PREPARING SEEDING SITES

All food plot plantings should begin by plowing, tilling or working the soil in some manner, smoothing and firming the seed bed to provide the best possible contact of soil to seed for the best germination and root development. Harrowing or tilling your food plot areas is the best way to prepare the soil for planting.

You can rent roto-tillers from lawn equipment places that can be used in your harder to get to food plots if the site is too small for harrowing.

The rate of success for planting food plots depends on the effort put forth by the grower. Preparation for a really good plot that can be used for many seasons begins with the taking of a soil test. This is an inexpensive way to make the most of the efforts put into planning and actually getting good results. Many times several people will go in together and plant several plots, sharing equipment, labor and the cost of fertilizer and seeds by buying in larger quantities. Soil tests are used to determine the amount of nutrients that may need to added to the soil. Soil test also can indicate how much or how little actual fertilizer will be needed. Although many legumes are used in the food plots and they will not need much fertilizer; the other seeds that are usually planted from mixes will need extra to grow and produce more than just foliage.

USE A WILD GAME FERTILIZER 
FOR BEST RESULTS!
Seedland sells the BEST Food Plot Fertilizer Available that you can use!

Read or ask questions about diets of the wildlife that can be attracted to the area that your plot will be planted. Wildlife are like people and when given a choice will prefer some plants over others. Study also the area to be planted for water locations. All animals need water in one form or the other. In dry years the plants don't get enough dew or rain to supply moisture for those animals who usually get enough water simply by eating forage material. Birds need dusting sites as well as bathing sites. Plan your site for the best vantage area to viewing the finished project.  Some brush and overgrowth may need mowing or removing.  Well planned;  these sites can offer hours of family excursions to learn about the habits of your native wildlife population that they and you may never have seen before.

Herbicides or pesticides should never be used except in extreme cases and completely follow the directions. Herbicides may kill cover that is supplying a home, food, or hiding place from larger predators. The best plan would be to contact the local wildlife agency and get suggestions to best suit your problem in the least destructive way and using the correct herbicides for the removal of the problem.

When fully prepared to plant add soil amendments accordingly, keeping in mind that most wooded areas are acidic and low in phosphorus and when soil tests are not taken put down approximately 1000 lb. lime and 300-500 lb. fertilizer (15-5-10, 10-10-10 or 5-20-20) to the acre.  Wild Game Fertilizer is an excellent blend that provides for your food plot needs.   Broadcast spreaders are the easiest planting method for small areas and drill planting is the easiest in larger tracts of land. Cover the seeds by raking, lightly harrowing or dragging the ground. Most seeds that are planted for food plots have a coverage rate of ¼ to ½ deep. If at all possible water or plant just before a good rain to hasten  growth.  Try not to plant your seeds deeper than 1".Clovers are just one of the seeds that are very tiny and covering too deep will results in little if any coming up

Wildlifeseeds.com

Introduction to Planting Food Plots
Presented by Pennington Seed
Pennington's Wildlife Catalog of Seed for Wildlife Food Plots offers you a unique guide for establishing food plots to attract and hold wildlife. Each of the varieties or mixes in this book have planting information to help you establish productive food plots. To supplement these directions, we offer the following tips on basic planting practices:

1. Always lime and fertilize, because most woodland soils are low in phosphorus and tend to be acidic. A soil test will tell you how much to use, and information on taking soil tests can be obtained from your local County Extension Office.
2. Always prepare the soil by plowing, smoothing and firming the seedbed. Good seed-soil contact is essential for a thick, productive stand.
3. Broadcast seeding by hand or with a spreader can produce good results if you are careful to cover most seed no deeper than ½ inch and use a log, heavy drag, or culti packer to firm the soil after planting.
4. Select a site that is long and narrow with curves or bends to provide a sense of safety for wildlife. This is essential for deer and turkey. A rule of thumb is ¼ acre of food plot to 10 acres of habitat.
5. Avoid drought prone sites such as deep stands or shallow rocky soils. Southwest facing sites are hotter in the summer and tend to dry out faster than bottomland.
6. A minimum of 50% sunshine is essential for a healthy, productive food plot. The reverse is generally true in the winter.
7. Grow something in your food plots year round to provide adequate nutrition for wildlife. Plowing strips and planting into existing plots is an excellent way to extend the productivity of the plot and hold wildlife all year long.
8. You may want to keep a record of each plot which can include planting and fertilizer information and number of animals observed or harvested.
9. Wire cages placed in the food plots that keep deer from grazing will provide you with valuable information on how productive the varieties are and how much forage is being grazed.

These simple tips along with specific information on seeding rates and times should give you the basics to grow abundant year round food for your wildlife. Growing food plots is an economical and legal way to produce larger, healthier animals and increase your hunting success or wildlife sightings. Planting food plots for wildlife is legal in most areas of the United States if you follow normal agricultural practices. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service Office and State Game Commission for specific information.

Pennington Seed is proud to offer wildlife seed to improve your wildlife habitat. Our varieties and various mixes have been field tested for many years on the Pennington hunting preserve and are the finest products on the market today.

Read Planting Methods for Wildlife Products