Do you Disc Your Plots Early?

[LetEmGrow]

Greetings

 

This question pertains to ground that has already been worked in previous years that had food plots on it.

 

Do any of you ever disc your plots in the spring for weed control and/or to keep the soil loose?  Or do you just let the weeds grow and wait until later in summer

to spray and disc?

 

I have only done this for a couple of years and I am wondering what my approach should be.

 

Thanks,

 

LEG

[G-Man]

I will run a field cultivator through them as soon as it dries a little hopefully beginning of next week, have to chop down rest of standing corn first. Saves plowing later and helps with weeds and moisture retention.. will disc a week before planting and again just before planting

[SplitG2]

We never let a annual plot sit idle.  We will plant a plow down in spring than what ever we want to hunt over come fall.

[maytom]

If anyone is looking for a ATV pull behind commercial spreader give me a jingle. We sold our cottage and had 3 food plots, selling my Hunter Specialties Spreader that I bought from Cabela's.

[Four Season Whitetail's]

Disc now, Wait a couple 2-3 weeks for new growth and disc again. You will always turn up a few new weed seeds but not as many with the second trip. I spray first the disc or till but you dont have to spray.

[NYBowhunter]

I typically will till my plot with a bottom plow to aerate the soil and to let the weeds/grass decay for a few weeks than come back and run a disk. I have never used any chemicals on my plots (by choice).

[NYBuckHunter27]

I just brushed hogged down standing corn, what should my next step be? lots of stalks still left on the field.... i'm not sure what exactly the plots will be. typically plant brassicas and clover.

[LetEmGrow]

Thanks boys!  I'm gonna rip em very once in a while and see where we are for weeds later on this summer. 

[LET EM GROW]

disking a few times before planting is almost like using round up for weeds. not quite as good but it works. as the others guys stated. better to have the dirt worked up more than not enough.. in my opinion

[Berniez]

Disk now wait 10-20 days do it again and then plant buckwheat. (Broadcast and  very lightly disk it in.  Deer / turkeys love it. Buckwheat loosens soil and chokes out weeds. When ready for fall planting just disc it in and plant what you want.  Old timers used buckwheat  like we use roundup....choke out the weeds but buckwheat also builds the soil. (Also great for bees .) 

[LetEmGrow]

Hey Bernie - much appreciation and you too as well Let Em Grow.  I have done some discing on them and it really killed the weeds.  Gonna do it every 2-3 weeks like you said.  I might just plant some buckwheat too just for a rotation.  

 

I bought this King Cutter Flip Over Disc and it is awesome.  Did not use any weight.  The ground was flipped over last summer so it has been loosened but I actually was tearing up sod pretty good where i turned around.  It weighs 325 pounds.  Just thought i would mention.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200328427_200328427

 

Thanks!

Edited May 1, 2016 by LetEmGrow

[WNYBuckHunter]

Disk now wait 10-20 days do it again and then plant buckwheat. (Broadcast and  very lightly disk it in.  Deer / turkeys love it. Buckwheat loosens soil and chokes out weeds. When ready for fall planting just disc it in and plant what you want.  Old timers used buckwheat  like we use roundup....choke out the weeds but buckwheat also builds the soil. (Also great for bees .) 

 

Just dont wait and let it go to seed before you mow it to plant other things