Using Hand Tools To Plant: Food Plot Tips, Part 3 (630)

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3 жыл бұрын

It's easy to plant smaller food plots with simple hand tools! Watch as Grant shares the strategy for small food plot locations, how to manage small plots for hunting, weed control, seed varieties, soil health and more!
There’s lots of research out there that shows that when you plant a very diverse mix - you’ve got grasses and in summer that may be milo or corn or sorghums; and forbs - that could be beans or peas; buckwheat. There’s all kinds of forbs, sunflowers, and brassicas. In the summer, I may have a collard or something like that - that all those different species working together do much more to improve the soil than a monoculture.
We get a lot of questions from folks who have rough land like this, or for whatever reason don’t have access to a no-till drill or to tractors, whatever. We started on 13 acres the same way. I did everything by hand. And the question usually is something like, “How can I get the benefits of The Release Process without using a no-till drill or a Goliath Crimper or something like that?” And to be really honest, you can’t get 100% of those benefits, but you can come close.
‪@GrowingDeerTV‬
#TeamOutdoors

Пікірлер: 86

@Ghillie-bp6tl 3 жыл бұрын

Even rewatching this I appreciate the honesty and ideas on how to overcome financial shortfalls, yet still edging to the ability to plant green and get to the objective, a minimal herbicide, maximum soil health state.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ghillie!

@HiddenSamuraiMA 3 жыл бұрын

We just broadcast 3+ acres this past weekend and you put my mind at ease because I was concerned that we'd seeded to heavy. Thanks for all the awesome info throughout the years Grant!

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

I hope your plots grow well!

@hughphillips67Mustang 3 жыл бұрын

Perfect video for the average hunter who has little, to no land. Very well explained how to do a great deal of improvement in a very limited area, with little to no equipment. Nice to know you have us "little" people in mind. Rather than some who consider 100 acres a small parcel. Some people don't even have 100 feet. Thank you!

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks and enjoy creation!

@timothyhowell7047 3 жыл бұрын

That's my favorite thing about Grant and his videos. If you have a acre or a thousand you can take his knowledge and use it for your benefit. Such an awesome and knowledgeable guy who understands the small hunter like us.

@shermanwatters7503 3 жыл бұрын

Great video for us little guys.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Sherman - I really enjoy hunting near Hidey Hole plots!

@shermanwatters7503 3 жыл бұрын

Trying to get in on some of that "enjoy", I'm currently trying to get 3 established in recently cleared, mainly pine, timber stands. Really appreciate the video content, from start to FINISH, and the feedback. Your testimony is noteworthy. 🙏

@brentlake4093 3 жыл бұрын

Great video and tips. I really enjoy your videos. You break things down for all of us.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

@jayryker8261 3 жыл бұрын

Keep’em coming.👊🏽Great channel, learn alot of info. from this gentleman!👍🏽

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jeff! We produce at least one episode a week!

@chrismacomber9727 3 жыл бұрын

Great vid I did 2 plots just under half a acher with a weedeater and a rake ...its alot of work but pays off in the fall..

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Yes sir! I'm proud of you!

@mik1705 3 жыл бұрын

Good stuff!

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mik! You should see these plots already! Wow! We'll show them soon!

@timothyhowell7047 3 жыл бұрын

I have two small plots kinda like this but mine are old logging roads not much wider than a pickup truck and about 75 yards long in the middle of some super thick GA planted pines. I wasn't able to plant my summer plots but like last year I will plant a fall plot of antler king and it's funny because the guys on our property hunt the creek bottoms and clear cut and they can't figure out how I see twice as many deer as them. A small hidey hole plot is the way to go. I started my first time protein feeding program this year in the thick pines between my two hiding plots using buck muscle and the results are amazing. Just wish I could have planted my summer plots to go along with it.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Timothy - Sounds like you have a great project!

@timothyhowell7047 3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV this is my third year working on it. The first year was pure luck and I killed my biggest GA buck, the next year was letting alot of nice bucks walk and this year was letting more nice bucks walk and taking one heavy horned 8 pointer. One of the biggest things I believe that helps is the county I hunt in both bucks have to be 4 or more points on one side and working with our neighboring club really helps in the managing. Being in agreement with letting certain bucks walk has really helped to improve all in all just seeing deer and watching them grow over the last couple years knowing in a year or two we are going to really have some nice bucks to harvest if we choose to.

@timothyhowell7047 3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV and not to mention alot of what I do I have learned from watching your channel over years and the great info you share for all types of habitat and deer population.

@Kingtiger14 3 жыл бұрын

Great video

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Heather!

