Summer plots might be the management piece of the puzzle that your property is missing. However, this mixture yields high-protein plants that benefit all your wildlife and help to hold them on your property." Kent Kammermeyer graduated with a B.S. identified no less than 62 plant species commonly planted for deer. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. If you planted a cover crop, mid- to late-summer in the northern half of the country and late-summer to early fall in the southern half is the time to terminate this and plant your hunting season plot. Grain sorghum and alfalfa may be important exceptions to this. In 2000, he received the Southeastern Directors Wildlife Biologist of the Year award, being the first ever recipient from Georgia. |, Video: Gun Hunter Kills Giant Alaska/Yukon Bull Moose, Crossbow Review: Excalibur Assassin Extreme, Great Gear: Armasight Watchman IR Illuminator, Millennium Outdoors G-450 Ground Blind Chair, What to Expect When Planting Summer Food Plots. the size and distribution of food plots. The best time to plant a food plot is in spring or fall, depending on the crop and when you want the best forage results. For some, food plot programs and soil health play an even bigger role than the strategy itself but often produce more results as they maximize a huge element in deer hunting successFOOD. Brassicas are very versatile when it comes to planting times. Concentrate on planting millet, sorghum, corn and rice. Broadcast them into bare or thin patches in existing food plots to thicken them up, or start a new plot into already prepared soil or into fall cover crops. To keep your wildlife plots rich and green lasting until May, fertilize again in January with 70 units of nitrogen per acre. Deer managers must
"Advanced Whitetail Hunting, Food Plot and Habitat Books". How to plant Chufa. You probably cant wait to get some seeds in the ground, but its critical that you do the prep work first. Just $1 per month , What's the absolute best time to sow cover crops, corn, beans, brassicas, cereal grains, and more. They include clover, chicory, oats and alfalfa. If everything goes to plan, then youre set for hunting season. The deer eat the wheat after it germinates, and then hit the brassicas after that first frost. If I only have one food plot that I can plant, Ill probably plant an annual. Food plots composed of one half grain sorghum/legume mix and
almost duplicates the food value of corn without some of the disadvantages. winter but summer is still lacking. its own N from the air. For those that dont know, pigweed is one of the few plants out there that has made a great reputation for being resistant to glyphosate. Blends work great for several reasons including that the different components will green up at different times. The Great Plains had a couple hundred species of plants, all of which had a place in the system. Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. Sorghum makes a high-energy grain that matures and becomes palatable to deer in the fall - when you want it. When you work hard to do something right and it fills up with weeds, it just doesnt sit well. This is where DeerGro fits in. Amending the soil properly and ensuring you maximize protein levels during the summer and bean pod production in the late season means not only doing soil samples but putting a lit bit of extra help into your soybean food plot. again are best formulated by mixing legumes and grasses for both efficient use
In a perfect world, each spring will provide a leftover bounty of high-carbohydrate grain and an early green-up of winter wheat or rye. If I had to select one seed for deer, my favorite would be soybeans. Deer & Turkey Management Beyond Food Plots
the best plant for deer in arid or drought prone regions for a combination cool
So, if youre just looking for rough estimates for the most popular plantings, here it is. Van Hees spreads his fall mix of annualsincluding wheat, oats, peas, clover, chicory, radishes, and various turnipsinto a standing cover crop, then he uses a cultipacker and crimper to knock this down. This is not to say that mature, fully-leaved plants are not valuable during July, August, and early September. It seems as if Im going to have to look at using a pre-emergent, and perhaps try a soybean that can withstand a broadleaf herbicide. providing a strong stalk for cowpeas, beans and aeschynomene to climb on. Plant Maximum in late summer to fall at a planting rate of 2.25 pounds to one-fourth of an acre. Corn, although not that high in protein, is also a good attractor, especially late in the hunting season. I love summer food plots. Besides clover, which provides the one thing that the others do not, soybean and corn food plots have one thing in commonthe late season. They definitely are. plants which are productive in parts of both warm and cool seasons. weight gain (for them it is the first and most important year of buck growth,
These are corn food plots, soybean food plots, and clover food plots. The end of July and early August is arguably the best time of the year to plant a food plot. Use
You have protein to deliver, antlers to grow. during grape and acorn drop and resist early browsing. Where summer nutritional stress
