How To Maintain A Clover Plot

[@nik-woo]

Can the rye be crimped over the standing clover instead of cutting? Thanks for the content.

[@whitetailevolution]

I have never done that but I think you could. Just need to make sure the clover doesn't get smothered, it still needs sunlight.

[@jamesbyrge6484]

Great content...new subscriber

[@whitetailevolution]

Appreciate it!

[@stephenlwest]

When do you fertilize? How often? Great video.

[@whitetailevolution]

I normally fertilize twice per season, once in the spring and once in the fall. I put most of my lime down in the spring as well. I get soil tests quite often and just follow those recommendations.

[@samuraioodon]

hi im doing a clover lawn. its been ok for few months here in dallas,tx but lately i've been seeing browning on the leaves and they end up dying, completely brown. some areas are doing great. i do have a oak tree in front of our house but they are doing about the same. some are doing great, some are turning brown. i think it was a fungicide, i used a liquid copper fungicide which i just did yesterday but will have to see if anything improves, still its just continuing to turn brown. i started in feb 2021 in phases to prevent seed runoff from t-storms. the tallest clover is about 5-6" tall. do you have any suggestions on what to do?

[@whitetailevolution]

I am sorry it's not doing well. There could be a few reasons that the clover isn't growing well. The first thing I would look to is the soils PH and the nutrients within the soil. I'd get a soil test just to make sure that is not your issue. Once you have your soil amended, make sure it's getting enough moisture. Being in Texas and having a large tree near your lawn, the clover might not be getting enough water to really thrive. clover will go dormant if it's not getting enough water but once it does, it comes back great. That big oak might be sucking up a lot of the ground water around your yard. We have that happen a lot with our smaller food plots on dry years. It also could be a disease. If that's the case there are a few things you can do but the most important is to give the clover the best growing conditions to fight it off. Other times you can mow it lower to promote regrowth. Hopefully it's something simple and your clover lawn recovers!

[@samuraioodon]

@@whitetailevolution thanks for the reply! I just purchased the whitetail soil test kit. The browning or spotting of leaves are not only near tree but in the open area on other side of my lawn. I have photos I could send you. I've asked for opinions and so far I have 2 tell me it looks like a fungus, that's why I sprayed fungicide the other day. I'm hand watering these everyday since the heat here is still going on. But they are slowly wilting and dying. If they die like this, they will never grow back even it's a perennial? World I have to wait in spring to see if they sprout again? Thank you for all your advice.

[@seacow910910]

follow the science!

[@whitetailevolution]

Don’t abandon the science!

[@SpencerSutliffonyt]

Have you ever tried IMOX for broadleaf weeds?

[@whitetailevolution]

That’s one selective herbicide I haven’t tried yet. I know it’s supposed to be safe for chicory and it’s a one time application as opposed to spraying for grasses / broadleaves separately. There are a lot of guys that like IMOX but the only reason I haven’t tried it is because there are a lot of people that haven’t had great results with it. Either doesn’t eliminate the weeds or it smokes the clover. I can’t say whether or not they followed the label but there seems to be more negative reviews with IMOX than with clethodim or butyrac 200. That said, I’ll most likely still give it a shot in the near future.

[@evanmatthews11]

Great information for maintaining a clover plot! Are you sponsored by Keystone?

[@whitetailevolution]

I wish!! The bill for grass / broadleaf specific herbicide adds up quick!

[@WookOutdoorsTV]

Good stuff

[@whitetailevolution]

Appreciate it Little Wook! Almost time to put the fall food plots in!

[@MegaBraunie]

Great Video! I have a Ph of 7.7 per soil test. Do I need to worry about bringing it down somehow?

[@whitetailevolution]

That is on the higher side and is slightly alkaline. What does your soil test recommend? I know that you can bring the PH down with sulfur but if it were me I wouldn't go out of my way to bring it down. Most plots are acidic and perform very well once you can get them to the 6.0 - 6.5 range, 7.0 is perfect. You are just on the alkaline side a little bit. Definitely keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get any higher though.

[@MegaBraunie]

@@whitetailevolution Thanks for taking the time to explain your thoughts. My plots are looking good with recommended fertilizers from Whitetail Institute. I just wasn't sure if it was a "Bad" thing to have it higher than 7....

[@whitetailevolution]

Anytime! I love talking about this stuff. If your plot looks good and you’re happy with it I’d just keep monitoring the PH. Get a soil test once a year and keep it following the recommendations.