@mitchellshirk2533 3 жыл бұрын

I think it's interesting you say planting green with broadcasting does not work well, I do this all the time. Broadcast into the living winter rye and mixed blend, I use a cultipacker after this to roll over the vegetation and seeds, and finish up with glyphosate. Has worked well for me!

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Mitchell - Thanks! I look forward to learning more about your process. I assume you use glyphosate to terminate the crop because the cultipacker didn't? Are you using the cultipacker to help get the seeds to the soi? In many of my plots, the forage is too thick for most of the seeds to reach the soil and seeds that don't have good contact with the soil will germinate but the seedlings will perish because their root isn't in the soil.

@midmissourifishingandhunti140 Жыл бұрын

So I am building a new food plot putting hey or straw over the seeds work or grass clipping to help get it started

@GrowingDeerTV Жыл бұрын

Careful - often straw includes a lot of weed seeds.

@midmissourifishingandhunti140 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV what would be good to cover it

@rodneygilbert5183 3 жыл бұрын

I got a 3 acres of bottom land that's got Rye that's 6 to 8 feet tall. And with all the rain it's really muddy. Might have some late beans if it don't dry out.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Rodney - It's wet here also!

@rodneygilbert5183 3 жыл бұрын

@@yeetpotato5096 I don't very often unless it's a stiff wind. I have a Ridge that runs along all my bottom land. And do most of my there. I find it hard not spooking deer on food plots. With only 65 acres l can't spook bucks very often.

@TyerReynoso 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, exactly what I needed. We just bought a chunk of timber but I won’t be able to start cutting new trail and food plot areas until late July. Would it be ok to clear areas to prep for planting last week of July to plant a fall blend? Not sure if weeds will have time to sprout and develop a good root base. Also, would putting a layer of straw over the seeds that get broadcasted help with critters? We live 2.5 hours away so to get down there to plant right before rain might be difficult. Thanks

@shermanwatters7503 3 жыл бұрын

Interested to read response. We're 2:15 away from our property, woodsy too.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Tyer - Congratulations on purchasing the property! How fast weeds start growing depends on the available moisture, temperature, and light. Given that timing might be tough for you, I suggest doing what you can when you can. It is important for a rain event soon after seeds are spread on bare. This isn't to say that some percentage of the seeds won't survive, but there's no doubt that rodents and birds will find the seed and they can consume a bunch of it! I've watched squirrels make trip after trip with their cheeks packed with seeds out of plots where seeds were broadcast. Covering with hay might help, but I'd be concerned about weed seeds in the hay. With that said, we all do what we can do! I used to live 2.5 hours from a property I hunted and planting plots in a timely fashion was often a struggle.

@nickforet686 3 жыл бұрын

Hey grant if you were to fertilize your plot when would you broadcast, as you plant your seed or wait until the seed germinates?

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Either - pending on the type of fertilizer, etc. Nitrogen is very volatile and less than 50% of the nitrogen in the fertilizer will be used by the plants.

@iamtheshaker 3 жыл бұрын

Could you elaborate on your opinion of the differences between native vegetation and weeds? Are they the same, depending on the location? (food plot vs open area)

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Could be! I never consider pigweed quality native vegetation. However, ragweed is quality forage when it's young - in a plot or in a native vegetation area.

@jimkindle3563 11 ай бұрын

💪👊👍

@johnblackwood345 2 жыл бұрын

Dr Woods- enjoy watching all your videos. Question for you. Do you hunt over this summer blend?? Or do you terminate in August and broadcast a fall blends more suitable for colder weather???

@GrowingDeerTV 2 жыл бұрын

John - Many of the species in the Summer Blend will mature and if weeds aren't an issue (due to mulch from past crops, etc.), I simply broadcast the Fall Release blend into the standing summer blend!

@johnblackwood345 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the reply. Did you smash the previous crop down after broadcasting the fall blend?

@BrettFox 3 жыл бұрын

Are you knocking over the vegetation or anything after you broadcast? We have some over grown plots that are thick with briar and I think we are actually going to disk this first season before fall planting, otherwise we will probably never have our seeds reach the soil but I am thinking about the future.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Brett - there are lots of variables but I typically don't "knock" over the vegetation unless I terminate it with a crimper.

@jaysantucci6235 10 ай бұрын

When utilizing a herbicide, do you wait until the grasses are dried out before throwing out seed? I was wondering if the decaying grasses would generate enough heat to damage the seed if you sprayed and planted in the same day/weekend.

@GrowingDeerTV 10 ай бұрын

Jay - Good question! Grass in a field usually stands erect for some time before it falls and dries. By the time if falls, there won't be much moisture and limited heat.

