evening after work and cut and cleaned up a good bit more of the opening. It's really beginning to look like a good little opening. I'm going back Sunday afternoon and I will have a camera with me, and I will upload some photos of it so far. I will probably try to rake off the leaves while I'm there, just so I can see what kind of ground is really there...plus I always like to see the deer tracks in the fall. I bowhunt this area and it's so thick and wooded that I really think a little opening in the woods could be a great thing. There are several heavily used trails around this area, one stand we have hung is about 50 yards from the opening. I may go ahead and get a soil test conducted of this dirt just so I can have a ball park idea of what I'm up against. Who's the best place to send my soil off to? So far I'm having a real good time making this little clearing in the woods, I will keep at it and get some pictures in real soon of the opening. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 I may go ahead and get a soil test conducted of this dirt just so I can have a ball park idea of what I'm up against. Who's the best place to send my soil off to? I would check with your local agriculture extension office first. Otherwise I know the Whitetail Institute does it for around $10-$15. Just check their website. Have fun with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 I may go ahead and get a soil test conducted of this dirt just so I can have a ball park idea of what I'm up against. Who's the best place to send my soil off to? Through the ag extension here we are able to send off our samples to the University of Tennessee for analysis, the basic soil test is $6 and it costs about $1.50 or so to send the dirt in through the post office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem308 Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 I went to the clearing yesterday afternoon and my wife and I raked the leaves out and really got a lot of clearing taken care of. We moved several of the rocks out and raked all the debris off the clearing. I then went through and cut a lot of the smaller briars and saplings that were started. Forcast doesn't call for any rain in the next 10 days. I also took a few photos, first one is when we arrived, and second is after we raked, before the vegetation and rocks were moved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ousoonerfan22 Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Looks good but I would take out some more of those trees. Is it too dry to pile the brush on those dead logs and burn them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem308 Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 I went scouting up here over the weekend and just walked through the opening and looked at all the tracks and sign where I cleaned up...it's amazing how much the deer are already using this opening. There's a big hickory that drops it's mast down and the deer are already staying around this, and now it seems that they are sticking around the opening as well. I'm going to go up there on Saturday and check it out again...I am going to squirrel hunt a little, so I'll probably start out at this opening to see if I can spot a few deer in it early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippyswamp Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Man you have yourself a nice looking future food plot. I just got on here today, great reading. Having used Imperial products for the past 11 years, I would use something of theirs. From what I can see in your pictures, after you get your results of the soil test, (and I think you will need lime) treat to the specs. From what I have been told, lime takes a min. of 6 months to begin working on the ph. so for this year I would use just the Secret spot or No-Plow, they are both annuals. Then next year do another test to see where you are at. Then you could do a parenial if you wish. But I persoally would not this year anymore. And I to would remove a few more trees, most if not all plants will need a min. of four hours sunlight.Hope this helps some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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