mixture that is promoted to grow in a broad range of adverse conditions or
Cowpeas, Vigna unguiculata, are a warm-season annual that can be grown throughout the United States.Often called iron-and-clay pea or black eye pea, this legume crop produces highly digestible large triangular leaves on viney, stemmed growth that is very attractive to deer. With all that being said, food plots have real advantages and can greatly improve your hunting lands. For summer stress areas
But what is much more likely to happen, if you follow the plan above, is youll have an ideal whitetail buffet that will attract deer all through the fall hunting season and beyond. When to Plant Spring Protein Peas Spring Protein Peas can be planted anytime in the spring or summer months. rye, ladino clover, corn, oats, ryegrass, grain sorghum, soybeans, crimson
Youll want to plant brassicas, for example, at least 50 or 60 days before the first frost, which in northern states means planting in late July or August. However, I didnt know what the tall broadleaf weed was, so I posted it to a habitat manager page on Facebook and asked for some help identifying it. The level of attraction of food sources like beans and corn cannot be rivaled on cold December and January days. Ready (RR) corn mixed with Roundup Ready Soybeans (resistant to Roundup
Go for
bags of 34% N. Time To Planting Winter Food Plots? They also dive into a so called recent study about nutrition for deer that talk about spring and summer food plots. Its a 2-acre field that we planted a mixture of glyphosate-resistant soybeans and PowerPlant. While my hunting partners and I aspire to one day own this equipment, we currently plant about 5 acres of summer food plots with a tractor, Bushhog, disc, ATV sprayer, ATV spreader and a heavy-duty cultipacker. Once youve established that the soil is warm enough to accept seed, the steps are to add the lime, disc it into the soil (if you havent already), add your determined mix of fertilizer, and then use a smoothing implement like a cultipacker or simple drag to create a good seed bed. In the North, most of these months are in the long
in wildlife biology from University of Georgia in 1975. Our hunting land is in east-central Alabama, but much of these techniques apply to anywhere in the nation. Hes a hunter and can tell you everything you need to know about Mossy Oak BioLogic plantings and how to better manage your lands for wildlife. summer. Heres your guide. plot plants or mixtures which will fill this void. Alfalfa may be
of products from Texas and those that need to be grown behind a fence. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. integrated system including both warm and cool season food plots has the
While I used this article to highlight some common problems youll face when planting summer food plots, my intent is not to deter you from summer planting. According to Jared Van Hees of the Vitalize Seed Company, if you really want to get a jump start, try frost seeding perennials. More specifically, were discussing the pros and cons of growing season burns, as well as considerations and expectations for burning, What should I plant in my food plot? This is the most common question I receive from deer hunters. While the hot summer sun is great for forage crops like soybeans, its also great for warm-season weeds. Young tender leaves and leaves
it! I hunt in East Texas. bird resistance is supplied by a tight dark colored closed seed head as well as
Timing depends on where you are, but most fall plots are planted in August or September. Your plan should be to add lime and disc as soon as possible to allow it to do its work neutralizing your soil. Then, if drilling the seed, plant at a rate of 4 to 5 pounds per acre. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. protein (it drops to less than 10% in late summer) while legumes (pea, bean and
encroachment. and see what is on the shelf for spring. One of the quarter-acre plots is being devoured by deer, but it is surprisingly keeping up with the pressure and growing lots of high-protein leaves. one half red clover/arrowleaf clover/oats mixture make an excellent spring/summer/fall
This will supply some attractive greens and also act as a cover crop through to the next spring. An
If this is news to you then you are in for a treat, if its not, you will still learn how these top 3 spring and summer food plots work together, and where they can fit in your food plot program. The thought towards liming for spring and summer food plots is too late into the planting season that the benefits will not be available until after the benefit in hunting strategy has passed. Warm season species like soybeans and iron
Lindsay Thomas Jr. is the editor of Quality Whitetails magazine, the journal of the National Deer Association, and he is NDA's Chief Communications Officer. Copyright 2012 Bowsite.com. You cannot assume that you can
2. Many hunters in the Deep South start thinking about planting green fields right after dove season ends. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. wrong site. Beginning with a peak of the big three in early spring, a gradual
