To make a long story short, I picked up a new property to hunt that already had a cleared 1/4 acre "food plot" (area is probably 50% clover/50% other grasses/weeds). I am trying to figure out my best plan of attack to kill grass/weeds and plant a clover blend in the existing area. I don't have access to my tractor at this property or the time to get it over there, so everything I do will be done with some extra blood, sweat and tears.
Did the same thing last year. Push mow it or whack it down with a weedeater. Spray with Glyphosate. 3 weeks later go back throw down fertilizer and lime then rake to get to bare soil. Put down seed. Walk around it to pack it down. Then pray for rain.
It may come in a little thin the first go round. But around January Feb time frame frost it and that will help thicken up. In a couple of seasons with proper mowing and fertilizing it will be good to go.
Dont get arrest. Get this stuff: Clethodim PS 26.4% - 1 Pint (Same as Dakota 2EC Herbicide) [89442-4] - $29.95 : Keystone Pest Solutions, Low price herbicides and pesticides Also buy Charge SOC (Crop Oil replacement) which it tells you to buy in the "Specs" section of the product description. I mixed 3oz of the PS clethodim with about 2oz of the Charge SOC in a 2.5 gallon sprayer and sprayed all the newly emerging grasses in my Big and Beasty Plot a couple weeks ago. Completely whiped out all grasses and i have a boat load of product still left to use that i will be using on my clover plots. Mowing generally takes care of the weeds but it'd be a good idea to hit the plots once in the middle of summer with this herbicide (just don't do it right after you mow).