What to plant in the shade?
 

Guys,

I was wanting to disc up an old logging road that runs buy one of my stands and plant it. What grows best in shade or semi shade? Thank You!

RE: What to plant in the shade?
 

ttt

RE: What to plant in the shade?
 

Hello silientassasain -

its actually kind of a tough question to answer. " Shade" is relative and subjective. Clover for instance will not - no matter what - grow unless it gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight/day. With a broken canopy - its very hard to estimate 4 hours - you know what I mean??

Anyhow - Cereal Rye or buck forage oats are a good choice - especially if you seed just before the major leaf fall in October. The leaf fall will increase the daylight for the grain. In the northern states you will not get much growing time - but PA and south this is a really good option to green up logging roads.

RE: What to plant in the shade?
 

Creeping red fescue grass seed is a shady lawn mix, try it they might go for it if nothing else is available.

RE: What to plant in the shade?
 

i have my logging roads in northern michigan planted in a ladino/white dutch clover mix and they are doing pretty good. the trails are still shaded because we only had the popular cut and the oaks are still standing. i have also talked to a few other guys that have had good results with white dutch clover in the shade.

RE: What to plant in the shade?
 

Thank You gentleman!

RE: What to plant in the shade?
 

S.A.,

We had very good luck last year planting Buck Forage Oats (an annual) in very shady areas, (logging roads, trails, small openings,ect.) We just kind of did it on a whim and it works great. We have done it again this year and I' m sure we will have success. Now we just need some rain.