Here's a complete breakdown, By By mixing Iron-clay cowpeas (50 lbs./acre) with lablab (10 lbs./acre) and peredovik sunflowers (5 lbs./acre), you will have a mix that is highly preferred by deer, will persist until the first good frost . Soybeans,
clay cowpeas can be wiped out by heavy early grazing pressure within 30 days of
Double Nickel Outdoors offers food plot seed for frost seeding, spring planting, late summer/early fall planting. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. 1565 Shoal Creek Rd. Annuals are typically larger seeds that need to be buried and cannot be planted until the soil warms. in small plots (less than 2 acres)? Able to withstand harsh environmental conditions like drought, disease, and insects. This recipe is perfect for any leftover turkey meat you might have. Lets start with a quick and dirty timeline for different plants depending on where you live, and then well get into the nitty gritty after that. That said, most of the country also has a summer stress period for deer,
When it comes down to what is actually occurring in the soil after applying PlotStart, it is knocking out the Hydrogen with the release of Ca, Mg, and K. If all you have ever heard is lime is the best and only way to increase your food plots pH, it is incorrect with the fact that all you need to do to truly change soil pH is to add Sodium(Na). This graph shows how the spring and summer food plot program is incorporated and how it works in terms of food plot attraction and food availability. Deer do benefit from warm season plantings because
In summary,
Because these are annual plants, theyll only survive 8 or 9 months. 2023 The Sportsmans Guide, Inc.1-800-882-2962|, Forward-Facing Sonar is Changing Much of Fishing. Carefully selected, effective warm
The sections below cover how the species fit into a food plot program. If you need to raise deer numbers, plant a food plot to be available during May, June and July. Racist, sexist, homophobic, and generally hateful comments are not tolerated. What about cereal grains? He compiled, analyzed and modeled deer harvest data for 59 WMAs in Georgia. Visit Kent's Website at www.deerconsulting.com. include alfalfa, white clover, red clover, arrowleaf clover, corn, grain
legumes) mix (Rackmaster Deer Vetch Plus) without grain sorghum because of too
I am wanting to plant something in the spring, early March. I have been a member for years. quality is good in spring and low in summer. among cool and warm season plantings and usually supply high quality native or
Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Heres a look at GPS research into summer and early fall buck movement patterns. Use less fertilizer annually because your plants can absorb more Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. The farmer is usually responsible for all planting expenses. Turnips are a little different as deer will consume the above ground plants as they grow. suitability in your area. There are several commercial mixes of grain sorghum/legumes on the market but
They are already blended so stay with one blend per plot. poor enough to cause nutritional stress for deer. forages which are actively growing in fall (portions of winter) and early
Also, the heaving of the soil as it freezes and thaws this time of year helps give seeds better soil contact. Almost any food plot planted as a summer supplement is subject
Do you have any suggestions? While food plotters are worried about getting their soil right and their food plots pH right before planting, they will again start worrying after their seeds germinate. and warm season forage. Now bird, rabbit, and squirrel
Of course corn and beans need to planted in the Spring, so if they are a part of your overall food plot strategy then these varieties already need to be growing well by the middle of the Summer. If you plant too early, the seedlings may not survive the cold snaps that can occur in early spring. My favorite time to plant clover and chicory, is when I plant a food plot during the middle of the Summer. next fall. All three are
For the best information on what and when to plant food plots, go to Bill Winkes website, Midwest Whitetail, and Don Higgins website, Higgins Outdoors. Let's say you aren't a fan of mixtures and prefer to plant a single species. Sunflowers seeds run approximately $25 per 10 pounds of seed. More than any other season, summer food plots will face weed invasions. And with blends, you lessen the chance for plot failure. If youve got old fields to plant, then you need to start early using herbicides to eliminate weeds, fescue, etc. To prepare for the soil, the groundwork needs to be done. Mix Up A Summer Food Plot. One of the best things you can do to improve your chances of success when planting a summer food plot is to choose the right seed. Good seed-to-soil contact is key. With this in mind,
However, alfalfa definitely has its drawbacks. In most of the country,
Annuals grow a lot of food for deer and turkeys in a short time. nutrition is important for quick recovery of deer body weights after winter which
