I planted a whitetail imperial clover plot last spring but it didnt come up the greatest with the dry summer and all, but this spring it seems to be doing really well, my only question is; there are alot of leaves on the plot and im wondering if a guy should harrow it or do somthing to clear all the leaves off, it just seems to me like these would suffocate the small clovers, or should a guy spread some fertilizer and leave the leaves? Any input is greatly aprreciated guys
Fertilizer can't hurt. I would mow it high. Maybe around 6 inches or more. That should suck up a lot of the leaves and mulch them up. They should break down pretty quick.
I agree with the mowing part. I wouldnt harrow it or drag it in fear of ripping the clover out as maybe it doesnt have the best root system established yet. By roughing up the soil you could perhaps bring up some weed seeds that will haunt you. Clover fills in pretty good and usually the first year is spent establishing the root base and the 2nd year it looks way better. For fertilizer use "0-0-60" before a rain. Dont get an fertilizer meant for your lawn or has the name "SCOTTS" on it. Reason being the lawn fertilizers have "broadleaf/weed killers" in it and well clover is a broadleaf so that would not be good. (Not saying you will, just now with spring upon us a guy might see a "good deal" at a Home Improvement store and figure "why not it is cheap", never know.) Next year I would frost seed your clover plot. That is when the ground is freezing/thawing and sucks the seed so to speak into the soil. Imperial Clover consists of Berseem Clover which doesnt do well frost seeding(google it). Not sure how close you are to your clover plot, but what I do on mine is mow it in strips. That way there is always some clover at different maturity vs mowing it at one height and until it grows back up there isnt much for the deer to munch on. I use my Toro Zero turn lawnmower with the deck all the way up. (Have 3pt mower/hay machinery but lawnmower is easier to get back there) So fertilize the clover plot, mow it occasionally and it should turn out great providing we get rain hopefully
