i cleared out a small area on my property with a metal rake and hoe in the month of May maybe about 1000-1200 sq ft, and i planted a sample kit from whitetail institute the kit had just about everything, i marked off each area with the coresponding seeds to see what would grow and what wouldn't, well i just went back up last weekend and nothing grew my property is located in mid michigan, property is mostly trees (acorn trees)except for this opening, the ground is sand/dirt i used one of those ph testers you stick in the ground and it said the ph level was around 6.8-----> I cleared the grass, laid down some lime pellets with a hand spreader along with some 10-10-10 fertilizer and then the seeds.As i was doing this it was actuallyraining. when i went up last weekend the area that i cleared out and seeded was full of ferns and grass and hardly any clover. what happened?????? any advice on what to do?



ps before i came back i cut every thing down real short and sprayed round up on the area what should i do next? thanks

also what would be ideal for me to plant during this time considering what i previously stated? i would like to get something going for ow season, i still have some secret spot and hot spot left would this be good to use?

any suggestions?

Sounds like its too shady.

Ferns usually like shade. 1000-1200 square feet is about 1/40th of an acre. Even on a 1/2 of full acre clearing in the woods, clover has trouble competing either all the shade.

You need to expand the plot if your set on clover.

If you just want a green "patch" - maybe rake in some Annual Rye or Winter Wheat in the next couple weeks. Just don't expect the deer to parade to it, maybe just condsider it a "treat" for the deer.

theres actually a decent amount of sunlight that comes through i think i'm going to use the rest of the secret spot and hot spot since i have it and throw in the winter wheat and rye, i'm not exactly set on clover i will use what ever works considering my conditions. so if you have any other ideas i'll consider then to. by the way where exactly can i get the wheat and rye? you can't buy them at the same place i bought the hot spot and secret spot can you?

I don't know where you live - but in the Northeast you can go to most any local grain mill (or Agway)- and get "uncertified" rye or winter wheat.Uncertified means that it is locally combined - usually for feed - and it likely has some weed seeds mixed in. Its faily cheap and 50 lb bags run less than $20.00 and will plant 1/2 acre. You want Whole Seed, not cracked.

Find out where your local farmers take or send their combined harvest - and thats where you go.

FH

ok guys i just got back from the feed store and the onlything i could get is oats and winter rye they didn't have any wheat. will this work alright i also have some secret spot and hot spot left over should i mix everything together or should i split it up. also what else could i use for a fall plot? thanks.

Try some ' purple top turnips' deer love them and they will come up and flourish in the woods in a small clearing, but get them in the ground soon, I dont know about how early a freeze you have in Michigan...

has anyone tried or have an opinion on Tecomate seed blends, i went to the local hunting store and picked up the ultra forage blend. http://www.tecomate.com/DetailedInfo.cfm?Product_ID=44i was going to try this stuff out to along with the oats and rye. what do you guys think? also what process is used when planting the rye and oats? is itbadto broadcast to much seed in an area? any info would be great this is my first time doing a plot.

also it says to plant the ultra forage blend 1/4 inches deep how exactly would i go about doing that without planting to deep or not deep enough? thanks