weeds in my clover plot?
 

what do you guys do about weeds in your clover plots?

mow, mow and mow.


if its 25%+ grass.

I replant.

I spray them.

when can i mow the clover? i planted it in late may and it isnt flowered or anything

My first clover plot had a lot of rag weed in it because we had turned over soil that hadn't been turned over in a long time and there were a lot of dormant seeds. Now after a few years of mowing it the weeds have really gone away. Spraying is always a good option, but it may just take time.

As long as clover is established and you have 3" of rain per month - then you almost cannot mow too much.

Clover itself - does not need to be mowed until 3/4 of the crop is in seed. Be aware that the closer you get to fall - more will go to seed - its JUST WHAT IT WANTS TO DO. Mowing will delay clover going to seed - but as the daylight hour shorten - the plant "hurrys up" and goes to seed.

Mowing revitalizes the clover - but the main reason for mowing is to help inhibit annual weed growth. By fall - it doesn't matter much - becase the competing annual plants that you mowed cannot go to seed before a frost. The clover plot willl come in stonger than ever the next spring.

Grasses are the limiting factor - and mowing them only makes them stronger as well (like your lawn) -

When grasses are the largest competition - you either re-plant - or spray in a nutshell.

FH

Great information. I planted a plot back in May as well and had some weeds/grass coming in as well. Clover looks good and well establised but the weeds did have me concerned. We cut it last week and probably will spray some Arrest on it this weekend.

From what I was told be ready to mow...

how do you know when its ready to mow though?

I was looking at my food plots with clover today and it looks like I will have to go back up in a week or so and spray for the dang crab grass. Last year I just waited and disc it under, but it was real tough and thick to get a good cut on it. I know if I don't get it sprayed before it goes to seed it will be even worse next year..

MIne is flowering well, with its fair share of weeds. Im tempted to leave it as is, but If I mow at max height, will it reflower. Im almost convinced that the amount of clover vs weeds doesnt really have me that concerned...maybe Im wrong...so should I mow or not?

I knew we had at least two good days of rain coming, so on saturday I put my lawn tractor on the trailer and drove out to the clover plot.

I looked at it real hard and thought twice as hard about mowing the tops, but I decide that I had more to lose than not getting them cut while flowering and weeds coming close to matching the clover in heighth.

I left the mower on the highest length and did it early on Saturday morning. I was almost dreading doing it because it was doing so well, but after I had cut it down, loaded up and locked the gate, it downpoured for an hour. I had dinner, went back and set up my camera back where I had it on the edge of the plot, and it rained the rest of the night.

Just what it needed, its looking as best as it has all year, minus flowers and obvious weeds. I bet the smell of fresh cut clover brought the deer in from miles for a feast because I hadnt seen so many tracks in and around the plot this year.

I would suggest if you think you should, and you know you are getting rain...do it! I dont regret it at all. I will get the pictures up when I get out to take some.

Good luck with the plots fellas!

I mowed this plot 2x this year already -
It is Year #3 and had a lot of grasses. I hand spot sprayed the major clumps of Grasses 2 weeks before mowing. We had a lot of rain this spring, and I wasnt happy with the weed suppression after 1 mowing - so I mowed again 3 weeks later.

Sorry - no before picture.
Lets just say there was no comparison - timely mowing makes a big difference.