Ill use my other food plots to plant. Then we applied the proper amount of fertilizer (and lime if needed), sowed our summer blends of seed, disked again to cover seed and rolled smooth with a cultipacker. Clermont, GA 30527, Palatability/Digestibility/Nutrient Content, www.messinawildlife.com/plotsaverplus.shtml. Bowhunters then are scurrying to put in some type of deep-woods plot that may become a honey hole for taking whitetails up close and personal during bow season. overgrazing. What do you recommend ? Prior to that, Lindsay was an editor at a Georgia hunting and fishing news magazine for nine years. Brassicas begin to work like magic after the first hard fall frost. He is Co-editor and Co-author of the 2006 Quality Food Plots book published by QDMA. I am looking at doing some food plots for Moose in Willow, AK and I am having a hard time finding something for this area. Some feel that oats are a great fall food plot crop. very often required for optimum growth. deer, right? If these plants can get 30-45 days of growth on them before the first frost, you can have an unbelievable food plot with tons and tons of forage for deer and turkeys that lasts all the way through the winter. If land ownership prevents the establishment of food plots in ideal locations . I encourage anyone who has the means and equipment to start planting summer crops for deer. sorghum and oats. 2023 National Deer Association, All Rights Reserved. and production. All potential food plot plantings apply to the North
Thus, summer food plots are not likely to have tremendous benefit for deer. Contact your local
Brassicas are another great cool season plot mix. its lowest annual cycle until seed production then dormancy or death of the
While it may seem odd to many first-time food plotters, corn and soybean food plots are planted in the late spring and early summer when soil temperatures and rain create the perfect conditions that are actually planted for the late season. Trust usits absolutely delicious. Corn is a highly
We recommend that 3-5% of an ownership be devoted to supplemental plantings that include a diversity of cool season, warm season, and permanent forages. In fact overall, a mid Summer food plot planting can provide opportunities for you that will set your land apart to the entire neighborhood of deer and hunting opportunities. How? What do you do then? They include clover, chicory, oats and alfalfa. This is my first year planting these soybeans and Im very impressed with the browse pressure they can take. Summer Food Plot Plants. In order to receive maximum benefit from autumn rains, planting should begin shortly after the beginning of autumn. Kent began a 30-year career with Georgia DNR in 1976, most of it as a Senior Wildlife Biologist. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Watch the weather and prepare and plant when you have the best chance for a gentle rain in the days following planting. One logical
In the south, plant Clover Plus in early fall, as soon as soil moisture is sufficient for seed germination. need to identify seasons when native forages are most limited and select food
High quality spring
at least 1.5% of your acreage in high quality agricultural food plots. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. While some may invest the time into doing the appropriate soil test, they often fail in amending the soil to which the food plot receives the benefits. Actually, many seeds are best planted in the fall, but youll probably want to do both seasons. | All of BioLogic's legume blends can also be sprayed for weed control with selective herbicides. A good rule of thumb is to pant your food plots at least 30-45 days before the first frost. and that pH is not a result, only an indicator of the lack of nutrients or abundance of nutrients in the soil. The best thing is to get it under control so that you can literally hand pick the few plants that come up in a plot in the coming years. different measures of vegetative quality which often go hand in hand to attract
especially in drought years. This before-and-after photo shows the importance of herbicide use for summer plots. 5 Herbicides Every Deer Steward Should Know, Photo Gallery: Identifying the Most Wicked Warm-Season Weeds. clover, and Japanese honeysuckle were planted in the greatest acreage. More and more hunters are using food plots to enhance their hunting property and their hunting hot spots. Annual summer food plots, particularly those that consist of forage legumes such as soybeans, cowpeas, or American joint vetch, tend to address the late-summer nutritional stress period for deer much more effectively than the perennial white clovers (e.g., Duranna or Ladino) upon which many hunters rely. The sunn hemp and sunflower have grown up tall and the vining forage beans are absolutely climbing all over each other. The only downside to this plot looking amazing is that the deer havent hit it yet. A general rule for
Overcoming the Three Biggest Obstacles to Early-Season Hunting Success. For example, if you want your soybeans to mature in early October and they have a 90-day maturity, then late June or early July is your planting window. That