@mo-46 Жыл бұрын

I don't have a roller crimper, but am looking into one. I do have a heavy cultipacker, would my steel plate cultipacker possibly work with breaking the stems of the plants?

@GrowingDeerTV Жыл бұрын

I'm not an engineer but if it's designed correctly it might.

@mo-46 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV My soil is 5.8 ph & low on magnesium. Was thinking of addidng dolomitic lime. Will the release process raise my ph and if so what is a approx timeframe?

@paulcrave3112 Жыл бұрын

How do you broadcast so many different seed sizes at the same time through those hand spreaders? Don’t the small seeds fall through too fast compared to the large seeds if the opening is large enough for the large seeds to get through?

@GrowingDeerTV Жыл бұрын

Paul - No! Different seeds have different shapes and textures and they don't settle in the seeder.

@paulcrave3112 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV so you open the seeder large enough for the largest seeds to be able to pass through the gate but the small seeds don’t come out too fast?

@23DanielVincent 3 жыл бұрын

Two questions: What makes green cover seed better than other seed brands, and what brand of peat moss do you use?

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

23D - I don't use any peat moss and GreenCoverFoodPlots.com has great prices on quality seed. They simply do it right!

@23DanielVincent 3 жыл бұрын

What was the inoculant that you used to mix into the seeds?

@Splook9999 3 жыл бұрын

Would you mow the dead grass down after broadcasting seed?

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Splook - Nope! Dead grass is much smaller than crimping plants that are full of water. If dead, there's no need to drive over the plot.

@iamtheshaker 3 жыл бұрын

15:20 Anyone know what scent Grant would be using on the felt at the buck scrape?

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Good observation! I used Code Blue's synthetic buck scent.

@iamtheshaker 3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV thank you!!

@paulcrave3112 Жыл бұрын

Is that innoculant available at any garden center? Just plain old Pete Moss?

@GrowingDeerTV Жыл бұрын

Paul - Inoculant is bacteria specific to different legume species. These bacteria help plants use nitrogen that's in the air! I suspect it's not common at garden stores.

@paulcrave3112 Жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV so where does one find inoculant when it comes time to plant?

@shermanwatters7503 3 жыл бұрын

I need to add lime (powder form), as well as spray - broadcast - crimp (cultipacker), which I believe adds "disc in lime" to the process. What's the logical order for these steps, for best results? Or, is "disc in lime" not necessary/recommended? TIA

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Disking in lime will allow it to react with the soil much quicker. However, disking always damages soil. There' no need to spray if you are disking.

@shermanwatters7503 3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV Gotcha! and Thank You. So it's: Lime, Disc, Broadcast, Cultipack? I'm working w/ 5.5 - 6.0 soil.

@dwainegaransi938 3 жыл бұрын

Great video where would you plant radishes in Northern Pennsylvania

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Dwaine - Radishes should be part of all cool season or fall blends!

@dwainegaransi938 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@sullimd 3 жыл бұрын

Do the ATV electric seed spreaders not work well? All the guys I see are using the bag spreaders, which I despise. With $20k Genesis, you’d think there was a better way on smaller plots than a $20 crank bag. Was looking at getting an electric ATV spreader that hooks up to the 2” hitch. Anyone used one?

@shermanwatters7503 3 жыл бұрын

Haha!!! Those bags ain't $20.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

TGSR - The over the shoulder broadcast spreader work fine for these applications! I suspect they are quicker and easier than adding an electric spreader to an ATV.

@sullimd 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve bought bunches of them. So, $30. That’s not the point.

@dougbarber3400 3 жыл бұрын

Just curious what type of inoculate do you use on your seed

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Doug - I plant seed from GreenCoverFoodPlots.com and they supply the inoculant - some of the seeds are pre-inoculated and others can be inoculated on site. Inoculant is often species specific and different bacteria or microbes interact with different plants.

@dougbarber3400 3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowingDeerTV Thank you Sir

@calebchildress8283 3 жыл бұрын

Hello

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Howdy Caleb!

@wonderfulworldofwhitetails9763 3 жыл бұрын

Try that with just 2 hands

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

I've planted a bunch of plots by myself - but teaching interns does make it go faster!

@shermanwatters7503 3 жыл бұрын

Haha!!!

@scottminter4735 3 жыл бұрын

Can't kill a deer anymore without a food plot.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Scott - have you watched any of our shows about native vegetation?

@Ghillie-bp6tl 3 жыл бұрын

No, no, no, Dr Grant. We need to hear that reluctance to us herbicide. But it is a necessary evil. And not always required. To get that toe hold to crimp.

@GrowingDeerTV 3 жыл бұрын

Ha! Thanks Ghillie!