What can you plant in the worst of soils that will still grow and attract deer?

We have some private ground out west which is sandy and would never be confused for fertile looking soil. Any suggestions on what kind of seed to plant that might thrive and attract deer?

 

Do you have a picture? That might help a lot


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Winter rye will grow on concrete if it gets rain.

 

same with wheat/oats

 

You could grow purple top turnips in the back of a pick up.

 

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or the carpet of my boat

 

Ph needs to be decent but turnips, oats, and wheat will grow in marginal soil

 

And clover. Clover wheat mix would be my go to

 

Honestly....anything will grow anywhere in any soil....but thriving or even surviving past germination in extreme cases is the trick. PTT really will grow when you'd think they couldn't however their bulb production will be severely hampered in soils not suitable for them.

If I had a spot like this I'd probably do a winter rye/oats mix and seed it with a good clover seed mix a few weeks after the others germinate. This then would set you up to frost seed/spring seed more clover in and you have a solid start on a clover plot which then after 3 or so years could be tilled in and help build the soil into a better one for more seed options.

 

Buckwheat and rye in May.
Till it under in August and replant it again.
Repeat for 2 to 4 years until your soil is ready. Fool proof

 

Clover and alfalfa do pretty good in sandy soils. Turnips and radish should do alright as well...you could plant an alfalfa clover mix and cover seed with an annual grass, turnips, and radishes. Bet you do pretty well, and next spring you'll see how quick clover can spread and establish a perennial plot for you.

 

Buckwheat is drought tolerant and builds organic matter.
Sunn Hemp is a little gem that i'll be happy to share pictures of soon. I have it in some test plots.
Winfred brassica is perhaps the most drought tolerant brassica.
Cowpeas and lablab are both good on light soil and low fertility soils.

I have used a "builder mix" for clients with challenged soils and planted it myself this year. It has 2 annual clovers, buckwheat, peas and oats.

 

Do deer like sunn hemp? And if so is it legal to plant?

 

deer go nuts for sunn hemp but not many people know about this drought tolerant forage. It also fixates up to 100 units of nitrogen per acre. Another thing thats going for this forage as when deer take it right down to the ground, it will regrow vigorously. That is not typical of most forages in general.

I have sunn hemp in my test plots and also have it in cover crop blends for clients that i consult with.

 

Okay - dumb question . . . is it legal to grow?

 

I've read where it's illegal in some states as being considered a noxious weed, I believe AK and MS.