Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

No 4-wheeler? No tractor? No problem!

Darron

Junior Member
273
0
Dayton, Ohio
I posted this before but thought I would do it again since spring is here. Let me first start off by saying I am not a fan of spring food plots. Too many weeds to deal with. I am a fan of late summer/early fall plots because you don't have weed issues:smiley_clap:

So.....you have no tractor....no 4 wheeler......no implements? You're still in luck. For the price of a back pack sprayer you can have a great food plot this fall and your buddies will think you went through the extra expense to rent a tractor. You have to get jump start on the weeds though early this spring.

May- Spray with gly

June- Spray

July- Spray

August- Spray/plant same day

Spraying 4x over the spring/summer starting in May will kill a majority of your weeds. Spraying in May will keep you from having to mow. Wait until June and there is a good chance the weeds are waist high or better........then you will need a bush hog.

In mid-late august spray and plant the same day. By august you should have a clean field of nothing but dirt. Now what to plant? I've said this before and I will say it again, only certain seeds can be over seeded onto bare ground and still grow. Some of these seeds include...

Winter rye (my #1 choice)

Wheat

Brassicas

Clover


If planting cereal grains find a day in mid/late august when rain is expected and broadcast about 100# of winter rye per acre and 8-10# of white clover. I go a little heavy when over seeding because some seed won't make it or get eaten by birds. You can also mix some wheat in there as well. By next spring you will have a weed free clover plot that will last you anywhere from 3-5 years. That winter frost seed more clover to thicken it up. When the weeds start taking over again redo the process

If planting brassicas do the same thing but plant in July for maximum tonnage. Brassicas can be tricky because they love Nitrogen and without tillage it is tough to incorpate N into the soil with a heavy rain.

Although I have access to a tractor and tiller through a buddy.......I have tried this method on several occasions and my plots turn out just as good as if I had broken ground. Due to not breaking ground, I usually don't have the weed issues like I would have from disturbing the soil.

Good luck!
 

Darron

Junior Member
273
0
Dayton, Ohio
No-till with a backpack sprayer, huh?

What do you recommend as a herbicide? Roundup? 2,4-D?

I use 41% glyphosate and mix around 4-5oz per gallon. Since my sprayer holds 4 gallons of water I mix in around 16oz. This will kill anything in the field, even hard to kill grasses. At a steady pace my sprayer will do about 1/2 acre.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,061
223
Ohio
Good stuff, Darron. I too have become a fan of the late season seed mixes, especially the oats and winter rye combo. I have not tried the spraying no-till method, though. With fuel prices where they are, this may be a good alternative to tilling.
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
I use 41% glyphosate and mix around 4-5oz per gallon. Since my sprayer holds 4 gallons of water I mix in around 16oz. This will kill anything in the field, even hard to kill grasses. At a steady pace my sprayer will do about 1/2 acre.

Do you mind sharing what kind and where you acquire it?
 

Boone

*Supporting Member*
833
96
N.E. O-H-I-O
Good advice Darron. We don't plant spring plots anymore either, unless it's a long season crop like corn or a cover plot. I bet you get a good workout with that backpack sprayer!

RURAL KING has good roundup prices and Wooster isn't too far from me. http://media.ruralking.com/salesflyer/20120318/page4.html
They have free shipping if you order over $50 this week: http://www.ruralking.com/FreeShipping
If you don't need lots of roundup, they have 2.5 gals of 41% for $35.
 

Darron

Junior Member
273
0
Dayton, Ohio
Good advice Darron. We don't plant spring plots anymore either, unless it's a long season crop like corn or a cover plot. I bet you get a good workout with that backpack sprayer!

RURAL KING has good roundup prices and Wooster isn't too far from me. http://media.ruralking.com/salesflyer/20120318/page4.html
They have free shipping if you order over $50 this week: http://www.ruralking.com/FreeShipping
If you don't need lots of roundup, they have 2.5 gals of 41% for $35.

That is a heck of a deal.

I never said it would be easy.....you definitely get your walking in that is for sure....but it sure beats buying a 30,000 tractor. If your plots are fairly large (an acre or more) this might not be the best method. None of my plots are over an acre and I can usually spray 2-3 plots in a morning.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,061
223
Ohio
Good advice Darron. We don't plant spring plots anymore either, unless it's a long season crop like corn or a cover plot. I bet you get a good workout with that backpack sprayer!

RURAL KING has good roundup prices and Wooster isn't too far from me. http://media.ruralking.com/salesflyer/20120318/page4.html
They have free shipping if you order over $50 this week: http://www.ruralking.com/FreeShipping
If you don't need lots of roundup, they have 2.5 gals of 41% for $35.

+1 for Rural King... RKO is one of my favorite stores to visit. It's like a Tractor Supply, with a hint of Cabelas... plus they have a popcorn machine there. :)