I have a small Whitetail Clover food plot (1/3 acre or so) that I planted in my drainfield. It is on it's 5th season, and despite some effort, the grasses have all but taken over. There is probably only 15% clover left and it's weak at best. The first few seasons it was great..but last year the grass got worse, and this year it's about done. I want to redo the plot, probably in the same thing since it did well for quite a while. The plot is not for hunting, more for feeding and hopefully helping the deer nutrition wise. It is also located right in the center of my property so it helps to keep them around all year it seems. In the past years they have been out there almost every day. This year hardly at all. Our woods have much more browse available I guess...much easier for them to get than to pick through the grass to try and get at the spindley clover that is left.

Any suggestions as to how I shouldproceed with this, and when would be the best time to do it? When I originally put it in,the field was all dirt so it was very easy to prep. I can,t get any big farm equipment in there (plow, big disc, etc.) because it is over top of my drainfield. My buddy has a small 4 wheeler disc that I may be able to use, but I haven't seen it yet. Not sure how deep it will cut. I was thinking to get some sort of herbicide and spray and kill it all, then maybeburn it off before I try and get the plot prepped for seed. Any suggestions for my situation? Also any suggestions on plantings? I liked theWhitetail Clover (so did the deer) and it did well once I got the soil right. I want to have a good perrennial plot...I don't have alot of time to work on it over and over. Any suggestions? I live in the mountains of NW Va...I'm guessing I need to get this started in mid Aug.

Thanks in advance
~Mike