This is an old railroad bed on my grandma's property. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get anything going, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. I tried to get something going last year, but ultimately failed due to not preparing the soil properly, lime and fertilizer, plus the drought did me no favors. I sent a soil sample to the local SWCD and when I got the results the sheet was not very informative beyond the numbers. I asked the lady what the numbers meant in terms of what I needed to add and her response was, "it's only a food plot." Here is what my spot looked like after I got it tilled and threw down my first round of seed... Fast forward to this year. I was a little more ready in terms of knowing what I was doing, so I felt good about actually getting something to grow. I sent my soil sample to WTI after last year's issue with the local SWCD. The difference between the two result sheets was night and day. I know folks have mixed views on WTI, but they have a fan in me. I put down the lime and fertilizer as they suggested. I frost seeded some clover and chicory hoping that it would have a chance to get a solid start before all the trees leafed out. I think the later spring helped me out as well due to the leaves not coming out on the trees until later. I have been keeping on an eye the plot the last couple weeks and I have been very surprised at how much it has grown in the last two weeks. I think I actually have something that will make it this year and give the deer something to much on over the summer.... I figured I will let it go through the summer, mow it short late summer/early fall, do another soil test and then get my Imperial Bowstand planted. I'm by no means an expert, but I'm pretty proud that I was able to get something growing and doing all the work myself.
If you see it stop flourishing when canopy comes in full tilt..just one or two trees on the south side of plot may let enough light in to boost it a little if a lot of cutting is out. Looking good though brother!
Thanks, guys. The canopy is pretty much full and it seems to be growing pretty good. I will continue to monitor it and see how it does. If it craps out I will look for some trees to down. I have a plan for the fall, but I wanted to get something going this spring so I'd at least have something if my fall seed doesn't go. Plus, I figure it isn't a bad thing to provide something for the deer in the spring/summer.
