Small Food Plot Design Questions

[Beacon22]

Im looking to put in a small food plot roughly 50 yards away from my house. I am surrounded by land on three sides of my house owned by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust so I really don't have any neighbors.

Would I be wasting my time with planting a 3/4 acre food plot and also so close to my home? And if not, what would you plant?

I know these are broad questions but I need to start somewhere.

[burmjohn]

If you prep it right you could plant anything.  If you have deer on in your yard they will use your plot

[Zag]

I sit on just 3 acres and I have 3 small plots back there. Deer pound it!! Except for my barassica, two yrs in a row its gone un touched. Clover they destroyed it.

[tuckersdaddy]

"if you build it they will come"! 

[G-Man]

when i built my house i had to have lawn in to occupy, after spending $ on house construction i only had some biologic clover plus seed left from previous year.. it became my lawn, i have a rule your not allowed to shoot anything on the lawn but it does make for some great wildlife viewing!

[Fantail]

A clover / clover mix would probably work if the soil is in decent shape. Maybe two bags designed for 1/2 acre for a little overseeding. Then save up for a trail cam.

 

Edit to add: avoid any mix with ryegrass.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Fantail

[Beacon22]

Thanks for the help everyone!! I'm going to give the Clover a try to start out with. How do I determine if my soil is suitable? I had already done a PH test and determined that I was at 7.0 but I'm also concerned about if I need to introduce fertilizer, etc to the area.

[Five Seasons]

nothing can hurt. small plots and a lot of pressure might be destroyed before it benefits you though. If it's not going to take a lot of time and effort clearing out what might be valuable bedding areas I say go for it. Put some trail cams up and see what happens. Add some fruit tress as well.

[phade]

What is the intended use? To watch wildelife from the deck? To hunt?

 

I agree a clover mix would be best. Who knows, some backyard stands can be really good. I've shot a doe or two just behind my house (they weren't in my yard, FYI...I was in the woods).

[Beacon22]

I would like to make my property a destination or even just a stop along their route as a source of forage. I am planting a line of 6 foot arborvitae trees where my fence line in my backyard borders the area I'm looking to clear. Wanted to do this to offer a break between my yard and the food plot. I'm planting the arborvitae on my side of the fence so they don't destroy them completely.

[Beacon22]

So yes I would like to hunt the area. Maybe on a travel route to or from this plot.