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Mowing Clover?
Topic Started: Jul 16 2012, 09:01 AM (946 Views)
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Any idea when I should be mowing the clover plots I have planted? They are doing pretty good with the lack of water, but with no significant rain in the forecast, I wasn't sure if I should mow them now and run the risk of then not coming back or not?? How many times per year do you typically mow the clover?

:cheers:
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I mowed mine last year four times, I wouldn't mow until you have forecasted rain and don't mow below six inches.
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Partikle
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What's the danger in not mowing it and just letting it grow all season?
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partikle
Jul 16 2012, 12:04 PM
What's the danger in not mowing it and just letting it grow all season?

Thanks for the info Barr creek.....partikle, I don't think there is much danger in not mowing them but mowing helps control weeds and maximize the nutrional value. I pulled this from Whitetail Institute website.

Mowing: One of the best ways I control weeds and maintain the highest nutritional levels in my Imperial Clover and Extreme food plots is by frequent mowing. When the Imperial Clover or Extreme reaches a height of 12 to14 inches, I mow it back to 8 inches high. By keeping my Imperial Clover and Extreme food plots in the 8- to 12-inch range, I know that I can keep the protein levels near or exceeding 30 percent, which is what I strive for.

Of course, I’m careful to not mow when the plots are stressed by heat and drought and often schedule mowing when I know rain is coming. In addition, I never mow the entire clover or Extreme food plot all at once. Rather, I mow a third to one-half of a given plot at a time. Understand that when you mow, you stress the plant. So by mowing a little at a time, I can keep part of the plot attractive to the deer using it. After four or five days I return and mow the rest of the plot, which by that time has allowed the previously mowed section to recover.

:cheers:
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deerfarmer
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partikle
Jul 16 2012, 12:04 PM
What's the danger in not mowing it and just letting it grow all season?

it wont be as attractive to the deer basically. young tender plants are what they like best. not mowing allows more weeds to establish as well. chop it down! but as mentioned - don't mow it all at once to give them something to keep coming back for and don't mow in drought.
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Partikle
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Thanks guys, I learned something new today.
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mowed mine a couple of weeks ago we were supposed to get rain the next day and never did ..and none for like nine days and very minimal at that ...clover is doing fine.....i did it for mostly weed control ...been doing the raindance for sure lately
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low and behold we got rain last night, a pretty decent amount...I should have actually went and mowed part of it last night. Oh well, there still calling for a bit of rain today and into this evening so I might chop it down tonight.
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mine badly needs to be mowed but waiting for some rain and none in the forecast ...all kinds of deer beds in it though

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There is so many more advantages to mowing your clover, frst of all by mowing the clover in the flowering stage you are spreading more seeds to your plot because white clover spreads it's seeds through their nodes and their flowers. By doing a regular mowing routine you are prolonging your plot by years . Besides just like deerfarmer said it is the yyoung tender shoots that deer like, not mowing your clover your plant becomes lignin and becomes less desirable for your deer herd. By all means mow.
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I mowed my Wednesday night. We had a bit of rain the night before and a bit more Wednesday not a lot, but the weeds were getting pretty intense in the plot to so I mowed it down to about 8" and setup the trail camera. I will post some pics once I pull the card again :cheers:
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I think the deer like the clover after it has been mowed... :D

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Only one problem with that picture though....NO FAWNS! :yikes:

Only have pictures of these two, which may be the same one...

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And this spiker....
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:cheers:

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Partikle
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Looking like a great spot for this fall :allright:
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hasn't been mowed but the deer are still hitting it and no much green elsewhere..they are hitting my brassica too


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