Planting clover in a fescue field.

[Howard Roark]

I have access to a great piece of property. The landowners son hunts occasionally (every year or 3). The area outlined is only visible from the area I hunt.

Asking to plant a food plot in this fescue field is out of the question. The landowner would say ok but I don’t want to ask. A local farmer cuts hay a couple of times a year to keep the field clean.

If I sowed clover after the spring hay cutting would it take? I understand this is not the best route for planting.

Thanks
HR

 

[TomC]

I had good luck last year frost seeding Ladino into fescue. Will be doing the same again mid February.

 

[gawildlife]

Fescue being more of a bunching grass can be overseeded with better results than one of the more closed turf grasses. But a close mowing and light discing would help get the seed into better soil contact. You will need to seed at heavier weights due to potential loss of seed due to no ground contact.

However, you lay out four possible independent players counting yourself and there is plenty of room for crossed wires. Proceed with caution.

 

[Milkman]

Close mowing and core aerating the area to be planned in clover might be less damaging to the fescue.

 

[Cwill15]

I'd talk with the man cutting the field for hay before I did anything. He may be investing a good bit of time and money into it and wouldn't want to lower his yield

 

[Howard Roark]

Thanks all.

 

[doomtrpr_z71]

If he's cutting hay he's probably making a herbicide application as well so I'd definitely talk to the kay grower first.

 

[Howard Roark]

I will check on the hay cutter. I believe he is a neighbor cutting as a service for the hay.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Yeah i would check about the herbicide application first. It seems like most everybody sprays their hayfields nowadays.

 

[Cwill15]

I’d assume he’s fertilizing it too. If they’re cutting it and hauling off all the nutrients without fertilizing, it won’t be a hay field long.

 

[Jim Boyd]

There is no better route than a heads on / very honest conversation with any questions posed in straight English.

Good luck.

 

[treemanjohn]

You're not talking about a lot of money to pay the farmer for that corner. Just work out a price for his lost hay and do what you want

You'll never get clover to grow in tall fescue

 

[Stroker]

We have top sowed clover into fescue with good results for many years. If the farmer doesn't spray for weeds I only see the clover as a plus. If properly managed the clover will improve his hay quality, add some nitrogen to the soil, and provide a great forge source for the deer. Sow the clover and then mow real close right before a major rain event. A light harrowing before or after sowing will help provide better seed/soil contact if the fescue is thick.

 

[elfiii]

If the hay farmer is spraying and fertilizing you'll be wasting money trying to grow clover, especially seeding in the Spring.

 

[Flash]

Not a cattle man myself but doesn't too much clover cause problems in a cow? Would it cause the problems if it was cut and baled?? @leroy might know

 

[Ihunt]

Not a cattle man myself but doesn't too much clover cause problems in a cow? Would it cause the problems if it was cut and baled?? @leroy might know

Not a cow man myself but some clovers cause bloat and some do not. The only one I know that doesn’t is Berseem but it’s an annual and would have to be planted every year.

 

[doomtrpr_z71]

Clover won't cause bloat in a mixed pasture

 

[Howard Roark]

You're not talking about a lot of money to pay the farmer for that corner. Just work out a price for his lost hay and do what you want

You'll never get clover to grow in tall fescue

The owner of the field will let me do whatever I want. The farmer cuts the field 2-3 times each summer for the hay.