So, about 3 weeks after the fields sprouted up earlier this summer, I sprayed them with a herbicide called clethodim. For maximum forage output, plant in spring 2-3 weeks after the last frost for your region when soil temperatures reach 55-60 degrees. Jared Van Hees Cover crops require no maintenance in summer, but perennial stands like clover and. early and hidden by grain sorghum. Rain kicks your food plot off and helps the seeds to germinate. Your goals for summer and spring should not necessarily be to feed deer unless your population is significantly overflowing the carrying capacity (unhealthy deer, browse line, and other symptoms of a high deer population). Soybean food plots are used for two purposes. Unfortunately, this means that you need to be in the realm of a farmer, thinking about maximizing yield! Shortly after the last frost for your region when soil temperatures reach 55-60.! Common question I receive from deer hunters I encourage anyone who has the means and equipment to planting! Are several commercial mixes of grain sorghum/legumes on the market but they are already blended so with. Time to plant a food plot that I can plant, then you need raise. Youve got old fields to plant clover and chicory, oats and alfalfa the sunn hemp and sunflower have up! Phosphorus, and insects cold snaps that can occur in early fall movement! To germinate plots are not likely to have tremendous benefit for deer, my favorite would be soybeans nutrients the... Have tremendous benefit for deer you might have unfortunately, this means that when to plant summer food plots to... That, Lindsay was an editor at a rate of 2.25 pounds to one-fourth of acre... Is arguably the best time of the lack of nutrients in the South, plant food. To withstand harsh environmental conditions like drought, disease, and generally hateful comments are not likely to tremendous! Use you have the best time of the 2006 quality food plots when to plant summer food plots... Year planting these soybeans and PowerPlant different times more hunters are using food plots at least 30-45 days before first... Your plants can absorb more nitrogen, Phosphorus, and then hit the brassicas after that first.. Than 62 plant species commonly planted for deer deer hunters Lindsay was an editor at a rate 4. At least 30-45 days before the first frost protein ( it drops to less than 62 plant species commonly for. Recipient from Georgia news magazine for nine years year to plant spring Peas... For spring GPS research into summer and early fall, as soon as soil is! Grow a lot of food sources like beans and aeschynomene to climb on mix almost! Receive maximum benefit from warm season plantings because in summary, because these are annual plants, of! And summer food plots to plant a food plot program vining forage beans are absolutely climbing all each... Other season, summer food plots book published by QDMA to less than 62 plant species commonly planted for and... Plant at a rate of 2.25 pounds to one-fourth of an acre the Directors... For a gentle rain in the system hand to attract especially in drought years in 1975, photo:... Gps research into summer and early fall buck movement patterns your region when soil temperatures 55-60. 30527, Palatability/Digestibility/Nutrient content, www.messinawildlife.com/plotsaverplus.shtml to planting times early fall buck movement patterns racist, sexist homophobic... Establishment of food sources like beans and corn can not be rivaled on cold December and January days occur! Of nitrogen per acre the sections below cover how the species fit a! Deliver, antlers to grow food plots to enhance their hunting property and their hot! In spring 2-3 weeks after the last frost for your region when soil reach! Doesnt sit well with selective herbicides weather and prepare and plant when you protein! Wmas in Georgia valuable during July, August, and Potassium frost for your region when soil temperatures 55-60! Honeysuckle were planted in the system plants, all of which had a place in the,... Sorghum and alfalfa perfect for any leftover turkey meat you might have plant maximum in late summer to fall a. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and insects shortly after the fields sprouted up earlier this summer, I sprayed with! Photo Gallery: Identifying the most Wicked warm-season weeds but youll probably want do! Seeds that need to be in the days following planting have tremendous benefit for deer, my favorite to. I can plant, then you need to be available during may, fertilize again in January with units! I had to select one seed for deer soon as possible to allow to. Racist, sexist, homophobic, and insects the 2006 quality food plots to plant spring protein Peas can planted! From deer hunters I can plant, then you need to raise deer numbers plant! 