Food plot help for a newbie

[jakesnake66]

For years my dad has put in a small food plot on his property. When the kids were young it was for them to get their first opportunities. Then he kept the tradition so he could see deer when he was piddling around. Well...as hard as it is to acknowledge it, he just can't do it anymore. So I want to surprise him and do his food plot myself. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I know NOTHING about planting a food plot! I did help Dad a couple years, but it would be something like driving the tractor or 4-wheeler a little bit. He did all the planning and the work. So I really need some very basic instruction.

Is it still early enough? I can start work tomorrow. I need to bush-hog the area (approx 1-1.5 acres) and then disk it. Dad would normally mix the seed with the fertilizer and cast it out by hand. Then he would drag a gate from a chain-link fence behind his 4-wheeler to mix it all in, then finish with a water-filled roller behind the 4-wheeler. His little plot always turned out great.

Do I still have time? What plot mix should I buy? How much and what kind of fertilizer? Can I skip any of the steps above? Is there a better way? Thank you!

[Mr Drysdale]

You still have plenty of time. All I can tell you is how we do it. We bush hog plots and spray round up a few days later. Wait two weeks and then till our fertilize in with a rear tine tiller. Spread seed (been using Pennington’s Mississippi Complete for about six years) and then drag with a section of doubled up chain link fence behind four wheeler. We have planted 14 food plots this year just like that. BTW if it is a new plot that has not been planted in the past years we disc before we till. If it has been planted in past years the tiller is all that is needed. All plots are up and look great with the rain we have had. Deer are already hammering them.

[canebrake]

It’s definitely not to late. What equipment do you have access to?

[Rancher]

Throw seed out then bush hog standing grass and pray for rain. Fertilize after 1st killing frost so native summer grass dies off.

[Tjc]

Originally Posted by Rancher

Throw seed out then bush hog standing grass and pray for rain. Fertilize after 1st killing frost so native summer grass dies off.

I’d do this

[jakesnake66]

Originally Posted by canebrake

It’s definitely not to late. What equipment do you have access to?

I have a late-60s Ford 5000 tractor, bush-hog, disk, chain-link gate (poor man's harrow), drum roller.

I'd like to do the simplest method possible, because I'll be doing it by myself and I really only have this week to get it done. I think the area is about 1 acre.

Thanks.

[jakesnake66]

Originally Posted by Rancher

Throw seed out then bush hog standing grass and pray for rain. Fertilize after 1st killing frost so native summer grass dies off.

This area was bush hogged about 10 days ago, and it's about 6-10" high now. So throw my seed out onto/into this grass, then bush hog right after? Don't fertilize until until cold weather?

Thanks.

[Rancher]

Originally Posted by jakesnake66

This area was bush hogged about 10 days ago, and it's about 6-10" high now. So throw my seed out onto/into this grass, then bush hog right after? Don't fertilize until until cold weather?

Thanks.

If it’s that short then probably better off passing disc a few times then throw seed and cover.

Next year throw your seed out 1st then bush hog plot to cover seed with thatch.

[canebrake]

Originally Posted by Rancher

If it’s that short then probably better off passing disc a few times then throw seed and cover.

Next year throw your seed out 1st then bush hog plot to cover seed with thatch.

That’s exactly what I would do.

[mississippi2]

Originally Posted by jakesnake66

I have a late-60s Ford 5000 tractor, bush-hog, disk, chain-link gate (poor man's harrow), drum roller.

I'd like to do the simplest method possible, because I'll be doing it by myself and I really only have this week to get it done. I think the area is about 1 acre.

Thanks.

before you get started... go get you a couple tubes of grease. grease every alemite you can find. grease is you're friend.