Spraying the chemicals mentioned above or others that will kill grass and not the legumes is one possibility. We use Select (if I remember correctly) when we do spray, , which is similar to the ones mentioned above. This is by far the best way to go if you have the money. A legume plot can be establish immediately and spraying these chemicals will control grasses. Other weeds can usually be control by mowing.

What we do in a new plot is use roundup or some similar nonbrand name herbicide to kill all the growing vegetation in late spring and/or early fall. This is relatively cheap compared to the grass killing herbicides and easier to apply. We try to hit it when the grasses are actively growing. From there we generally burn the plot off if to kill grass and other seeds on the surface and to eliminate the surface vegetation that tend to clog plows and discs. (Be sure to create a fire break by plowing or discing a strip or two around the field's edge if you try this.) We generally plant an annual for several years like wheat, milo, soybean, or something else. We disc as needed and even spray roundup again if grass comes up thick. By the third year, most of the grass seeds have been eliminated. This is generally when we plant some long lasting legume like a ladino clover (Imperial clover).

We can do this because we have the time and have four areas with food plots. This method also provides wildlife with a variety of options. Generally we rotate food plots so we have at least one annual of some type growing in one of them.

This system may not work for everyone, but we are very please with our food plots. We just need to work in improving the natural habitat more.

greg