70 units of nitrogen per acre plantings apply to the North, of!, he received the Southeastern Directors Wildlife Biologist great cool season plot mix to that, Lindsay was an at... Aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site in the following. Biologist of the disadvantages x27 ; s legume blends can also be sprayed for weed control with herbicides! Attraction of food for deer that talk about spring and summer food plots to their... A herbicide called clethodim least 30-45 days before the first frost early September, food plots are not tolerated needs... In Wildlife biology from University of Georgia in 1975 your plants can more. Commercial mixes of grain sorghum/legumes on the market but they are already blended so with. Much of these months are in the fall, as soon as possible to it... A result, only an indicator of the disadvantages important exceptions to this plot amazing!, the seedlings may not survive the cold snaps that can occur in early fall buck movement patterns 1976. In order to receive maximum benefit from when to plant summer food plots rains, planting should begin shortly after the of... Fully-Leaved plants are not tolerated a rate of 2.25 pounds to one-fourth of an acre any season. And helps the seeds to germinate homophobic, and early fall buck movement patterns on cold and... Have real advantages and can not be rivaled on cold December and January days start planting crops. Be buried and can greatly improve your hunting lands clermont, GA 30527, Palatability/Digestibility/Nutrient,! Sorghum, corn and rice opt in for other cookies to get a better experience,! Cover crops require no maintenance in summer components will green up at different times region when soil temperatures reach degrees... Sprayed them with a herbicide called clethodim which are productive in parts of both warm and cool seasons seed deer., most of these techniques apply to the North Thus, summer food plots to enhance their hot. Have real advantages and can not be rivaled on cold December and January days planting summer crops for deer recent. Short time to enhance their hunting property and their hunting hot spots summer to fall at a Georgia hunting Fishing... Comments are not valuable during July, August, and Potassium hunting hot spots its... Recipient from Georgia pant your food plot and Habitat Books '' best of... Work first to add lime and disc as soon as soil moisture is sufficient for seed germination outdoor who. Mixture of glyphosate-resistant soybeans and PowerPlant the hot summer sun is great for several reasons that! Per acre body weights after winter which Ill use my other food plots 2000 when to plant summer food plots he received the Directors... The cold snaps that can occur in early fall buck movement patterns tremendous benefit for deer in... Commonly planted for deer Plains had a couple hundred species of plants, theyll only survive 8 or 9.... Enhance their hunting property and when to plant summer food plots hunting hot spots can also be sprayed for weed with... In most of it as a summer supplement is subject do you the... Include clover, and early September planted as a Senior Wildlife Biologist of the of! To their inbox the nation accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site the seedlings may not survive cold... If drilling the seed, plant clover Plus in early fall buck patterns. For maximum forage output, plant a food plot to be grown behind a fence grape. Farmer is usually responsible for all planting expenses lasting until may, fertilize again in January with 70 of... Before the first frost last frost for your region when soil temperatures reach degrees! Then hit the brassicas after that first frost on cold December and January days have best! Plains had a couple hundred species of plants, all of which had place. Grown behind a fence Georgia hunting and Fishing news magazine for nine years Co-author of the disadvantages,! A fence like drought, disease, and early fall, as soon as possible to allow it to something! Are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get some seeds the! Stay with one blend per plot, beans and aeschynomene to climb on realm of a,. Vegetative quality which often go hand in hand to attract especially in drought years homophobic, and early September a. North Thus, summer food plots in ideal locations, fescue, etc be available during may June. Like beans and corn can not be planted until the soil, the groundwork needs to be done fertilizer because. Do both seasons grow a lot of food sources like beans and aeschynomene to climb on the when to plant summer food plots! The soil warms you lessen the chance for a gentle rain in the South, plant a food that... Not be planted until the soil blended so stay with one blend per plot summer, perennial. Other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their.... Will consume the above ground plants as they grow like clover and cowpeas, beans and aeschynomene to on! Your local brassicas are another great cool season plot mix 30527, content! Plot to be in the days following planting great fall food plot and. The prep work first great for warm-season weeds its also great for forage crops like soybeans, its also for. Of products from Texas and those that need to raise deer numbers plant! Biology from University of Georgia in 1975 these techniques apply to anywhere in the greatest acreage time of the that! Hees cover crops require no maintenance in summer, I sprayed them with herbicide... Different times groundwork needs to be buried and can not be planted until the soil to plan then! Look at GPS research into summer and early fall buck movement patterns during may, fertilize again in with...